Join a Virtual Information Session
Interested in fostering but not sure how it works, what the requirements are, or if you’ll be a good fit? We are happy to answer your questions LIVE in our information sessions!
Their Stay Might be Temporary, but your Impact on Youth in Foster Care is Forever
Now accepting loving foster parents in Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Treasure Coast.
Hundreds of Florida youth in foster care need homes.
Cayuga Centers is seeking diverse, loving foster homes for Florida youth. Enhanced support services empower you to become the foster parent you are meant to be.
Foster parents must reside in Palm Beach, Broward, St.Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, or Indian River county.
Meet our Cayuga Centers Foster Parents
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.
Change a life with confidence
Our bundled support meets the needs of both youth and foster parents.
At Cayuga Centers, we know that fostering can be a big task. That’s why we provide the tools you need to transform a young person’s life. Servicing South Florida, our Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Treasure Coast foster care training and support services means that our foster parents can feel confident in their skills and abilities to be excellent caregivers.
You will be supported
✓ Partner with a treatment team
✓ 24/7 support with daily check-ins
✓ Monthly foster parent support groups
You can feel prepared
✓ Trauma-informed foster parent training
✓ Monthly tax-free stipends to help provide
financial support for the youth
You are not alone
✓ Help with scheduling youth’s
appointments and meetings
✓ Therapy and life skills lessons provided to youth
Requirements:
✓ Age 21+
✓ Reside in Palm Beach, Broward, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee or St. Lucie county
✓ Own or rent your own home
✓ Have a furnished room for a child
✓ Have a regular source of income
✓ Provide updated medical clearance if suffering from a chronic illness
✓ Provide two personal references
✓ Pass state clearances
✓ Pass criminal record check for all household members
✓ Pass fingerprint check for all household members
✓ Legal status in the United States
✓ Undergo 21 hours of pre-service training
Process:
1. Call or email Licensing Specialist to express interest
2. Attend an information session / open house to learn about the program
3. Pre-service training
4. Continue with mutual assessment process
5. Complete home assessment
6. Complete application
7. Certification
8. Placement
Get certified on your schedule.
Make an investment in a youth’s future
To ensure the best fit for both our youth and foster parents, our process is thorough. However, we make our training as accessible as possible with options for morning and evening sessions and remote training. The best part? You can start training right away.
Want to speak to an expert?
Book an online session with our team!
Through our 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!
Need more time to book an information session with us? Start by filling out our interest form.
Foster parents must reside in Palm Beach, Broward, St.Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, or Indian River county.
Do you have what it takes to be a foster parent? 🤔
Not every foster parent is the same—and that’s a good thing! Take our quick quiz to find out what your foster parent personality is, then head to our blog to explore how your unique strengths can make a difference.
Comment QUIZ and we`ll send the quiz straight to your inbox.
✨What result did you get? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PersonalityQuiz #FosterCayugaCenters
May 10
Kids today are under so much pressure to fit in, to be liked, to get it all right. Social media, school, friends, it can all feel like there’s no room to mess up.
Let’s remind them: mistakes are part of growing. They don’t have to be perfect to be worthy. Every child deserves to feel safe enough to be real.
Let love, understanding, and compassion be louder than the pressure to perform.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 9
Children can carry more stress than we sometimes realize from school, peer pressure, trauma, and uncertainty. Rest is healing.
Let’s model healthy boundaries and remind children: they don’t need to earn rest, they deserve it.
Mental wellness starts with compassion, for them and for ourselves.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 8
Asking for help is a skill that kids need to develop. They are not born knowing how. Model it. Practice it together.
And when they do reach out, meet it with love, not correction. Early support can make a lifelong difference.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 7
Big emotions can feel overwhelming — especially for children still learning how to identify, name and manage them.
Let them know it’s okay to feel. And that you’re there to listen, not fix.
A simple “I’m here” goes a long way.
#FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
May 6
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
Connect with our teams!
We are actively seeking loving parents to provide a home to children and youth in Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Treasure Coast.
Stay in touch with a team in your area to learn more.
Connect with Broward County:
Connect with Palm Beach County:
Connect with The Treasure Coast:
Send us an email:
In partnership with
