Agency Foster Homes

Casa de Esperanza staff members provide graduating levels of care in Agency Foster Homes, from temporary emergency placements to long term foster care, depending on the needs of children in placement at any given time. Flexibility in the Residential Program has been a crucial part of meeting the needs of at-risk children over the years. Staff provide the daily care for children, respond to the child's need for stability and assess the needs of each child. Caregivers work with staff psychologists, developmental specialists, local physicians, and caseworkers to assess and meet each child's individual needs.

After a complete evaluation, including a medical exam, developmental assessment and psychological profile, the child may remain here for the remainder of his or her placement or may move to one of Casa de Esperanza's Community Foster Homes.

Children's daily activities emphasize structure and routine. Predictability in their environment increases the feelings of safety and security in the children we serve who are often coming to us from very chaotic backgrounds. Caregivers are compassionate, loving, and open to forming attachments with each child. Through the structure, stability, and compassionate care children receive in the Agency Foster Homes, they have the opportunity to have their psychological, developmental, and medical needs met. Paid staff members, full-time staff volunteers, and weekly community volunteers work together to care for the children in Agency Foster Homes.

Casa de Esperanza differs from other programs in Houston in the comprehensive, quality care provided to the children. Many of the children are referred because of the severity of the children's circumstances. At Casa, these children's needs are met in a caring, nurturing, and stable home, rather than in an institutional setting. The work of Casa de Esperanza has a profound effect both on the lives of the children served, and on the Houston community as well.

Children in need of a higher level of care, or who are expected to be in placement six months or more, are often placed in an Agency Foster Home with one or two consistent caregivers. These staff members commit to caring for children for a minimum of two years and are dedicated to providing optimal care in a family setting. In this way, the children receive consistency of care so that they may develop strong attachment skills that will help them in other areas of development for the rest of their lives. Children have the opportunity to experience a rich family life, participating in age-appropriate activities, developmentally appropriate educational programs, activities in the community and family outings. The experience of living in a "family home" is crucial in order for the children to successfully transition back to their birth families or into pre-adoptive homes. Ideally these placements also serve to minimize the number of foster care placements children must experience before being placed in a permanent home.

Agency Foster Homes also serve children with complex medical needs, including HIV infection, on a long-term basis. While Casa attempts to recruit adoptive homes for these children, finding adoptive placements for children with severe medical, emotional or behavioral issues is often difficult. For many of these children, Casa de Esperanza is sometimes the only alternative to institutional care.

In the past ten years, Casa staff has witnessed dramatic changes in the care of children with HIV. Due to better treatment interventions and earlier diagnoses, children with HIV are living longer, healthier lives. However, too often their parents are unable to assume parental responsibilities, and Casa has increasingly begun to assume Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) – permanent legal care – of the children.

Staff members commit to caring for a child or children with HIV for as long as is necessary, and homes are run as typical family homes. The number of children per home varies, depending upon the severity of the children's needs and the abilities of the house parents to meet each child's needs. Casa de Esperanza staff have witnessed that with proper nutrition, consistent, quality medical care and nurturing caregivers, children with HIV/AIDS can live longer, healthier lives. Initially, attempts to place these children for adoption were fruitless, due to the lack of families willing to adopt children with HIV. However, with the exposure that the children are given to the Houston community through this program, we have been successful at placing children with HIV/AIDS in loving, adoptive homes.

Casa de Esperanza's residences are licensed under the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

It is the policy of Casa de Esperanza that no family is charged for services provided by the agency.