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ABOUT OUR AGENCY
Our agency began in the year of 2008 and has been started by three founders:
Dorin C. Matthews, Sylvia. M. Hooper and Josefina Perez.
We are a non profit organization that is looking for support from different organizations and people who would like to help with this
project. We want foster parents to be active members working with lawyers, medical
professionals, social workers and educators, all dedicated to serve foster children.
There needs to be an evolution of foster parents from “babysitters” to professional volunteer team members. We want to educate, support and develop an army of well trained community members who will be the agents for change and a strong foundational support for our children in care in New York City. We want to work with everyone to make sure that the children in care are well taken care of.
The purpose of this agency is to provide services to the foster parents to improve the quality of life for the children in care. To help foster children who age out of care to receive services and support. In addition we want to help find homes for teenagers in care. Our mission is (P.E.C) PROJECT EMBRACE CHANGE. Instead of working in isolation, foster parents are now considered professional volunteers, partners and team members in an effect to increase the positive outcomes for foster children.
About Our Founders:
Dorin Matthews has a bachelor's in science in Human
Service, and has been a foster parent for the past ten years and has faced many obstacles and challenges with no support from the foster care agencies. Dorin also has experience working as a foster parent advocate within a foster care agency and found out that the services were not being provided to the foster parents properly.
When she brought the issues to light to the agency the staff turned against her for helping the foster parents which was
part of her job description. Dorin decided she wanted to make a change and break that cycle. Dorin has raised and adopted her two nephews and looks forward to continuing the process of being a foster parent. The experience over the years has motivated her to help foster parents and help them get the services for the children in care. Dorin is currently a social work student and preventive family planner and will graduate next year with her master’s in Social Work.
Sylvia Hooper has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and worked for the Administration for Children Services as a Child Protective Specialist for two years. Ms. Hooper also has knowledge and experience of the foster care system as she worked as an Intake Case Planner for a foster care agency. At which she observed the gaps in the foster care system that are affecting the children in care. She observed the lack of support and guidance that was provided to both the foster parents and children. It was from her work experience and lack of support and commitment from her colleagues that Ms. Hooper decided she wanted to take action and help the families and children of the community make a change. She works as a student liaison for a middle school in the Bronx. Ms Hooper will be getting her master’s in Social Work in 2010.
Dorin Matthews and Sylvia Hooper have been selected to
be part of Cambridge's Who's Who. You can visit
their website here.
Josefina Perez is presently a Social Work student and is interested in revamping the foster care system. She has taken an interest in the program and would love to make a difference in a child’s life. She currently works within a foster care agency as an MST therapist, a program that offers intensive in home therapy. She continues to dedicate her time and hard work to helping both children and families of the Child Welfare System.
PLEASE
HELP
SUPPORT
THIS
MISSION:
Knowing your
purpose gives meaning to your life and this is one of the
most rewarding and meaningful experiences one could embark
upon. If this sounds like something that interests
you then join us, support us, help us and donate.
Help us make this dream come alive.
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