FOSTER CARE & FAMILY PERMANENCY

Foster Care & Foster Care Supports

Catholic Guardian Services provides foster care for children and youth who cannot safely remain at home during times of family crisis. We work alongside children, parents, foster parents, relatives, and other caregivers to provide safe, supportive care while strengthening family relationships and supporting reunification and permanency whenever possible.

Our foster care services are designed around each child’s individual needs and include family-based foster care, specialized care for children with complex needs, kinship family placements, and short-term residential treatment. We also provide a range of foster care supports, including health and developmental services, permanency planning, foster parent training and support, family advocacy, and programs that help young people build lasting connections and prepare for the future. Learn About Becoming a Foster Parent >

Catholic Guardian Services provides foster care under contract with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Division of Family Permanency Services.

Our foster care services include:

Specialized Family Foster Care

Specialized Family Foster Care supports children with complex medical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional needs who benefit from additional care and coordination in a family setting. Children are placed with specially trained foster parents who receive ongoing guidance and support to help meet each child’s unique needs.

Our teams work alongside children, families, foster parents, healthcare providers, and other specialists to coordinate individualized services and promote stability, development, and well-being. The program helps children receive the specialized support they need while maintaining important family relationships and working toward reunification or other permanency goals. Top ⌃

Specialized Family Foster Care is contracted to Catholic Guardian Services by ACS for children with special medical needs or developmental disabilities.

Kinship Family Placements

When children enter foster care, placement with relatives or trusted adults can help preserve important family relationships, cultural connections, and a sense of continuity during a difficult transition. Kinship family placements allow children to remain with people who already know them and understand their family, history, and community.

Catholic Guardian Services supports kinship foster parents with training, guidance, resources, and ongoing case support as they care for children in their family or network. By strengthening caregivers and preserving existing relationships, kinship placements can help children maintain a strong sense of belonging while families work toward reunification and long-term stability. Top ⌃

Kinship placements are provided within Catholic Guardian Services' ACS foster care contracts.