While LSS/NCA says goodbye to the children, foster parents and birth families to whom we’ve provided foster care services for almost fifty years, we continue to keep our doors, and our hearts and minds, open to the needs of the surrounding community. LSS/NCA’s mission is to ‘walk with those in need by mobilizing partners and providing service that offers hope and rebuilds lives’. Therefore, we embrace this transition and are excited as we seek new opportunities to address the changing needs of the community and serve more BOLDLY.
The D.C. Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) has moved forward with their plans to redesign its system to provide foster care services in-house for children placed in D.C. homes and to contract with only one provider for foster care services for children placed in Maryland homes. That provider has been identified as the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF). LSS/NCA has worked closely with NCCF for the last several months to successfully transfer our children and families to their care.
Before the transition, LSS/NCA made it a priority to assist as many children and youth as possible in achieving permanency. The agency also worked hard to maintain a 100% employment rate for staff working within these programs. Prior to the transition in 2017, 27% of LSS/NCA foster care youth achieved permanency. Of the youth who remained, 90% were able to transition without having to change foster homes. Employees have been able to transfer to the new agency, find employment elsewhere, or maintain employment with LSS/NCA in a different capacity.
LSS/NCA’s Family and Community Services (FCS)—formerly known as Children’s Services—continues to provide service to Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, families interested in private adoption, and youth affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. In addition, FCS is embarking on new initiatives to expand services to other populations, which include youth and young adults diagnosed with mental health disorders, substance addiction and other stigma-related conditions that could lead to their involvement in the child welfare system or even death. Please visit our website for updates on our programming and ways YOU can join us in service to the community.
BE BOLD WITH US!
* We are still seeking foster care homes for 40 Unaccompanied Refugee Minors. If you are interested in learning more or joining us at an upcoming training, please contact Patricia Britt at BrittP@LSSNCA.org.
Serve Boldly 