Our Mission
Creative Alternatives Foster Family Agency’s mission is to deliver comprehensive therapeutic services in a nurturing environment to youth and young adults with the ultimate goal of development into successfully functioning adults, capable of stable interpersonal relationships and competent family living skills.
Creative Alternatives Foster Family Agency has offered over 40 years of quality care to children. Our goal is to provide committed homes wherein children are embraced with hope, love, security, and permanence in order to create thriving children and young adults whom are capable of developing healthy relationships, achieving permanency through reunification with biological family members, guardianship or adoption with an identified resource parent, or emancipation and independent living in the community.
Available Services and Accommodations for our Foster Families
- Financial Assistance
- 24-hour Emergency On-Call
- Individual Counseling
- Specialized Foster Care Training
- Reunification Services
- First Aid / CPR Training
- CPI Training (Crisis Prevention Intervention)
- Family Counseling
- Emergency Respite
- Case Management by a Master’s Level Social Worker
- Water Safety Courses.
Creative Alternatives is licensed by the State Department of Social Services to operate a Foster Family Agency. Through our agency, families are recruited, trained and certified as exclusive-use homes for the corporation. This enables Creative Alternatives to continue care for children who have successfully completed their stay in the group home program but who are unable to return to their natural homes.
Clients acceptable for this program can be placed with a certified family for long-term care or adoption. Creative Alternatives also accepts children who are appropriately qualified for direct placement in certified homes.
Are you Qualified?
- Age 21 years and older
- Parents must have valid California Driver’s License, DMV record, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance
- Adequate space for a child in the home
- All adults living in the home must pass a background clearance with Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and California Child Abuse Central Index (CACI)
- Health Screening
Need help meeting the foster care qualifications?
Becoming a Resource Parent
Attend an Orientation
You will get to know the social workers and other staff of the FFA in an Information Session with the Family Development Specialist.
Complete background check for all adults.
All adults living in the home must pass a background clearance with Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and California Child Abuse Central Index (CACI)
Attend Resource Parent Classes
Complete an array of classes provided by Creative Alternatives including: Resource Parent Classes, CPR & 1st Aid classes, family interviews and assessments, and home inspection.
Become a new family.
After all the interactions you will have had with the members of the FFA team, you will find a new strong relationship with a supportive team willing to go the extra mile to find the perfect match that will fit your family.
Reach out to us today.
We hold overwhelming respect to anyone even considering becoming a Resource Parent. We highly encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions at all.
Meet The Team
Program Director
Angie Beringer, M.S.
Foster Family Recruiter and Trainer
Mary Schilling, M.A.
Social Worker
Susan Worthington, M.A.
Supervising Social Worker
Christina Walker, M.P.A.
Social Worker
Alexa Trahan, M.A.
ISFC Support Counselor
Bryant Gadea
Home Study Specialist
Jeannie Post, M.A
Social Worker
Sarah Taylor, M.S.W.
ISFC Support Counselor
Magda Vera
Frequently Asked Questions:
Placements are initiated in two ways. Either through a phone call or a faxed referral to the intake worker. Faxed referrals should include the client’s history, current behavioral issues, and a psychological report or IEP if available. After acceptance, a formal intake is arranged, although Creative Alternatives does accept emergency placements.
Creative Alternatives encourages and reinforces ongoing contact and visitation with biological family members. However, because our contract is with the adoptive parent or placing agency, they set the boundaries regarding contact, including whom the child may contact, how often, and what type of contact may occur.
Yes. Creative Alternatives does provide transportation for the above mentioned appointments. Generally, prior to placement, the intake worker will verbally commit to a reasonable amount of transportation per month. Biological family members are also encouraged to visit the children on site if this has been approved by the placing agency.