Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) play a crucial role in the foster care system, especially for children with more complex needs. When county placement agencies are seeking alternatives to group homes for children requiring a higher level of care, they often turn to licensed private FFAs. But who exactly organizes these vital foster care programs, and what do they entail?
Foster Family Agencies are legally structured and function as non-profit entities. Their primary mission is to enhance the foster care system by focusing on several key activities. These include the critical task of recruiting individuals and families to become foster parents. Following recruitment, FFAs are responsible for the rigorous process of certifying these prospective foster parents, ensuring they meet the necessary standards to provide a safe and nurturing environment. Training is another essential component, equipping foster parents with the skills and knowledge needed to care for children with diverse needs and backgrounds.
Beyond preparation, FFAs offer ongoing professional support to foster parents, acting as a vital resource and point of contact throughout the placement. Finally, and most importantly, FFAs are dedicated to finding suitable homes, whether temporary or permanent, for children who require more intensive care than standard foster care settings can provide. These services are broadly categorized into two main types of programs: treatment foster care and non-treatment foster care.
Treatment foster care is designed for children who have been assessed as having service needs that cannot be adequately met in a typical family foster home. Without the intervention of a treatment-focused FFA, these children might otherwise require placement in a group home setting. The programs offered by treatment FFAs are specifically tailored to address these more complex needs.
In contrast, non-treatment FFAs focus on certifying homes for children awaiting adoption. While these agencies ensure a child’s basic needs are met and may provide specialized care within a certified family home, they do not offer therapeutic treatment services. This specialized care in non-treatment settings is provided under specific conditions: the placement agency must determine that the child’s needs exceed those of a standard foster child, and the placement county must have a system in place for such specialized care.
The financial framework for FFAs is overseen by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). CDSS holds the statutory responsibility for developing and maintaining the rate setting system for FFAs that receive Adoption and Foster Care Funding – Federal Contributions (AFDC-FC) funds. These AFDC-FC rates, which vary based on the child’s age, are structured according to CDSS regulations that define the purposes, types, and services offered by FFAs. As of January 2015, CDSS set rates for approximately 220 FFAs. These rates are organized into five age groups and follow two distinct rate structures to accommodate the different service models of treatment and non-treatment programs.
Detailed information on AFDC-FC FFA rates is publicly accessible on the Foster Care Rate Setting web page. Further resources regarding AFDC-FC FFA audits and rates can be found on the Foster Care Audits and Rates Branch web page, offering transparency and accountability within the system.
For those seeking additional information or direct assistance, the Foster Care Rates Bureau stands as a point of contact:
Foster Care Rates Bureau
744 P Street, MS 8-11-38
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-9152
[email protected]
