Foster Care and Kinship Care
As of September 1, 2011
|
| Children receiving services through CYF |
6,237 |
| Children in out-of-home placement (total) |
1,514 |
| Children in foster care |
1,219 |
| Children placed with "kin" |
657 |
|
DHS and Out-of-home Placements
DHS makes every effort to keep families safely together.
The vast majority of children/in families receiving services through CYF do so while their families stay intact and receive services in their home and in their community.
Since 1996, the number of children in Allegheny County in out-of-home placement has been reduced by more than half.
The vast majority of children in out-of-home placement are in foster care.
The majority of children in foster care are with kin (extended family or close friends of their family) with practically all siblings placed together.
The amount of time a child spends in out-of-home placement has been reduced by one third since 1997 to about 16 months.
Kinship care
If a child is removed from his or her home because safety can not be assured, every effort is made to find a safe and loving “kinship” placement with relatives or close friends within the home community. Subsidies and supports are directed to these providers of “kinship care.” Sibling groups are also placed together whenever possible.
Kinship Care in Pa. - Support for Families with Grandparents and Other Kin Raising Children
Published by The Pennsylvania State University, 2005
Foster care
Foster care is…
- caring for a child until his or her parent(s) can resume full responsibility, or until another permanent home is found.
- a commitment to help a child through a difficult period.
- for people who can provide love and guidance... and then let go.
We need loving, supportive foster families in Allegheny County…
to provide a temporary home for children of all ages who have been removed from their birth families most often due to abuse or neglect. Children who are welcomed by a supportive foster family are more likely to have a secure and successful future.
Foster parents are adults who…
- are married or single;
- represent all races, ethnicities and religions;
- are willing to provide for all the needs of a child in care;
- have a desire to help a child succeed; and
- are willing to accept a child as a temporary member of their family.
What types of situations lead to a child needing foster care?
- Physical and sexual abuse
- Neglect or abandonment
- Physical or mental illness of a parent
- Death of parents
- Emotional or behavioral problems
What types of children need foster care?
Children who need foster care are of every race, religion and cultural background. They have different likes and dislikes, talents and skills. Often more than one child in a family needs foster care. Every effort is made to keep sibling groups intact.
The basic requirements to foster a child are:
- A willingness to plan for the child in partnership with the caseworker and others;
- Being at least 21 years of age;
- Completing 13 weeks of pre-service training;
- Earning an adequate income to support your own family;
- Living in a home that meets safety requirements;
- Meeting state regulations for foster parents;
- Passing background clearances;
- Providing a separate bedroom with a bed for each child; and
- Possessing understanding and compassion for the birth parents.
What are the rewards of providing foster care?
While a stipend is provided to foster parents to help defray the costs of caring for their foster child, the true reward is knowing that they have given a child comfort, guidance, security and a loving home.
Local foster care agencies
For more information on how to become a foster parent, please contact one of the local agencies that are looking for loving, responsible adults to provide temporary care to children in the child welfare system.
Related Information
Know Your Rights - A Guide for Youth in Substitute Care
by the Juvenile Law Center and KidsVoice
My Life: Stories from Youth in Allegheny County’s Child Welfare System
Young adults who live in foster care face many challenges, particularly as they transition from out-of-home placement to independence. Given the opportunity, youth in the child welfare system offer great insights about how their lives were shaped by the services they received and by the absence of needed services. DHS tapped into this valuable resource and created My Life.