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Comprehensive Foster Care Program (CFC)

Helix Human Services provides Comprehensive Foster Care (CFC), a unique program through which foster families provide a home to one or two children and/or adolescents in need of more support.

Western MA | Serving: children, adolescents, families
Contact: Kristen Fisher, Program Manager
t: 413-739-5626, ext. 228 | e: KFisher@helixhumanservices.org

Some children and adolescents need more supportive care as well as services than can be provided in their own family homes or in traditional foster care. CFC provides a higher level of structure and supervision as well as advocacy and comprehensive wraparound services. Children and adolescents up to age 18 receive intensive case management and a multidisciplinary service team to coordinate their care. The team may include DCF, a therapist, a physician, an attorney, an educational advocate, and other community resources.

Foster parents receive specialized training, respite, and other supports to sustain their important work. CFC program specialists support families throughout the process. We explain the expectations of the parents as well as other guidelines. We help facilitate the required training through the Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP), a program that prepares individuals for their role as foster parents and helps to ensure a safe home for foster children.

We are on-call, responding to the needs of our foster parents, 24 hours/ day, seven days/ week. We provide a strong foster parent community and support group that meets regularly.

We work primarily with children and families in Western Massachusetts and, if possible, match children with a foster family in their current school district. We are committed to serving children who may identify as LGBTQ+ and actively seek out foster families who are able to support these young people.

Requirements to apply:

  • Age 21 years or older
  • Previous experience working with children
  • Successful background check
  • A valid Massachusetts driver’s license and access to reliable transportation
  • A home that meets all health, physical and safety standards

The approval process can take anywhere from three to six months.

Foster families receive:

  • A tax-free stipend per day, per child
  • Ongoing trauma/neglect training and methods to support youth
  • A case manager for each child
  • Access to clinical support, 24 hours a day
  • Monthly foster parent support meetings

Location:
60 Sherman Street in Springfield, MA.

Contact:
Gladys Cornier, Family Resource Worker
t: 413-739-5626 ext. 267 | 413.356.5351 | e: GCornier@helixhumanservices.org

We accept applications on an ongoing basis. For more information, please fill out the following inquiry form, and a Helix Human Services foster care representative will follow up with you.