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In some cases children’s safety cannot be assured in their parental homes.  In other cases the children’s behavior presents a potential danger to themselves or others.  In these instances, foster care may be the only option available.  Specially trained caseworkers work with skilled foster parents to provide children with the safety, security, comfort, and limits they need to develop and maintain positive social and educational skills.  When a child is in foster care, the Department works closely with the child’s parents in an effort to safely reunite the family as quickly as possible.

Foster and Adoptive Parenting

There is always a need for loving families to provide temporary or permanent homes to Allegany County children in need.  Foster parents receive monthly stipends to cover the costs of a child’s food and shelter.  Adoptive parents are sometimes eligible for on-going stipends to help defray expenses.  Foster and adoptive parents must participate in both initial and on-going training provided by the Department of Social Services in order to receive initial and on-going certification.  For more information about foster and adoptive parenting, click on our logo to the right.

For more information about foster care or adoption click on New York State Office of Children & Family Services Adoption Album.

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/kinship/default.asp – The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provides contact information and links to the Kinship Caregiver Programs funded through OCFS, as well as a variety of resources for families and staff, including the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP), a subsidy program available to kinship caregivers who are foster parents.