Foster Care
Erie County Children Services provides care to children who can last from overnight to more long-term. Foster homes are resources and supports for children who are removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or identified as being dependent and their parent or guardian is unable to care for them.
What Foster Parents Provide:
A loving, secure, caring and safe place for children to live. Children do best when they can stay in their home school, live in their neighborhood or as close to their birth parents, with priority placed on reunification with biological families.
Foster families are a support system and help working with the child's therapists, doctors and school as part of a team ensuring the child's therapists, parents, and school records are working with the children and birth family.
Foster parents provide a nurturing, positive environment for the child during a time when they are in crisis, and may need time to heal.
Adoption
Adoption is a commitment to a child or children who are unable to return to their biological families. Keeping children with their biological families is always the first goal. Our reunification case plans and support system provides parents with the best assistance for the child.
Adoption Benefits:
- Eligible for subsidies and medical coverage
- Comprehensive support throughout the process
- Children of all ages and backgrounds available
Children who cannot return to their biological families need forever families with the same commitment, security and love as your own birth children. The adoption process provides permanent safe, stable, and loving homes for children in need.
Through adoption, children become legal members of their new family as if they were born into that family.
Need More Information?
If you would like more information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, call our foster care specialist at 419-627-4484
Do I Qualify?
- 21 years or older
- Foster care and adoption training
- Adequate space in your home
- Able to provide financial and emotional support
- At least 18 years old (for kinship)
- Proof of income of at least $1,000
- Own your home or pay rent on time
- Renew as homeowner/apartment or pay all home bills
- Background check (including all in home)
- Pass home study
- Work with a social worker after placement
- Continue training and development