Lutheran Children and Family Service believes that every child deserves to be raised in a permanent, loving, safe, and nurturing family. Foster Care is a temporary service offered to children who have been abused, neglected, or whose birth families are unable to provide care for them.
To Begin the Journey as a Foster Care Parent
- Be 21 years of age
- Submit to a police and child abuse clearance
- Be in good physical health
- Provide a safe home environment
- Be highly motivated to care for children in need
Steps Along the Journey
- Foster Parent Orientation – gives you information about how children come into foster care, LCFS resources for your on-going support, the child welfare system and the role of the foster parent.
- The Application – Gives LCFS the necessary information about you and your family.
- The Home Study Interview – LCFS staff will meet with you to learn more about your history, attitudes, interests, and parenting capabilities. Your home and neighborhood will be assessed for safety and location of schools and healthcare facilities will be noted.
- Foster Parent Certification – is granted to you upon successful completion of the previous steps. Children are matched with you and your family according to age, sex and level of care you specify.
- On-going Support – is provided by the LCFS social worker that will guide you through your journey. Regularly scheduled home visits, and 24-hour access for advice, assistance or emergencies is provided by LCFS.
Group Home Care "Luther Place" provides congregate care for youth between the ages of 12 and 18 and is a stepping-stone to success, providing a safe environment, opportunity and personal growth, by working with community services that provide a therapeutic milieu for youth where they can address their difficulties and enhance their functioning. For information, call 610-381-5819 or contact the program administrator at grouphome@lcfsinpa.org.
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program offers traditional foster care and semi-independent living opportunities for foreign-born children who arrive in the Philadelphia region without their parents or legal guardians. Supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services, this program provides age-appropriate placements and support services intended to promote stability, acculturation, academic achievement, and self-sufficiency. For information, call (215) 881-6800 or contact the program administrator at urmp@lcfsinpa.org. For more information, please visit the website for our national immigration agency, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service .
To learn more about how you can begin this rewarding experience call (215) 456-5700 or e-mail lcfsfostercare@lcfsinpa.org.
