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KEAN UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP ENCOURAGES LATINO FAMILIES TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS

UNION, NJ. A grant issued by the state Department of Human Services-Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), partnering Kean University, the Child Advocacy Resource Association (CARAS) and New Jersey Foster and Adoptive Family Services (NJFAFS), aims to increase the number of Hispanic foster families in Hudson County, where two out every five residents are of Latino background.

Initially awarded $300,000 in 2001 as a two-year demonstration project, the Hispanic Foster Care Recruitment and Retention Model has recently been renewed by DYFS for another year, at an amount of $155,000, bringing the grant total to $455,000.

Kean project liaison, Professor Doris Capello, Social Work, coordinates communications and community outreach associated with the program. We (CARAS and Kean reps) try to expose the program to as many people in the community as possible, explained Capello. Once a family expresses interest in becoming foster parents, then we provide them with a seminar, offering a great deal of further information so that they can make the best decision possible. At that point, if the candidates are still interested, then we begin the actual training sessions and walk them through the rest of the process.

Additionally, Capello notes that she and her staff assist DYFS representatives in dealing with the prospective parents using bilingual/bicultural recruitment model. To date, the Hispanic Foster Care Recruitment and Retention Model has garnered more than 200 potential foster families.

If you'd like more information or to schedule an interview please call Victoria Cerda at (908) 737-0560 or e-mail at: vcerda@kean.edu