Homes Away From Home: The Changing Face of Foster Care

New York City’s foster care system has made headway in finding family homes for young people—especially younger teens—who once would have lived in group homes and residential treatment centers. But city officials and nonprofit leaders face tremendous challenges in creating effective support systems, crisis teams and training programs that can help foster parents care for these children. How are foster parents adjusting to their increasingly demanding role, and how can the system best meet their needs?

The Center for New York City Affairs and Center for an Urban Future brought together policy makers, practitioners, parents and foster teens to discuss the future of foster care. Andrew White, director of the Center for New York City Affairs, summarized findings from the issue of Child Welfare Watch, Homes Away from Home: Foster parents for a new generation.

A conversation with: John Mattingly, Commissioner, NYC Administration for Children’s Services Anstiss Agnew, Executive Director, Forestdale, Inc. Lourdes Álvarez, Anchor Foster Parent, Circle of Support Pauline Gordon, teen in foster care and reporter, Represent! Stephen McCall, resource parent consultant

Moderator: Andrew White, Director, Center for New York City Affairs

Supported by the Child Welfare Fund, the Ira W. DeCamp Foundation, the Viola W. Bernard Foundation, the Sirus Fund and the Milano Foundation.