MAYVILLE, NY – Families or individuals keen on making a significant contribution to the welfare of children and our community are cordially invited to explore the local foster care system’s current needs as part of an open house later this month.
The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services’ Home Finding Team is hosting a Foster Parent Open House on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
For convenience, the Department will offer an in-person session and a virtual session. The in-person session will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Cassadaga campus of Park United Methodist Church located at 25 Maple Ave in Cassadaga, N.Y. Attendees should enter through the side door. The virtual session will take place on the same date from 7 to 8 p.m.
If you enjoy working with children and want to help families in our community, consider attending one of these events. Attendees will learn about various foster care and adoption programs and meet our Home Finding Team. Events are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required to attend the virtual event, however walk-ins are welcome to attend the in-person event.
Foster Care services in Chautauqua County provide out-of-home care for children in the custody of the Commissioner of Social Services. Foster Care plays an important role in providing temporary, safe and nurturing homes to children when their parents are unable to care for them.
Children are placed in foster homes in situations where they have been removed from their own families because they have been abused, and/or neglected or because other family problems exist that endanger their safety.
The children may range from infancy through 18 years of age and may have special medical, physical or emotional needs; the children may belong to any ethnicity or race and be part of a group of siblings who would benefit most from remaining together.
“Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will not give up on them, who understands the power of connections and insists that they become the best they can possibly be,” explained Melissa McMahon, Director of Certification. “You don’t have to be perfect to be an amazing parent. Please consider learning more about fostering a child in our community.”
If you are interested in registering, or interested in receiving more information about the programs or becoming a foster parent, please contact Audra Moeller by emailing moellera@chqgov.com or by calling 716-661-8212. You can also visit our website at www.chqhhs.com to learn more.
