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Providing Jewish Homes for Jewish Children in Need
When the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) determines that a Jewish child is in immediate danger and no other family member or friend can provide a safe environment, they turn to Ohel. As the only agency in New York contracted and dedicated to placing Jewish children in Jewish homes, Ohel’s foster care program ensures that every child receives the care and attention they need within a familiar, supportive, and nurturing environment. We’re consistently ranked among the top foster care agencies in NYC, reflecting our unwavering commitment to excellence in service.
Comprehensive Care for Every Child
At Ohel, we prioritize the physical, emotional, educational, and recreational well-being of the children in our care. Our dedicated foster parents receive ongoing training, support and a monthly stipend, helping them provide a stable and loving home for a child in need.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, children in our foster care program have the opportunity to attend the same yeshivas and summer camps as their foster siblings, ensuring they feel a sense of belonging and continuity, never isolated or “othered.”
Our Foster Children: Nurturing Every Child’s Potential
Ohel’s foster children come from diverse Jewish backgrounds and challenging family situations, but they all share one thing in common: the need for a loving, supportive, environment during a difficult time in their lives.
The Role of Ohel’s Social Workers in Foster Care
- Each child in our program is paired with a dedicated Ohel social worker who provides comprehensive, individualized support, including:
- Regular consultation and guidance for foster parents, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.
- Visits to foster homes to monitor the child’s well-being and progress.
- Access to medical, mental health, and other support services tailored to each child’s needs.
- Supervision and coordination of visits between foster children and their birth parents.
- Collaboration with biological parents to support reunification efforts when it is safe and possible.
Become an Ohel Foster Parent: Make a Lasting Impact
Have you ever considered opening your heart and home to a Jewish child in need? Ohel welcomes both couples and singles to become foster parents and make a meaningful difference in a child’s life. Our team will provide comprehensive training, as well as ongoing support throughout the child’s stay in your home.
Foster Parent Support and Benefits
Foster parents receive a monthly stipend from ACS to cover basic needs, and Ohel’s fundraising efforts ensure that school tuition and summer camp costs are fully covered if needed. Medical and mental health services for the child are also provided at no cost, through Ohel and New York City’s support.
How a Child Comes to Ohel: A Path to Safety and Healing
When ACS receives a report of a Jewish child in immediate danger due to serious abuse or neglect, they work to keep the child within a familiar environment, starting with outreach to extended family and friends. If no safe family option is available, ACS contacts Ohel to place the child in a certified Jewish foster home, with the ultimate goal of reunifying them with their biological parents. If reunification is not possible, we explore the option of a permanent adoptive placement, always with the child’s best interests at heart.