FOSTER CARE

Our Foster Care Program involves placing a child in a temporary foster family home. Placements are not intended as a permanent living arrangement for the child but as a safe haven until reunification or a more permanent living arrangement can be completed through adoption, subsidized guardianship or independent living.

ABJ currently provides care for over 700 children between the ages of 0-18 years who have been taken into State custody due to abuse, neglect or dependency.

Case Management Staff

ABJ's Case Management Staff advocates for the welfare of children in their interactions with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the juvenile court system, educators, physicians and care takers.

Family Development Specialist

The ABJ Family Development Specialist is devoted to the recruitment of foster homes as well as their development. Family Development Specialists conduct home studies, provide monitoring and make recommendations concerning licensure and license renewals.

Specialized Services

Our Specialized Service Program serves as a supplement to our Foster Care Program by addressing the individual needs of children that have severe emotional behavior and/or developmental problems.

Training

The Training Program of ABJ focuses on meeting the diverse needs of clients. Parenting Skills Training is offered to the natural parents of children placed in ABJ's Foster Care Program. Foster Parents are provided with extensive training designed to facilitate the adjustments identified with becoming a foster parent.

ABJ also offers staff development training to staff and volunteers. On- site classes are held in conjunction with the City Colleges of Chicago. Here, continuing education credits can be earned. These training services develop attributes already present in each individual in addition to developing effective and efficient skills needed for working with the ever-changing world of child welfare and social services.

Reunification Program

The Reunification Program focuses on providing case management services to children and their families once the return home goal has been achieved. ABJ monitors and provides extensive supportive services such as: individual/family counseling; financial assistance for childcare; food; clothing, furniture; recreational activities; and housing assistance. All services are aimed at assisting the family and children to remain intact and to become self-reliant.

Adoption

Adoption provides an alternative placement to clients of the foster care program when the return home goal has been ruled out. Adoption requires the termination of parental rights when return home is no longer a viable option. Adoption provides the child with a permanent family.

Subsidized Guardianship

The Subsidized Guardianship Program of ABJ offers viable options for children when return home and adoption are not acceptable alternatives. Subsidized guardianship is the transfer of legal responsibility for a child from IDCFS custody to that of the private caregiver (foster parent) who becomes the legal guardian of the child. Each child placed with a legal guardian receives a subsidy. The permanency unit of ABJ oversees this process to insure that each child is placed in a loving and nurturing environment.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Call 1-773-667-2100

Can we pick out the child we want?

You can express a preference on the age, race, and sex of the child that you think would best fit in with your family. You do not have to accept a child you do not want.

Can single foster persons care for foster children?

Yes.

How many foster children can we take?

That depends on factors such as your ability, your enthusiasm, how many children you have of your own, and how much room you have in your home. The maximum number, including your own children, is set out by DCFS licensing standards.

Do all foster children have problems?

Yes, to some degree. Many are frightened and confused at the sudden separation from their parents. Some are angry. Others may think they are being sent to a foster home as punishment.

What kind of support will we receive?

Financial Assistance Foster parents in "regular" foster care programs receive a monthly check to cover the child's food, clothing and personal allowance. The amount of the check is based on the child's age. Medical Care Each foster child gets a medical card from the state that guarantees payment for all necessary medical care and preventive medicine. You will be given a number to call to get help in selecting a physician for a child placed with you. The medical card is also accepted by many hospitals and for approved prescriptions. You should not pay any medical bill directly. Staff Support ABJ's caseworker is responsible for supporting your family on a daily basis. ABJ has developed internal supports, which include foster parent training, newsletters, 24-hour telephone numbers, and community resources.

How do we become foster parents?

A call to 1-773-667-2100 to express your interest will result in an agency representative contacting you about foster care. A representative will then make an appointment to come your home. That person's job is to decide, with you, if foster care is a good plan for your family and, if so, how you can best help foster children. The representative will also give you an application and a medical form to have filled out for each member of your family. Because the law requires that a criminal background check be run on all applicants, you will also be fingerprinted. In addition, references you provide will be contacted. While these checks are being run, you will attend foster parent training classes to help prepare you for your future role as a foster parent.

How long does it take to get a foster child?

The licensing and training process takes from four to six months. After you have completed that process, children can then be placed in your home.

Does a child's birth parents visit him or her?

In most cases, yes. In fact, visits between parents and children are an essential part of the efforts to reunite families. The child's caseworker has the primary responsibility for planning visits and arranging supervision, if required. The caseworker will talk with you and the child's parents to work out the time and location of the visits.

Can we ever adopt a foster child?

The first goal is to return foster children to their families when that is possible. However, if a foster child who has been in your home for some time becomes available for adoption, you can discuss your interest in adopting him or her with the caseworker. At that time, you would have to meet all of the regular requirements for becoming an adoptive parent.

Won't it be hard on us when the foster child returns home or is adopted?

Yes. That is, in fact, the hardest part of being a foster parent. You will certainly feel sad for a time. It's only natural -- just as it's natural for your foster daughter or son to want a family of his or her own.

How many hours of training is needed to become a licensed foster parent?

Licensed foster parents are required to receive 27 hours of training.

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COUNSELING

ABJ offers a comprehensive approach to mental health services. Therapist work to preserve and strengthen multi problematic families by offering in-home as well as on-site services. Problems are matched with appropriate services to assure that each of the client's needs is addressed.

Our professional staff understands the family is the nucleus of our society. When abuse, abandonment, drug dependency or neglect threatens the family, intervention is crucial.

Our professional staff is Master's level clinicians who hold a variety of state licenses and credentials. Our current services include:

All services are confidential and provided by our highly trained staff.

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EARNFARE

Earnfare is an employment program providing work for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive food stamp benefits. Earnfare offers employers temporary help at no direct cost and with minimal paperwork. Earnfare gives adults who receive food stamps the opportunity to earn a paycheck and work towards permanent employment.

ABJ works in collaboration with many employers to assist with temporary and/or permanent staffing needs. ABJ's professional staff understands the need to work with clients in providing them a full spectrum of supportive services while preparing them to enter and or re-enter the job market and establish self-sufficiency.

ABJ's staff works with clients to identify barriers that may prevent them from becoming self-sufficient, such as transportation problems, childcare needs health problems, and goal setting. ABJ also works with clients to provide job readiness as described below:

ABJ monitors client placement with employers to ensure that the referral process is successful. Employers periodically provide feedback, which enables ABJ to significantly improve its services to employers.