La Cuna Latino Foster Family Agency.

In only it’s first three months of operation, the San Diego-based, foster family agency La Cuna, Inc. has placed eight Latino infants and toddlers in culturally-relevant home environments. Among traditional foster-care agencies the average number of placements is reported to be 12 to 15 children per year.

“Like the mainstream society, as the Hispanic population grows in San Diego County it increases the number of children who require placement into foster homes,” says La Cuna founder and executive director Rachel Humphreys. “Our goal is to identify prospective foster parents who are able to open their hearts and homes and provide these young ones with love, essential family values and a culturally-relevant home experience — especially during their critical formative years.”

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s AdvoCasey Index, foster children who do not have positive placements suffer in a number of areas; often resulting in a higher demand for additional public-funded services:

— According to a 1991 national survey, 46 percent of former foster youth had not completed high school within 2.5 to 4 years after exiting foster care;

— Another national survey found only 49 percent of former foster youth were currently employed 2.5 to 4 years after leaving foster care;

— Of all young adults accessing federally-funded youth shelters in 1997, 58 percent had previously been in foster care; and

— A national survey found that 42 percent of former foster youth became parents within 2.5 to 4 years after exiting foster care.

“These trends are unacceptable, especially with the many benefits associated with foster parenting,” says La Cuna chairman David Bejarano, the former Chief of the San Diego Police Department and currently United States Marshal of the Southern District of California.

“The most obvious is the relationship between the child and new parents; but, we also know that a well-nurtured child will most often grow up to be a responsible, successful and socially balanced adult,” he added.

In San Diego, the majority of children who wind up at the County of San Diego’s Polinsky Center stay in the system until legal age or leave on their own accord. Presently, close to 40 percent of these children are Latino; which is why La Cuna came into existence.

“Our goal is to qualify and prepare as many prospective foster parents to fill this growing void of Latino and other ethnic households willing to provide loving, nurturing homes to these innocent, impressionable children,” explains Ms. Humphreys.

La Cuna thoroughly screens and trains prospective foster parents and is often able to have a child placed in their homes within 60 to 90 days. The agency offers specialized foster parent training. Its focus is on placement of Latino children; however, all prospective foster parents are welcome, regardless of their ethnic or racial backgrounds.

For more information at http://www.lacuna.org