HeartShare St. Vincent's Services
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services’ Foster Care Program ensures that children in foster care experience a seamless transition to a safe, stable, loving home. Once children are in foster care, HSVS works towards achieving permanency, either through reunification with birth families, kinship guardians or adoption. Additionally, HSVS provides intensive support to older adolescents to prepare them for aging out of care and coping with the transition to adulthood.
We aim to nurture and support children, adults, and families to expand opportunities and enhance lives. Our four divisions have been set up to provide a broad, flexible range of support for our New York community.
Today, HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services programs can be found in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, reaching over 6,000 New Yorkers each year. By offering a stable home, a safe place to go after school, a means to graduate college and the skills to achieve physical and mental well-being, our staff and services work to equalize opportunities for those who need it most.
You can be a foster parent if you:
• Are at least 21 years old and have income
• Are single, married or partnered.
• Identify as LGBTQ or want to ally with LGBTQ youth.
• Are interested in providing young children with an enriching and loving home.
• Are interested in helping teens to develop into happy, well-educated, successful adults.
• Are looking to adopt youth into a forever family.
What we provide:
• A monthly financial stipend to provide for the needs of each child.
• Medical, dental, and mental health care for each child.
• Training and support for foster families.
• 24/7 assistance from dedicated HSVS staff in case of an emergency.
HeartShare Human Services of New York nurtures and empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
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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May 18, 2023
I work here so it was great! Lol
Nov 23, 2022
Helps out
Nov 07, 2022
They are very helpful to their patients.
Sep 20, 2022
It’s a great place to work. There is a lot of staff support and with the new normal, we are all still learning to cope and be a support to each other. And be fun and great leaders.
Sep 05, 2022
Great experience excellent service!