According to Children’s Law Center of California, a child in California is placed in foster care nearly 100 times a day. Los Angeles County alone has over 33,000 children, ages 0-18, in the Foster Care system.
Read MoreWhen a child is in foster care, they have been removed from their family because of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, and neglect and/or abandonment. They are temporarily placed with relatives, family friends or foster families with a primary goal of reunifying the children with their biological families as well as help them develop and grow in a safe environment.
Since 1997, Sycamores has been finding nurturing and stable homes for foster children throughout Los Angeles County. This important work is done with the partnership of dedicated foster families. Sycamores recruits, trains, and supports families throughout the Resource Family Approval process and we continue to be there to provide support for our foster families once a child has been placed in their home. Children can have brief or long stays with foster families, and some even go on to be adopted by them.
At Sycamores, a foster family or parent is an integral part of our comprehensive team approach in working with the children in our care.
Read MoreFoster parents can be married, partnered, or single. They can own or rent their home and can work or not work outside the home. They can have lots of experience with kids, or none at all. From young working professionals to retirees to stay-at-home parents, successful resource parents come in many forms.
Steps required to get started:
Following completion of each of these requirements, child foster placement will begin.
As part of our Foster Care Program, Sycamores also provides Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC). ISFC is a program that provides mental health services to children in the foster care system who have critical emotional and behavioral needs. When the child is placed in a Sycamores’ foster home, they are immediately welcomed by a loving team which includes the foster family, a social worker, a therapist, and a behavior coach. This impactful team works together to provide the child the care, support, and stability they need.
If foster families and their foster child decide that adoption is a next step for their family, Sycamores is licensed and able to facilitate the process.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please email FosterParents@Sycamores.org