Kennedy-Donovan Center’s Foster Care and Family Services – Providing Safe, Nurturing Homes For Children And Valuable Resources For Foster Parents

All children should grow up in a safe, nurturing home. Childhood has a marked, determined effect on one’s personality and quality of life. Since most of us end up having children of our own, we typically model many aspects of our own parents’ rearing skills – they serve as a mindful reference for when we take the role of parent.

Sadly, the number of children in foster care, seeking that safe, nurturing and stable home is alarming. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services June 2016 AFCARS report, 427,910 children were in foster care. This is a truly sad human story that typically flies under many people’s radar yet is an important one that impacts our very own neighborhoods.

Foster parenting is a way to provide children with care, love and support while they are not able to be with their parents. A way to not only positively impact a child’s life, but your own, for foster parenting can be a rewarding experience. Beyond that, your influence on the child’s life will eventually affect their role as a future parent, so indirectly that impact is generational.

Started in the early 1850s by Charles Loring Brace, foster parenting has been pulling homeless or neglected children off the streets of America and improving the quality of life for both children and new foster parents alike. In greater New Bedford, Kennedy-Donovan Center’s Foster Care and Family Services Program has been serving the region since the early 1980s.

The team of dedicated professionals ensures that the children and parents are not only matched but provides all the information, support, and assistance every step of the way through the process and after.

Aubrey Macfarlane-President/CEO and Eileen Dugas, Program Director of Foster Care and Family Services, are two impassioned individuals who are driven to find homes for the many children under their care and provide comprehensive resources for interested parents.

Together they administer three foster care programs:

• Comprehensive Foster Care: for children from birth up to 22 years old.
• Complex Medical Foster Care: for children with significant medical needs. Complex Medical Foster parents are benefits eligible and receive a salary in addition to the daily stipend.
• Transitional Age Youth Care: for children 16-22 years old who are working towards independent living.

Each of these programs has the support of a social worker and clinical coordinator. All social workers/case workers are licensed Social Workers and/or have a Bachelor’s Degree, many are enrolled in Master’s Degree Programs. The Clinical Coordinator at Kennedy-Donovan Center’s Foster Care and Family Services Program is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and the mentors have varied experience working with youth and young adults in the community.

Children in Complex Medical Foster Care have additional services in the foster home such as visits by a nurse and medical supports. Transitional age youth have the additional assistance of mentors to support the development of independent living skills.

Program Director, Eileen Dugas shared her inspiration, “I was a foster parent for several years. While I was a foster parent and providing care for children, I felt there was opportunity to have even more engagement with children involved with child protective services. This led to a career change from early childhood education to social work. I began my career in foster care as a social worker prior to advancing to the program director position. As a foster parent, I was able to support and guide the children who were a part of my family until they could be reunified. As a social worker and program director, there is opportunity to impact many children’s lives.”

Understanding that the process of becoming a foster parent – in spite of its rewards – can be one that requires significant adjustment, Kennedy-Donovan Center offers each foster parent 14 days of paid respite. This allows foster parents some time for self-care, vacations, and more. Foster parents are provided with extensive opportunities for support and training, have access to 24-hour assistance and become the greatest advocates and support system for the children they welcome into their home.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, you can not only contact the wonderful professionals at the Kennedy Donovan Center straight away, but you can attend an informational session – the next is held on April 18th from 11:00am – 12:00pm and 6:00pm – 7:00pm at 385 County St, New Bedford.