Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Hi Carrie- so we funnel these requests through our Pet Resource Center, and we do not have eligibility criteria. If you say you need help, we help.

We do not board those pets here at the shelter- we have relationships with private vet clinics/ boarding facilities where we send these pets and then we cover the bill.

In terms of pick-up, we have even sent an officer to the hospital to get someone's keys before, but we try to get contact information for a trusted neighbor/ family member who has access to the residence first.

Not sure if that is what you were looking for- happy to answer any other questions you might have!

------------------------------
Alexis Pugh
Director, Memphis Animal Services
www.memphisanimalservices.com

Organizational Management
& Pet Support Services Specialist
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Hi Carrie,

I have a "Crisis Care" Agreement I helped draft way back in the day if that would be of help to you? I agree, this is a tremendously valuable service that helps so many people and pets. Everything from domestic violence, fires, and natural disasters - truly invaluable for keeping families together.

------------------------------
Monica Frenden
American Pets Alive
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

I'd love to take a look!  If just to make sure we've covered all the same bases.  Thanks!

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 12:37 PM
From: Monica Frenden
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi Carrie,

I have a "Crisis Care" Agreement I helped draft way back in the day if that would be of help to you? I agree, this is a tremendously valuable service that helps so many people and pets. Everything from domestic violence, fires, and natural disasters - truly invaluable for keeping families together.

------------------------------
Monica Frenden
American Pets Alive

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Monica, 

I would love to see a copy of the "crisis care" agreement if you can share that in any capacity. We have a very small shelter where we assist mostly with DV and life-flighted hospital stays (we are on an island). We unfortunately do not have capacity to help with things like the housing crisis due to space and the high need right now. I have run into an issue of a person needing medical surgery for an animal under long term boarding and they refused treatment to they surrendered the cat to us ultimately. It will happen either way but trying to see what wording others use in their agreements. Thank you!

------------------------------
Johanna Black
Animal Welfare Manager
Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals
MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 12:37 PM
From: Monica Tarant
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi Carrie,

I have a "Crisis Care" Agreement I helped draft way back in the day if that would be of help to you? I agree, this is a tremendously valuable service that helps so many people and pets. Everything from domestic violence, fires, and natural disasters - truly invaluable for keeping families together.

------------------------------
Monica Frenden
American Pets Alive

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Hi there,

I don't have access to that file any longer, but Red Rover has a sample up and they are a fantastic resource for this type of program! 

------------------------------
Monica Tarant
Chief Innovation Officer
The Give Them Ten Movement
[givethemten.org]
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2024 10:10 AM
From: Johanna Black
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Monica, 

I would love to see a copy of the "crisis care" agreement if you can share that in any capacity. We have a very small shelter where we assist mostly with DV and life-flighted hospital stays (we are on an island). We unfortunately do not have capacity to help with things like the housing crisis due to space and the high need right now. I have run into an issue of a person needing medical surgery for an animal under long term boarding and they refused treatment to they surrendered the cat to us ultimately. It will happen either way but trying to see what wording others use in their agreements. Thank you!

------------------------------
Johanna Black
Animal Welfare Manager
Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals
MA

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 12:37 PM
From: Monica Tarant
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi Carrie,

I have a "Crisis Care" Agreement I helped draft way back in the day if that would be of help to you? I agree, this is a tremendously valuable service that helps so many people and pets. Everything from domestic violence, fires, and natural disasters - truly invaluable for keeping families together.

------------------------------
Monica Frenden
American Pets Alive

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

I'm a private boarding kennel who also houses a non-profit adoption org with a resource center. We work mostly with social service who refers but have taken call ins. Mostly expect short term boarding can turn into long term and occasionally abandonment. We don't use fostering safety-net which will have a different set of liability issues that I don't think have been resolved yet. Have they?

------------------------------
Augusta Farley
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Adding some resources here in case they can be helpful:

You can find template foster agreements and other documents from organizations running all types of safety net foster programs here.
 
Kristina Pulsipher of Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering discusses their program in this call.

Dr. Lisa Gunter discusses preliminary findings from a nationwide study that includes safety net fostering here.

Shelbi Waters of Souris Valley Humane Society talks about their program here.


------------------------------
Kelly Duer
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2021 08:44 AM
From: Augusta Farley
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

I'm a private boarding kennel who also houses a non-profit adoption org with a resource center. We work mostly with social service who refers but have taken call ins. Mostly expect short term boarding can turn into long term and occasionally abandonment. We don't use fostering safety-net which will have a different set of liability issues that I don't think have been resolved yet. Have they?

------------------------------
Augusta Farley

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Thank you everyone for sharing your feedback and ideas!  I'd love to see as many of these programs as possible.  Keeping families together is our top priority.

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-09-2021 02:25 PM
From: Kelly Duer
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Adding some resources here in case they can be helpful:

You can find template foster agreements and other documents from organizations running all types of safety net foster programs here.
 
Kristina Pulsipher of Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering discusses their program in this call.

Dr. Lisa Gunter discusses preliminary findings from a nationwide study that includes safety net fostering here.

Shelbi Waters of Souris Valley Humane Society talks about their program here.


------------------------------
Kelly Duer
Maddie's Fund

Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2021 08:44 AM
From: Augusta Farley
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

I'm a private boarding kennel who also houses a non-profit adoption org with a resource center. We work mostly with social service who refers but have taken call ins. Mostly expect short term boarding can turn into long term and occasionally abandonment. We don't use fostering safety-net which will have a different set of liability issues that I don't think have been resolved yet. Have they?

------------------------------
Augusta Farley

Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2021 09:09 AM
From: Carrie Nydick Finch
Subject: Providing Emergency Foster Care for the Community

Hi everyone,

We have been running a very small program to help individuals facing a hospitalization by providing emergency foster care until they return home and can be reunited with their pets.  There is a HUGE need for this kind of service.  We just recently received some funding to expand this program and we are so excited!  However, I am curious how other organizations provide this service, how you determine eligibility, etc.
 
There are lots of complicated reasons people may need temporary foster care, including hospitalizations (both physical and mental health emergencies), housing issues, domestic violence situations, etc etc.  And, this type of program carries a lot of risks, regarding both the people and the pets.  We have our own strategies in place but I'd love to hear how other organizations mitigate some of those risks (unknown behavior of pets, entering a person's apartment without them, possibly extensive foster stays, liability, etc).

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all!
Carrie
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#FosterPrograms
#PetSupportServices*

------------------------------
Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
PAWS NY

----
Case Management &
Community Partnerships Specialist
------------------------------