Foster Family Program

As you may know, each child who comes to our program has been removed from their biological families or previous caregivers often due to a variety of factors which may include abuse, violence, neglect absence, mental health and/or drug abuse issues.

A Better Way’s children are of all races, cultures, religions and ethnicities. The largest percentages of children are identified as children of color, specifically African American and Latino. Some children are placed into foster care for days or weeks; some of them stay for years.  The court system makes all decisions regarding how long children are in foster care and where they are placed.  

The foster care program at A Better Way strives to provide comprehensive services to our foster families.  These services include prospective parent recruitment, orientation and training to match the best foster parents with each child. A Better Way works with parents from the point of interest all the way through until a child is placed in your home.  Once our parents have been matched with a child, a Social Worker will be assigned to provide in-home support services to the child and family.  A Better Way families are visited weekly to ensure the children's and families’ needs are being met.

These efforts require ongoing sensitivity to children suddenly faced with the most challenging transition of their lives. The synergy of our agency's multidisciplinary team is always focused on the child.

A Better Way is also successful in foster care because we offer:

• A highly informed parent screening process to select quality foster care
  parents consisting of an orientation, P.R.I.D.E.. training classes, intake process & paperwork, a family Homestudy and home health & safety inspection.
  
  
• Highly skilled Social Workers and Mental Health Clinicians with low caseloads
  
  
• A focus on ethics and a strong belief in supporting the dignity of children and their families
  
  
• No fees to foster families and foster-to-adoption families. 
  
  
• In-home Mental Health Services including Evaluations and Treatment for children with mental health diagnoses in Alameda County
  
  
• A road map of short-term and long-term goals for each child.
  
  
• Comprehensive Mental Health Services through A Better Way’s Therapeutic Programs (individual therapy/ family therapy/ family reunification/ adoption support services/ children 0 – 5 years of age)
  
  
• A Holistic Approach to foster care that includes A Better Way’s parent Support Groups, Monthly foster parent Trainings, a “Special Needs Fund” for foster youth, and family activities such as a Holiday Party & Summer “Foster Parent Appreciation” Picnic. 
  
  
• A strong and seasoned administrative team as well as an outstanding group of devoted volunteers and supporters in the community. 
  
  
• Wrap-around Support Services including A Better Way Respite-Care foster homes and 24 Hour Emergency Support Services with an A Better Way Social Worker available after office hours on evenings and weekends.