We Need Loving Homes for Children
As of January 1, 2011, 1,026 Santa Clara County children were living in out-of-home placement because their own families were unable to safely care for them. Almost 46% of these children were placed with relatives, 12% were in group homes working towards again living with a family in the community, and 42% or nearly 420 children were with foster families. Every day more children enter care but the County has fewer than 200 available licensed foster care homes.
In 2011, foster children in Santa Clara County come from the following diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds:
- 56% Latino
- 23% White
- 14% African American
- 5% Asian/Pacific Islander
- 2% American Indian
Foster Homes are particularly needed for sibling groups, pre-teens and teenagers, and children with special medical, emotional, developmental and educational needs.
Foster parents receive:
- 27 hours of thorough PRIDE training
- Monthly financial assistance for each child they foster
- Medi-Cal health insurance for each child
- Advocacy and support services
Prospective parents can be single, two-parent, or same gender families of all ethnicities and income levels. The licensing process usually takes three to four months and involves an application, training workshops and certification in first aid and CPR. If you are interested in sharing your home with a child in need, please call 408.299.KIDS (5437).