Intensive Foster Care

Foster Parents Needed!

Recruitment, Training and Support for Massachusetts Foster Families
At Ascentria Intensive Foster Care (IFC) we believe that all children are deserving of a loving family. That is why we offer specialized recruitment, training, licensing and support to foster parents in Massachusetts for children that have experienced significant trauma and loss. Our foster parents are not in this alone, and have the full support of our experienced IFC team.

Ready to learn more about how you can become a foster parent?

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At Ascentria’s Intensive Foster Care Program, we work to ensure that all children grow up in a loving family environment. We serve children from birth to 22 years old who were removed from their families due to severe abuse and neglect, disrupted adoptions, voluntary placements or request for services. In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), we work to help children achieve safety, stability and permanency.

Ascentria provides specialized supports to foster parents such as individual supervision for foster families monthly and as needed. Our case worker’s offer support through weekly home visits with the youth and foster parent(s). This ensures that foster parents have the guidance, support, mentoring and general assistance they need to be successful.

Other key supports include:
  • 24/7 on-call emergency support
  • Respite care for when foster parents need a break
  • Increased financial support to meet the child’s needs, tax exempt
  • Ongoing trainings on topics like trauma and positive parenting
  • Support groups to network with other foster parents
Ascentria is committed to recruiting a pool of diverse foster parents to meet the needs of our unique children and youth. Ascentria does not discriminate against foster parent applicants on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, age, religion, disability, or nationality.
 Ascentria is committed to being a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ children, youth, parents and families.

We are proud to announce that we were recognized in the 2022 Cycle of the Human Right's Campaigns All Children - All Families (ACAF) initiative. With the support of ACAF, Ascentria's Children and Family Services programs are taking active steps toward improving LGBTQ+ inclusivity, including policy changes, staff training, and external communications updates.

Visit our list of LGBTQ+ community resources here.
 



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Attend one of our no-obligation information sessions online.

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Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent

Our licensed recruiters make it easy for you to start the process of opening your home to a child or teen in need of a safe, nurturing environment.


Inquire, Apply, and Background Check

Contact our foster parent recruitment specialists to start the process!

Contact Us


Training and Home Study

After your application has been approved, you will attend a state-mandated training followed by a series of home visits in order to get to know your family better.

You will be able to set the pace for how quickly to proceed through this important step.


Licensing and Matching

If the background check, training and home study are completed, and your family is a good fit for the IFC program, you will officially become a licensed foster parent! Your family resource coordinator will work with your team to match you with a youth in care.


Placement!
 
Now the real journey begins! You will be closely supported by a team of professionals as you welcome a new family member. This partnership will continue as we collectively work to empower the youth toward reaching their full potential and the goal of living an independent and fulfilling life.
 

Not Ready to Become a Foster Parent? You Can Still Help Young People in Care! 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Our IFC team can assist you with any questions you may have. Click the chat icon on your screen to start speaking with a foster parent recruiter.
I am single, can I be a foster parent?
I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community, can I be a foster parent?
Can I work full-time?
Do I need to own my own home?
Does the youth need their own room?
How long does it take to become a foster parent?
May I foster more than one youth?
How can I foster youth in DCF care?
Can I have biological children living in the home?
Are kids in care for short-term or long-term?
How will this impact my daily life?
What kind of support do children and families receive?
What behaviors or struggles do IFC youth have?
Can I adopt my foster child?

Requirements

✓ Be at least 25 years old
✓ Be a resident of Massachusetts
✓ Be willing to attend regularly scheduled trainings and support groups, usually twice a month
✓ Have a flexible schedule that allows for many appointments
✓ Pass a CORI (criminal background) and fingerprinting check
✓ Single, partnered or married, all are welcome!

Trainings

  • Complete a 30-hour Massachusetts Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) course provided by Ascentria
  • Complete a CPR/First Aid certification training provided by Ascentria
  • Complete a program orientation training
  • Agree to complete 20 hours a year per foster parent of additional training, provided twice monthly through Ascentria.

Download an Info Packet

Contact Us Today


Meet Our Recruiters

Our recruiters are available to answer any questions you may have about helping youth in foster care.

 

Allysia Houck

Allysia is the Foster Parent Recruitment Coordinator for the Intensive Foster Care program. Allysia has been working with Ascentria since May of 2022 and works with the Recruitment and Marketing team to reach new potential foster parents in order to provide a safe and loving home for our children in care. Please feel free to contact Allysia directly via email at ahouck@ascentria.org or by phone at 774.434.5910.
 


 

Colleen Schroth

Colleen is the Community Outreach Manager for Ascentria Children and Family Services programs. Colleen has been with Ascentria for 4 years and supervises a team of recruiters all working to find new foster parents for our children and teens in care. Colleen also oversees donations and volunteers that support our kiddos. Please feel free to contact Colleen directly via email at cschroth@ascentria.org or by phone at 774.366.4021.
 

Our Locations

130 Liberty Street, Suite 7
Brockton, MA 02301 
Phone: 774.434.5910
Fax: 508.580.5830

Directions