Where do kids come from?
We accept children from Sacramento, Yolo, Nevada and El Dorado Counties. Kids come from their own homes, relatives, foster home, or any place else they may be currently staying. 80% come to us from their biological home.
Who brings them in?
Kids come to us from a variety of different sources. Most kids are placed here under a Protective Custody hold, by Law Enforcement or Children’s Protective Services (CPS), while their cases are being investigated. We will also have kids that are placed here by the Courts, the placement units of CPS, or the FM/Informal Supervision units of CPS. Any child that needs a safe place to stay will be considered for placement.
What do they do while here?
The Children’s Receiving Home offers a structured yet supportive program to meet the individual needs of all children. We have a daily routine that encompasses a variety of services. We have an on grounds school the Children will attend during the school year. After school we have activities and group activities that they will participate in. After dinner we will have our visitation hour, where parents or friends may come and see the kids. After that we will have an evening activity that everyone usually participates in. On weekends and other times, we will plan various activities, some on campus.
What do you do when you don’t have bed space?
If we should be unable to take a child because of no bed space being available, it is the responsibility of the Dependent Intake unit of Sacramento County to find an alternative placement, usually a foster home. Where do kids under 1 go? Kids of that age are usually placed in specialized foster homes.
What’s the difference between you and the Sacramento Children’s Home?
We both work with children that are placed in out of home care. Our agency is the first step into the out-of-home care system and is very short term. Sacramento Children’s Home is considered a long term placement and children will stay there for longer periods of time until they can either return home or go to a foster home.
Aren’t you a County facility?
No, we’re a private, non-profit facility. We work with Sacramento, Yolo, Nevada and El Dorado counties.
What if you only have space for some of the siblings?
Every effort is made to take in the entire family at admission. If for some reason we are unable to do so, the children we are not able to take are placed in emergency foster homes.
How are you funded?
Most of our funding will derive from a variety of sources relating to our taking care of children. We are also active in United Way campaigning, fund raising, and grant writing. We also will receive donations that will help us support our programs. We have a Board of Directors who will help devise and seek ways for raising funds.
What happens to kids after they leave?
Children leave here to go either to extended family members, or return to parents usually if in home services have been provided and the home is now judged to be safe. These services may include counseling, substance abuse intervention, anger management classes, etc. Approximately 50% of the children leave here not ready to go home and will be placed into foster care, possibly to return home at a later date.
How do you know kids do better after they leave here?
We have a variety of ways we find out. Our Mental Health team provides aftercare to a certain amount of kids, so they’re able to follow them and report back. When we see the child’s Social Worker we are also able to find out, and a certain percentage of kids will come back and tell us how they’re doing.
How can you do this work?
Children’s Receiving Home staff usually come from the field of Social Services or are otherwise attracted to working with children. It is hard work and not for everybody. However we are fortunate to have extremely dedicated people working here who have found within themselves the capability to do the work we are called to do.
What happen with (the kid I just saw): how did they get here?
Children come to us from a large variety of backgrounds, families and neighborhoods. We believe that we serve the finest children in our communities who deserve the highest level of services. We believe that if we intervene early with victims of child abuse and neglect we will reverse the negative course they have experienced thus far. However, all children are covered by legal confidentiality and we are unable to release specific identifying information on the children.
How many staff do you have?
We employ approximately 160 people.
How many volunteers do you have?
We currently have approximately 150 Volunteers.
What kind of donations do you need?
We rely on community support at all levels. First and foremost, dollars help. We always can also use donations of clothing, gift cards, activity supplies, and anything else you might imagine children between the ages of 1 and 17 would need. These are the children of our community and need what all children need.
Who does your school?
Our on campus school, Valley Oaks, is a public school run by the San Juan Unified School District.
Can I bring my (family member) by?
We are happy to take any interested adult on a tour of the facility, scheduling to be determined. Due to confidentiality issues of the children in our care we cannot offer the same to children under the age of 18.
How can I help?
There are many ways to support our program and kids. Monetary contributions help the most. After that, volunteering your time to spend with the kids and/or donating items are the more common other ways to help. Remembering us through your United Way pledge is also a good way to help. Not forgetting these children and remembering that they deserve our help is critical to our success, and any way you can think of to help would be appreciated.
