Embrace the journey. Foster a child's tomorrow.
Become a Foster Parent with Cayuga Centers
At Cayuga Centers, we believe that everyone has something to offer, and your unique background, skills, and knowledge are exactly what a child needs. By becoming a foster parent, you provide the love and stability that a child who has been through trauma needs to thrive.
As an experienced and trusted organization serving children and families since 1852, Cayuga Centers provides 24/7 support to make your journey as a foster parent rewarding and fulfilling. Whether for a weekend, a month, or longer, you can make a difference in a young person’s life and help change the world one child at a time.
The Process
Contact your local Cayuga Centers team to express your interest. Find more about your location’s requirements here.
Complete an application and submit it to your licensing specialist.
Complete required training and home assessment. Read our guide on how to prepare for a home study.
Get certified! Once you have completed the licensing process, Cayuga Centers will work towards matching you with a youth.
Meet our Cayuga Centers Foster Parents
Cayuga Centers has empowered individuals from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles to embark on their journey as foster parents. From single parents to couples of all identities, we firmly believe that everyone has the capacity to provide the nurturing care and safe haven a child deserves.
Our resilient and committed foster parents are the backbone of Cayuga Centers. Every day they open their hearts to youth from all walks of life, making a permanent impact on their future. In partnership with our team, we are able to provide the active treatment needed to establish care and work toward unification.
Love makes room: The Cooks’ foster journey to adoption
When Andrew and Jessica Cook decided to become foster parents, they weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Now, they’ve grown to a family of seven. They have navigated challenges, created memories, and found unexpected joy in fostering—proving that love always makes room.
Olivia’s story: How a new agency is redefining foster care in Allegheny County with a bundled service approach
For youth in foster care, sometimes the littlest victories lead to the biggest success. Take Olivia — a Pittsburgh teen who, after years of uncertainty, is now thriving thanks to the support of Cayuga Centers.
An open heart and home: Eric’s foster parent story
Eric shares his heartfelt story which beautifully illustrates the profound difference a quality foster home can make, not only in the lives of youth in need but also in the hearts of those who open their homes to them.
Every step of the way you are supported
As a foster parent, you will
- Create a stable and nurturing environment for children and youth to thrive.
- Support a child with trauma as they work toward reunification with their family.
- Provide care and support to the child at home and in their community.
- Provide transportation for school, extracurricular activities, and other needs.
- Stay up to date on trauma-informed training.
As your support team, we will
- Provide a treatment team including a case planner, clinician, and skills trainer to help schedule youth’s appointments and provide therapy and skills lessons to the youth.
- Train you in trauma-informed care so you can feel confident in fostering all levels of youth.
- Be available to you 24/7 and connect you with resources including foster parent support groups.
- Match you with youth to ensure a smooth transition and success of the placement.
Our Locations
We offer Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC), a research-informed, multi-tiered team approach to rebuilding family relationships, and provide care for children who need high levels of support due to trauma. We provide TFFC in Central New York, Western New York, Capital Region New York, Mohawk Valley New York, Pittsburgh, Delaware, New York City and South Florida. In New York City, we also offer Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children.
Learn more about the specific requirements to become a foster parent in your region.
Pittsburgh
New York City
Western Region – New York
UPSTATE New York
Delaware
Capital Region – new york
CENTRAL AND South Florida
Mohawk Valley
Foster Care Programs for Unaccompanied Children
NEW YORK CITY ONLY
In addition to our Treatment Foster Care program, we provide foster care services for unaccompanied children (UC) in our Transitional fostering program. To become a UC foster parent, you are required to speak Spanish and live in New York City.
Explore UC Fostering
New York City
Interested in Kinship Foster Care?
Kinship care is a form of foster care that emphasizes keeping children and youth close to their families. Kinship caregivers include relatives, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, extended family, or fictive kin (those known to the family). Kinship care has become an important alternative to out-of-home care. Kinship placements limit disruputions, maintain family connections and cultural traditions, and minimize the trauma of separation
Want to speak to an expert?
