Transitional Foster Care
Displaced children and youth enter the United States each year, traveling extraordinary distances, often without a parent or guardian. They are seeking a haven from violence, poverty, drug-related gang activity, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. When they finally get to the United States, they are detained, and according to immigration law, must be placed with a federally funded agency that will provide short-term foster care while they transition to placement with family or other sponsor.
In our transitional foster care program, NYAP matches children and youth with foster parents who are bilingual and familiar with the culture of their foster children. Immigrating children and youth are placed in foster homes on a short-term basis, often as an alternative to placement in a congregate care facility. Our foster parents are selected because of their passion and desire to serve unaccompanied children, and to provide them safety and stability as they await reunification with their family or other sponsor. All children are provided individualized assessment, counseling, education, health care, legal services, and access to religious practice of their choice.
While children and youth are in transitional foster care, NYAP works to connect them with existing family, who generally live in the United States. These family members, and close family friends, are called “sponsors.” Our case workers contact identified sponsors and assess their willingness and suitability to care for their family member. If a sponsor cannot be found, and the child is a likely candidate for asylum or other legal status, they may transition to long-term foster care.