Purpose... Foster Family Care is concerned with the provision of a
substitute family for a planned period of time to a child who has to be separated from his
natural or legal family.
The purpose of the program is to
provide the needed care for the children when their parents are unable or unwilling to
care for them. A child placed in a foster family must face many changes such as
school, friends, family and location of living.
Special families provide care
for the children placed in this program. The motivation for these families revolves
around the gratification in the personal, affectionate relationships with children and the
rewards of implementing the satisfying role of parents.
Target Population... Children from 0 - 18 years of age, either male or
female, who are experiencing parent-related, child-related, or environmental problems are
appropriate for a foster family. These children should be able to benefit from a
small family unit as opposed to a residential program.
Admissions... the placement of a child in the Foster Family Program
involves a selection of a particular home for a particular child. Selection is based
on the child and the family's complimentary needs.
Interested parties should
contact the Foster Family Social Worker at American Children's Home. An application
and records should be mailed to the agency for review and to aid in the selection of the
appropriate family. A final decision to place the child with the family will be
made after the visit.
The American Children's Home
also offers a Teen Mother Program as part of the Foster Family Care Program. Teen
mothers and their child are placed with appropriate foster families, as available, to help
teach the mother proper parenting skills. This program is to serve unmarried teen
mothers ages 12 to 18 years of age who are at risk of not completing their education and
remaining on the welfare system. The teen mother must be able to attend a specified
educational program and capable of functioning in and benefit from a family environment.
Recruitment of foster families... families interested in becoming licensed
foster families with American Children's Home should contact the Foster Family Social
Worker. A detailed home study of all applicants is conducted as well as 30 hours of
preservice training, as we feel it is our ethical and professional responsibility to
obtain the best families possible for the child. Ten hours of annual inservice
training are also required. All approved families are licensed by the Department of
Human Resources of North Carolina.