Online information sessions are available for some of our locations.
Through our 1:1 information sessions, our dedicated team members will talk you through the Cayuga Centers’ foster parenting journey. Learn how you can become the champion a youth needs today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of kids are in foster care?
Children from all backgrounds can be in need of foster care. Sometimes it is a short-term placement while a family receives additional support. Sometimes long-term care is needed. When a child requires additional emotional or behavioral support, our team is there to ensure the foster parents have the training and backup they need. Ages can range from babies to teens. Children come from all cultural and economic backgrounds. The one thing they all have in common is the need for a loving home.
Do foster parents get paid?
Foster parents receive monthly tax-free stipends to cover the expenses of looking after a child. The figure varies depending on your location and the level of care needed for the youth. To learn more, contact your local team.
Can I adopt from foster care?
It is sometimes possible to adopt from foster care, but Cayuga Centers is not a fostering-to-adoption agency. Instead, we prioritize working with families toward reunification. If adoption does end up being the reality for the youth, we are happy to connect our foster parents to a local adoption agency.
Want to learn more?
Our Frequently Asked Questions section can give you answers about training, stipends, qualifications, and so much more.
Cayuga Corner
Looking for more foster parent resources? Our blog Cayuga Corner will help you navigate the ins and outs of the foster parent journey.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@cayuga.centers
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
Children’s mental health matters — this week and every week.
Did you know half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14?
We’re sharing 5 facts about the mental health crisis of children in foster care to help you better understand how to support the mental well-being of youth, especially those in crisis.
Take a minute to read. Reflect. Share. And, take a moment for yourself, too. Check in. Slow down. Your mental health matter too! Click the link in bio to visit Cayuga Corner for more self care ideas.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 5
💙✨ May the Fourth be with you! ✨💙
Fans of Star Wars know that Luke Skywalker was raised by his aunt and uncle and Leia was raised by family friends. In the foster care galaxy, this is known as kinship care. Kinship care is a form of foster care where children are raised by blood relatives or other adult that is close to the child but unrelated (known as fictive kin).
Today, we celebrate the unsung heroes in our own galaxy who open their homes and hearts to family. 💙
Tag someone who makes a difference in your world!
#maythefourth #fostercare #fostercayugacenters
May 4
We support foster care all year round, but this month, we join the nation in shining a bright light on our staff and foster parents who help us serve the youth in our care. We cannot express enough gratitude to our clinicians, case managers, and program coordinators as they serve on the frontlines of our programs. Our support teams are the backbone of our organization and work tirelessly to keep our operations running smoothly.
In addition to Foster Care Appreciation Month, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Our continuum of care model is built on the foundation of a deep belief in mental health support. Programs like Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS), Home Health Care Management, our Youth and Family Resource Center, and Home and Community-Based Treatment and Support (HCBTS) services were designed with the idea that families who receive mental health services and support are more likely to avoid systems that split them apart.
The work that we do at Cayuga Centers is tough. The work that foster parents and all parents excel at daily is tough. This month it is so important that we take time and invest in our own mental health.
Happy Foster Care and Mental Health Awareness month!
May 1
The ultimate goal for young people in foster care is to keep families together, and unite those who have been divided when possible. Cayuga Centers is committed to supporting permanency plans for young people in our programs. A temporary stay is an essential step in providing a permanent home for youth in care. Visit the link in bio to learn more. #FosterCayugaCenters
Apr 29
Want to make a real, lasting difference in the life of a youth in foster care?
Read our blog at Cayuga Corner and learn how to understand trauma, including:
- How to tell the difference between trauma responses and behavior issues
- Supportive ways to help youth feel safe, seen, and supported
- Ways to protect your own emotional well-being as a caregiver
Comment `trauma` to read the full blog - How to recognize and help youth overcome trauma in foster care
Apr 9
