Boysville Establishes Community Based Foster Care Program

Sep 30, 2009

For More Information Contact:
Beth Reinhardt, Director of Community Relations
210.659.1901 or breinhardt@boysvilletexas.org

Boysville Establishes Community-Based Foster Care Program
Program will supervise foster care homes in the Judson ISD area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN ANTONIO, TX (September 30, 2009) --The Boysville Board of Directors approved the establishment of a Community Based Foster Care Program. 

The Community Based Foster Care Program at Boysville will recruit and train families interested in being foster parents and who live in the Judson Independent School District.  The CBFC at Boysville will be responsible for placing children in need of services as well as providing case management, therapeutic and recreational support for foster care children. 

“By establishing our own community based foster care program, we will be able to serve more children,” said Lenna Baxter, CEO for Boysville.  “The families who serve as foster care parents in our program will receive support from our existing programs.”

Baxter is excited to start this program in the Converse area. 

“Each day that Boysville has to deny a child needing placement because we do not have room, literally breaks my heart,” said Baxter.  On average, Boysville receives four-to five phone calls a day from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services seeking placement of sibling groups with young children.

“Right now in our Emergency Shelter, we have three groups of young siblings who need a safe, family environment,” said Baxter.  “This program is designed to help children such as these.”

The program will be headed by Constance Hood, Director of Child Placement at Boysville.  The program will continue to provide the quality of care that Boysville is known for in San Antonio.

Currently, Boysville has four nationally accredited programs that provide a continuum of care for children in need: an Emergency Shelter for boys and girls, infants to 17 years old; a residential program for boys and girls 5-17 years old, an on-campus foster care program for sibling groups, infants to 17 years old; and a transitional living program for current and former residents who have graduated from high school while living at Boysville.

Boysville hopes to have several foster homes in the JISD by December.

Founded in 1943, Boysville cares for boys and girls who cannot remain in their home due to abuse, neglect or family disruption.  Boysville’s mission is to provide a safe, family environment for children in need so that they may become responsible adults.

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