Foster Care/Adoption Program
Foster Care
Child and Family Services Foster Care/Adoption program places children of all ages
with families who have completed the foster parent training and certification process.
The children are primarily referred by Erie County Department of Social Services,
but referrals may be made from other county agencies. The children placed require
out-of-home care because their parents or caregivers are unable to adequately meet
their needs and it is not safe for them to remain in the current situation. Children
served in our program are between the ages of infancy to twenty-one. The length
of placement varies and depends on the circumstances that brought the child to require
out-of-home care.
Frequently the children in our care have behavioral and/or emotional problems as
a result of their parent’s inability to meet their needs and the emotional trauma
they may have experienced. The Foster Care program staff assist our foster parents
in assessing and meeting the needs of the children in their care. Many of our children
receive counseling to assist them with feelings of separation, abandonment and the
trauma of abuse and/or neglect. We also assist in ensuring children receive the
medical, educational and other supportive services needed to ensure their health
and well-being.
Parents or caregivers may have multiple problems that prevent them from adequately
caring for their children (e.g. substance abuse, mental health issues, developmental
disabilities, etc.). Our staff works with parents in identifying and addressing
the issues that led to their children's placement in care. Parents are referred
for services and provided support in acquiring the knowledge, skills and resources
they need to parent their children safely and effectively.
Adoption
When children cannot safely return home, the Child and Family Services Foster Care/Adoption
program works to provide permanency for children through adoption. The majority
of children we serve are adopted by their foster parents, however, our program also
serves families interested in adopting from the foster care system. Our staff assist
families in meeting the challenges unique to adopting a child from foster care.
Additionally, we work closely with the district staff and court/legal personnel
in completing requirements to finalize the adoption competently and expeditiously.
Please call (716) 335-7210 for more information.
Foster Care/Adoption Program
Child & Family Services
844 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 335-7210
See also Special Needs Adoption and Therapeutic Foster Care Programs.