Abbott House
For Children and Families - All of our programs and services are designed to keep families together, ensure children are safe, their needs addressed and they are provided opportunities to thrive. We know that each child and family has unique needs. Our approach is to partner with children and families to create a plan and tap into the right resources that best meet their needs. For families with children with more complex needs, we offer Care Management and Care Coordination through our Health Homes services.
Abbott House is proud to be an LGBTQIA+ inclusive, welcoming, and affirming organization. Our staff are trained to work with families, children, and individuals representing a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and sensitivities.
Foster Care and Adoption - Abbott House recruits, trains, and supports courageous families to open their homes and hearts to Abbott House children and adolescents. For children and teens who need additional support or who have not yet been matched with a foster family, residential care in a group home setting serves as a safe and nurturing atmosphere as they continue their individual journeys toward permanency. One community residence provides services for seriously emotionally disturbed children.
To build lasting foundations for children, families, and adults with complex needs that provide opportunities for promising futures.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Other
Requirements to become a foster parent
Raising foster children is a rewarding and life-changing experience. You can make a real difference in a child's life, helping them on a path toward success.
Remember that fostering affects the whole family, so talk to your partner and biological children if you're considering this journey. Learn more about what to expect and ensure it fits your lifestyle. You must be healthy and have enough time and energy to care for a child and meet their needs. This is important for gaining foster parent approval because every child must have this foundation of support.
Each state has requirements for foster parents. In New York, applicants must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Live in a safe and stable environment
- Have enough space for a foster child
- Show financially stability
- Prove that all family members are in good health
- Pass a background check
- Clear a home safety inspection
- Attend required foster parent training
- Complete the Home Study process
- Provide a minimum of three character references
Foster families in New York can rent or own their homes. Adults can become foster parents no matter their marital or divorce status. All adults who are living in the home with foster children must pass the New York required criminal background check. Every adult must complete both state and federal background checks and undergo fingerprinting.
Interested candidates can make the first call to foster services and get the approval and licensing process started. Contact the New York Office of Children and Family Services (NYOCFS) or your local Department of Social Services (DSS). The first step after expressing interest will be to attend a foster orientation. Potential foster parents can learn about the approval process at the event and get questions answered by a foster child advocate.
The foster parent training requirement begins with pre-service training. After getting licensed, foster parents must participate in ongoing training and educational programs.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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Jun 15, 2023
Just beautiful & calm. I went as a new employee to take my ID & I just loved the atmosphere.
May 05, 2023
Lived in one of their group homes back in the 90’s. Group home staff was amazing to me. I still keep in touch with some of them now. They were patient with the kind of kids they had to deal with. On the other hand, I tried contacting Abbott House regarding my case or was it just thrown away. Never received a response. It was a lengthy sensitive message I prefer not to speak in detail here. Very disheartening and to this day, I still don’t know what the outcome was. Abbott I hope you read this and contact me. I hope kids that had cases like mine are living a good happy life and have closure.
Feb 15, 2023
Staff is very polite and understanding. Make all type of accomodations for you and your children not to say they have lost of programs to help the individual needs
Jan 05, 2023
I have experience racism in this job, horrible place to work for, very unprofessional people, bad bad bad...
Nov 13, 2022
The most unprofessional environment that you can imagine. Mediocre, conflictive, nepotism, abusive... You name... It happens there... Not worth considering working in that place.