What exactly is an emergency foster shelter?

BOTZ

I used to work in just such a place. It is basically a group home (which may or may not actually be a "home") that is staffed by employees of the state department of child and family services (or whatever the dept. is called in the given state) and has somewhere between 16 and about 50 'spaces' for children from ages 0-17 (occasionally older, in special cases).

Ours was called a 'shelter', or rather it was called "the shelter" because it was the only one in that county, but that's what it was.

Ours had 18 spaces and was staffed by 2 or 3 people at a time, depending on the time of day and how many kids were there. There were times, even though we were licensed for 18 kids, that we had as many as 25 kids. They all had a place to sleep, eat, shower, etc. but it was a madhouse (a fun one!) at times. A court had to separately approve each placement over 18 children.

In some cases, there are also "emergency shelter homes" that are specially licensed 'regular' foster homes -- meaning family homes with a mom and dad (or similar) who are foster parents. It may have been one of those. Generally, those homes are certified at a higher level of safety, health care training and are expected to take placement at all times of the day and/or night.

It might have been a placement of that type, too.

I don't think your parents were trying to 'sugar coat' anything. That 'language' is the type used by state social services (foster care) in general. That's probably exactly what your paperwork says. I'm basing that on you being born/adopted in the U.S. Were you?

Oh, and please don't apologize for asking questions...that's what the forum is here for. :-)

Take care!

StarShineâ™¥

Emergency foster shelters are the same thing as foster care homes.

It is a system by which a certified, stand-in parent cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority.

Randy B

In my area there are no real shelters as such but there is a list of qualified foster parents willing to act as emergency workers in the event of a snap intake. They often get children of all ages at all times of the day or night, some long term and some only until a more permanent placement can be found for them.

Mimi

I think it's like a homeless shelter for foster kids, where they go until they find families for them. Sort of a halfway house I guess.

greenlightgirl667

It could be an orphanage. It could also be a foster home, or in custody of CPS, or a hospital or fire/police department and they took you somewhere else. Your parents may have been told something and maybe they weren't sure what that was exactly either.

Cam

Most likely you were placed with a foster care provider who is prepared to take an infant/or children with little to no notice.

cmc

Usually emergency foster care is someone that agrees to take children on short/no notice and keep them until a longer term place can be found. They usually only keep them a few days or a weeks, but may decide to do longer term care. Most babies are in private homes, but not sure how it worked in your state when you were a baby. There aren't really orphanages in the US (assuming that is where you are from). There are some group homes for foster kids, but usually older kids.

Kate

It is a temporary foster home until a permanent home is found.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: