Preadoptive Foster Care

The agency provides foster care services for children age birth through 18 in South Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. Services include foster family recruitment, foster home placement, preadoptive foster care, special needs shelter care, adoption placement, special needs adoption, children's respite care, and volunteer opportunities. Adults must be 20 years and older to be foster or adoptive parents. To be placed in a home, children must be referred by DCFS. Services are provided at three locations. Age restrictions apply; there are no geographic restrictions.

The agency places DCFS-referred minor children in foster homes or with pre-adoptive families, including children from all ethnic backgrounds and those with special needs such as older children, siblings, and children who have been severely abused. The agency also places children into temporary foster care when biological parents are making reunification efforts with the courts; these children may be reunited with their birth families pending court approval.

The agency recruits foster and adoptive parents; the goal is to place children with permanent adoptive families. For children with special needs, parents must have at least two years of specialized foster parenting experience and participate in an additional training program. All foster parents receive ongoing support services and financial reimbursement. A special program is available for parents who wish to provide immediate short or long-term care for children who need temporary placement while the courts are making a decision regarding the child's permanent welfare.

Case managers work with each family and ongoing support includes training and education, home visits, financial reimbursement, school consultation, coordination of medical needs, a 24-hour helpline, special events and activities, support groups, mentoring and tutoring, and general guidance in child development.