Catholic Family Center specializes in foster care services for young people from around the world whose lives have been torn apart by war and oppression.
We provide specialized foster homes and case management services for unaccompanied refugee minors up to age 21.
All youth in this program have emigrated from other countries and are mostly teenagers. Case workers assist the youth in adjusting to their new country, registering them for school and preparing them for eventual independence by teaching necessary independent living skills. Foster parents and caseworkers work collaboratively to advocate for and best meet the youth’s needs. Foster parents are provided with cultural and youth development information as part of monthly support meetings.
What are CFC’s services to support foster care families?
- A caseworker will maintain 24/7 contact with you and the youth in your care, to help with any adjustment issues.
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Foster care stipends are issued monthly to provide for the youth’s care.
- Foster parents, youth and CFC develop a service plan with goals and objectives to support successful development of independent living skills.
- We will assist youth in addressing medical and mental health needs, securing permanent residency status and providing academic support.
- We assist youth in getting educational support, by working with the particular school district to meet their needs, e.g., tutoring, ESL classes, etc.
The ultimate goal of the program is that upon graduation, our youth are either employed and self supporting or established in a higher education program with academic and financial supports in place.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Referrals for youth come through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and CFC's Office of Refugee Resettlement Services. Referred youth must be under 18 years of age at time of entrance into our program. Youth must be accepted for foster care services by Monroe County Department for Human Services (MCDHS) for placement with Catholic Family Center. Youth must comply with all foster care regulations in order to maintain their eligibility.
FEES: None
PROGRAM LOCATIONS: 87 N. Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
INTAKE PROCESS:
- Referrals for youth comes through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Office of Refugee SettlementServices.
- All foster parents must attend Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training (10 weeks) and eligibility screening. In addition to MAPP, foster parents are given training/information on cultural issues specific to the youth being placed in their home.
For more information, please call us at (585) 262-7126.
