Our Foster Families come in all shapes and sizes, from single first-time parents to empty nesters! We accept parents from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, gender, marital status, religion, or sexual orientation. The youth we serve come from diverse backgrounds, and we strive to reflect that diversity in our families. Our program is unique because we are looking for long-term placements and parents willing to commit to a longer-term or permanent relationship with youth.

• Reside in Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Mateo, or San Francisco counties

• Have space in your home for a youth

• Complete 24+ hours of pre-approval training

• Successfully pass a background check

• Demonstrate financial solubility

• Complete a panel interview with staff

• Multiple in-person interviews with a social worker through a comprehensive Home Study process.

Unaccompanied refugee minors are youth under the age of 18 who have been granted refugee status and arrive in the United States without a parent or guardian to care for them. Eligible minors include refugees, asylees, special immigrant juveniles, and victims of human trafficking.

These youth come from diverse backgrounds and countries such as Afghanistan, El Salvador, Eritrea, Guatemala, Myanmar, and Sudan. Many have fled their homes due to war, gang violence, or persecution. They arrive in our program through referrals from the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, either directly from refugee camps overseas or from federally run shelters across the United States.

Most of our youth are between the ages of 15-17 upon arrival, and they often speak multiple languages, with varying levels of English proficiency. While all have experienced trauma, their responses and coping mechanisms differ. Our program provides them with a safe, supportive environment and the resources they need to heal, adjust, and build their futures.

• Ongoing training & group coaching

• Family bonding support

• One-on-one coaching

• Peer to peer & Community support

• Independent Living Skills Training

• Tailored, intensive case management services for youth

• Medical and mental health support services

• Secondary and post-secondary education support

• Culturally enriching events and experiences

Refugee Foster Care at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County resettles unaccompanied refugee youth under the age of 18 and places them with foster families across the Bay Area. Youth are eligible to remain in our program until the age of 25. The foster families provide a loving and safe environment for the youth to adjust to life in the United States. Our mission is to use a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally-sensitive approach to help unaccompanied refugee youth develop meaningful connections, and gain the skills needed for self-sufficiency and independence.