The need for foster homes in Del Norte County is growing by leaps and bounds. So Environmental Alternatives Foster Family Agency (EA) has come to supplement the county's own program and is looking for more people to offer their homes to foster children.

EA was founded in 1981 when it opened its first boys' group home in Quincy. EA began its Foster Family Agency in 1983 and now has 18 offices in Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Siskiyou, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Modoc, Humboldt, Yuba, Nevada, Sacramento, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. It now operates ten group homes. EA coordinates around 20 active foster homes and some 30 additional inactive homes in Humboldt County and more than 400 children in Northern California.

EA's philosophy is that we can help a child in placement and ensure their success by shifting most of the support to the foster family itself. EA believes a well supported and trained foster family is the key to success of the placement. Social workers for EA act as counselors for both the foster family and the foster child. Foster kids need stability, structure and boundaries; and EA provides regular visits to the foster home to defray problems before they start.

When children come into placement they are assessed emotionally and academically utilizing accepted psychometric tests. These tests are repeated every six months. EA social workers make weekly case notes, attend school meetings as needed, attend court proceedings, provide comprehensive data for court reports, develop treatment plans, supervise visits, act as transporters for visitations or other needs and are on 24-hour call seven days a week. In addition, we assist the foster family in their parenting skills training. Private agencies reimburse the foster families up to $750 a month per child. EA requires the foster family to be an active partner in the treatment plan and to treat the foster child as one of their own.

Many counties have seen the cost effectiveness of turning their entire foster care program over to private industry. EA does not solicit that commitment, nor do we solicit foster families already signed up with the counties in which we serve.

Joe Russo is a social worker with Environmental Alternatives soliciting foster families in Del Norte County. His phone is 707-465-4188.