GREENSBURG — Catholic Charities is actively recruiting families for its expanded foster care program, a new focus that’s keeping up with changing needs in family services across the state and country.

In the past, some children remained in foster care for years and were never available for adoption. In recent years, federal and state laws have mandated permanency plans that more quickly place children on the adoption track when they are unable to be returned to their birth families.

"Now that they are being adopted sooner, a lot of foster parents are becoming adoptive parents," said Judy Modecki, director of coordinated services and development. "There are more and more children being adopted all the time. And we have seen from experience that many parents start with foster care and end up adopting the children."

Catholic Charities previously focused on infant foster care that led to infant adoptions, but that’s something else that’s changing. Fewer single mothers are releasing their babies up for adoption, so there are fewer infants available, Modecki said.

According to Morgan Daugherty, coordinator for adoption and foster care, children enter the foster care system for a number of reasons. Many come from abusive or neglectful homes where it is no longer safe for them to remain. Some have parents who have not overcome their addictions, or who are in prison. Sometimes relatives can be granted custody of the children, but if that’s not possible, foster care may be the only appropriate place for the children. Many of the children who enter the system are older and some have behavioral, physical or cognitive challenges. There are sibling groups, too

"It’s unfortunate that we have people waiting for five years (for infants)," Modecki said. "So we are asking them if they would consider fostering and if they would consider adopting an older child. We have been doing foster care for adoption (of infants), but in the last two or three years the counties have been asking us if we could do older child foster care. So as the infant need is decreasing, we saw that the foster care need for older children is greater."

Foster care and adoption are two different programs, but many local non-profits offer what’s called a "foster/adopt" program. That’s when people who are interested in adoption take in foster children with the intention of adopting those children if they become available.

Catholic Charities is now providing that option by offering simultaneous training so that foster parents will be ready to adopt if the opportunity arises.

"The interest in our program has been slow but steady," Daugherty said. "We are in the development stage, and we are accepting referrals. We are just certifying our first foster care family, and we found that several families in our infant (adoption) program are interested in foster care. That will give them a leg up in being able to adopt a younger child."

Anyone over the age of 21, single or married, is eligible to apply for the foster care program. Candidates must undergo criminal background checks and references and must have a source of income. Home studies include home assessments for safety and other conditions, financial assessment, personal interviews and employer references.

Applicants accepted into the program undergo initial training and are required to attend another six hours of annual training. They may opt to provide short- term or respite foster care, long-term foster care, or they may enter the pre-adoption program.

Foster parents receive a per diem stipend, depending on the age of the child.

"Catholic Charities is known for quality home studies, so that you know a foster child is in a safe place," Modecki said. "And if they stay there and it becomes adoptive, you know that it is a loving home and a safe place for the child."