Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Inc.
Professional, pro-life case management services for expecting parents facing an unplanned pregnancy. Our case managers help parents explore the options of parenting or adoption and access resources to support them in their decisions.
Catholic Charities is a licensed child-placing agency in the state of Indiana. For those interested in making an adoption plan, we partner with St. Elizabeth Coleman, a division of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Indianapolis, to ensure parents have access to appropriate adoption services.
Hope begins when a person in need picks up the phone or walks through our doors.
Services and information
- Adoption
Requirements to become a foster parent
Foster parents in Indiana have access to a variety of services and support. These services include:
Support Payments
As a foster parent, you will receive a daily payment from DCS to help cover the costs of caring for a foster child. The amount varies depending on the age and needs of the child, but payments start at $18.88/day.
Foster parents are also eligible for an initial clothing expense payment of up to $200.00 and an Annual Personal Allowance of up to $300.00 per child per year. This payment becomes available when the child has been in placement for at least eight days.
Additionally, DCS provides a Special Occasion Allowance of up to $50.00 on
child’s birthday and during the December holidays.
Medical and Dental Coverage
In Indiana, children in foster care are entitled to receive Medicaid coverage for their medical and dental needs.
However, it is the responsibility of the foster parents to schedule and attend all medical and dental appointments for the child. This means that foster parents must make sure that the child receives proper medical care and attends all necessary appointments to maintain their health and well-being.
Training and Support Groups
Foster parents have access to ongoing training and support groups to help them navigate the challenges of fostering. Support groups provide a space for foster parents to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of fostering.
Indiana Foster Care Statistics and Outcomes
Understanding the statistics and outcomes of foster care in Indiana can help you better understand the need for foster parents in the state.
As of 2021, there were over 13,000 children in foster care in Indiana. However, there are only 6,200 licensed foster parents. Most children in Indiana foster care are between ages 8 and 16. On average, they stayed an average of 14.3 months in foster care.
Sadly, children who exit foster care have a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration than their peers who did not experience foster care.
As a foster parent, you can help break this cycle. You could inspire troubled child to excel and reach their true potential.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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Aug 10, 2023
This is a very good organization. There are very good people working there who help with all questions. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 Now there works there Olha Ostrovska . She can translate everything into Ukrainian. .
Jun 08, 2023
We appreciate very huge support from Catholic Charities in Fort Wayne and especially thanks to Olha Ostrovska!!!💙💛🇺🇸
She is always online and takes the phone immediately and explain everything and answer for all our questions!!!
Thank your organisation for help to Ukrainians!!!
Sep 27, 2022
Omg words can't Describe how i needed them no food no nothing and the 💘 they showed me help me get my stuff couldnt walk wheel chair and there services was outstanding the people there were helpful friendly. Didn't make you feel last then i left there with tears of joy. and blessed. and hungry with Love and care and 🌹 Thank you staff and Catholic charities 5 stars 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
May 06, 2022
I was very excited to learn about the Fort Wayne ID card which CC was offering for $25.00. I was under the impression that one could use this card to open a bank account at Flagstar Bank. But that is not the case. You need an ITin number or a social security number to open the account. Therefore the Ft. Wayne ID card is not relevant for those wanting to open a bank account. Too bad. Something is needed to allow people to open accounts. They do look nice, and you can use them to get a library card.
Feb 11, 2022
Good stuff but overly priced