Children in the foster-care system can be deeply scarred by the turmoil in their young lives. They deal with the chaos differently. Some become chronic runaways or openly defy authority. Others vent their frustrations by trying to hurt themselves or by striking out at others. Some even torture animals, set fires or exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior.
Group homes provide one option.
FFAs are private, nonprofit organizations licensed by the state that recruit, train and certify families to take in children and adolescents who need intensive care. They employ their own social workers who are restricted to a caseload of no more than 15 children and who are required to visit each child at least twice a month. In contrast, county social workers often juggle caseloads of 30 to 40 children and are required to make monthly visits. San Diego County uses nearly a dozen such agencies to provide homes for about 300 children, representing about 5 percent of the children in foster care. But demand for these homes greatly exceeds supply.