Wanted: Foster and Adoptive Families
Must have broad shoulders, strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle
enough to rock a sleeping child.
Child & Family Services offers four programs to fulfill the most basic need
of any child - the need for family. Child & Family Services Foster Care, Therapeutic
Foster Care, Family Based Treatment and Special Needs Adoption programs work to
help children in the short term, and strengthen existing families for a lifetime.
Who Are Foster Children?
They are children of all ages, from infancy to adolescence, including brothers and
sisters who need to remain together. Most have experienced abuse, neglect and other
serious problems in their birth families. As a result, many foster children have
significant emotional or behavioral problems.
Who Can Be Foster Parents?
Is it the stay-at-home mom who can juggle soccer practice and counseling appointments?
Is it the single person living in the suburbs who has no children, but has a great
dog and a deep sense of responsibility? Is it the retired couple living in a rural
community who have the time and experience to give to foster children? The answer
is all of them and more. People who make great foster parents are those who enjoy
children, can handle change, manage stress, have a sense of humor and are flexible.
They welcome challenge and can provide children with structure. They can help children
with emotional and behavioral problems and can work with counselors to help birth
parents improve their relationships with their children.
Are Birth Parents Involved?
The goal of Child & Family Services Foster Care Program
is to strengthen families and help them gain the skills they need to succeed. Throughout
the time a child is in foster care, a relationship with his or her birth family
is important. The frequency and duration of contact varies in each family, and our
staff works with individual birth families and foster families to establish specific
visiting arrangements.
Children with severe social, emotional and behavioral problems are served in supervised
home settings in Child & Family Therapeutic Foster Care
Program. Children in this program have been placed by the court in the
custody of the Erie County Department of Social Services. The program is an alternative
for children between the ages of three and 12 who might otherwise be placed in more
restrictive settings such as residential treatment centers. Children in Therapeutic
Foster Care live in the community in supervised family settings with specially-trained
foster parents.
Voluntary Care For Children With Severe Problems
Child & Family Services offers the Family Based Treatment
Program as a voluntary option for birth families whose children
have severe social and behavioral problems. Children in this program live with foster
families in supervised home settings. Family Based Treatment is an alternative for
children aged five to 12 who might otherwise be placed in more restrictive settings
such as residential treatment centers.
Both the Therapeutic Foster Care and the Family Based Treatment Program offer specialized
training, monthly support groups, weekly case management, planned and emergency
respite care and 24-hour supportive professional staff services. Because there are
significant demands in parenting the children in these programs, certified families
receive generous stipends to help them meet the needs of the children in their care.
A Team Approach To Care
All of our foster care programs use a treatment team approach. Foster parents work
closely with a behavioral specialist, case worker, program supervisor and a consulting
psychiatrist. We use concrete behavior management and positive teaching skills to
encourage healthy behaviors in children. The programs emphasize the importance of
effective communication and relationship building capabilities.
Is Adoption Different From Foster Care?
Adoption is for life. It's a permanent commitment to a child who has experienced
loss, separation and rejection. That's why each match is carefully considered to
ensure that it will be a lasting one.
Is Support Available To Me?
We provide foster and adoptive families with special training. Prospective families
also participate in a home study process of interviews and reference checks prior
to certification. Because there are significant demands in parenting the children,
a stipend is provided to certified families. Child & Family Services works closely
with foster and adoptive families to ensure that they will receive the help necessary
to succeed. We offer a variety of supportive services including a mentoring program,
behavioral specialist, ongoing training, evening and weekend case worker availability,
a team-work approach, and a support group for families who adopt.
WANTED: Foster and Adoptive Families
Are you willing to share your home and life with a child who desperately needs you?
You can make a difference in the life of a child! Please become a foster parent
or consider adopting an older child who needs a forever home.
If you would like additional information regarding Child & Family Services Foster
Care, Therapeutic Foster Care, Family Based Treatment or Special Needs Adoption
programs, please contact Child & Family Services Children's Services Department
at (716) 882-0555.
The Adoption and Medical Information Registry
The Adoption and Medical Information Registry offers assistance to adoptees, their
birth parents and biological siblings. While adoption and birth records remain confidential
and under court seal, an adoptee who was born and adopted in New York State, their
birth parents or biological sibling can register with the Adoption Information Registry
to obtain information.
Non-identifying information about birth parents such as appearance, religion, ethnicity,
race, education, occupation and the circumstances relating to the adoption is available
to adoptees 18 years of age and older. Identifying information is available only
if both adoptees and birth parents register and give final consent. Birth parents
can give medical information any time after the adoption and it will be shared with
the adoptee if/when he registers. Medical information updates must be certified
by a licensed health care provider.
The Adoption and Medical Information Registry cannot search for missing registrants,
release copies of birth certificates or adoption records, nor release non-identifying
information to birth parents.
Forms to register can be obtained from the agency that originally placed the adoptee
or from the Adoption Information Registry, New York State Department of Health,
PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602 518-474 9600. Web site www.health.state.ny.us
Adoptees and birth parents whose adoption was handled by Children's Aid Society,
now Child and Family Services, can call the Children's Service Department 716-882-0555
for help registering.
Child & Family Services Children's Services
844 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
Telephone: (716) 882-0555 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Fax: (716) 882-1451