"As a resident and client of THE HOME for Little Wanderers in the 1970's, I was placed into several different foster homes while I was growing up, due to my parents inability to care and provide for my siblings and me". "At one point I was ALMOST adopted by one family in particular, but then I was removed, which is not uncommon for a foster child. I always wondered what it would have been like to adopted and to have lived with the same family, on the same street, in the same town, in the same HOME". "Although I will never know what that is like there are so many children who still need a HOME" . Sherri Raftery, M. Ed., Resident and Client 1978 - 1989, The Home Honoree 2008. Consider adopting a child(ren) today - contact THE HOME. http://www.thehome.org/ 
The imposing facade of the New England Home for Little Wanderers in 1914.
The Home for Little Wanderers is a nationally renowned, private, non-profit child and family service agency. It has been part of the Massachusetts landscape for over 200 years, making it the oldest agency of its kind in the nation and one of the largest in New England. Originally founded as a orphanage in 1799 (see history for more details), The Home today plays a leadership role in delivering services to thousands of children and families each year through a system of residential, community-based and prevention programs, direct care services, and advocacy. Our mission is to ensure the healthy emotional, mental, and social development of children at risk, their families, and communities. The Home's work is guided by a belief in the right of all children to be safe, nurtured and developed to reach their full potential. Although seemingly insurmountable obstacles are sometimes placed in their way, children’s resilience combined with the support of caring adults can make anything possible.
Placing-out could be temporary or permanent. The child above was boarded out by the Boston Children's Aid Society because her mother was ill.
How do I obtain my adoption record?If you were placed through adoption at The Home, please visit the Post Adoption section of our website or contact Susan Wilson at 617-264-5346 or swilson@thehome.org for further details.
The Home for Little Wanderers 271 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 888-HOME-321 or 617-267-3700 Fax: 617-267-8142
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Adoption
The Adoption Program at The Home for Little Wanderers is dedicated to providing permanent homes for children and offers adoption services to families interested in children of all ages. We offer couples and single persons of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds and religions many options for starting or adding to their families.
The Home is a full-service adoption program placing infants, children identified internationally, and waiting children from foster care. The infant/domestic adoption services include identified, open and interstate adoptions.
The Home’s Adoption Program provides MAPP training, adoption assessments, and child-specific recruitment services to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In addition, we offer post-adoption services including support groups, search/reunion services and counseling.
Adoption ServicesThe Adoption Program at The Home for Little Wanderers is dedicated to providing permanent homes for children and offers adoption services to families interested in children of all ages. We offer couples and single persons of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds and religions many options for starting or adding to their families.
The Home is a full-service adoption program placing infants, children identified internationally, and waiting children from foster care. The infant/domestic adoption services include identified, open and interstate adoptions.
Internationally, The Home's Adoption Program works with selected intercountry agencies to place children from Asia, Central and South America, India, and Eastern Europe. In addition, many adoptive families have children identified overseas who are relatives and need home study services in order to complete an adoption.
The waiting children program works in conjunction with the Department of Children and Families (formerly the Department of Social Services) to place children of all ages. These children often have many needs (emotional, behavioral, medical, cognitive, etc.) and some have experienced significant trauma. Many of these children are not yet legally free to be adopted, but need permanent families.
In addition, The Home provides
MAPP training, adoption assessments, and child-specific recruitment services to DCF.
Lastly, the adoption program offers post-adoption services including support groups, search/reunion services and counseling.
Staff are available to assist families in finding the adoption program which is right for them and will answer all questions with honesty, compassion, and expertise.
The next class begins September 19, 2009.
"What is MAPP training?" is the question that many people ask when they learn that they need this 8-session (24 hour) course to foster or adopt a child from the Department of Children and Families (Formerly the Department of Social Services).
MAPP (Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) is adapted from a program developed at the Child Welfare Institute and has been redesigned by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in 2001.
Typically, the instructors are experienced social workers along with an experienced foster or adoptive parent. This course must be started before the homestudy begins and it covers the information necessary to make an informed decision about adopting a waiting child from DCF.
The approximate Course Schedule is as follows:
The first meeting provides an overview of the course; an overview of the caregiving process and the permanency planning for children in state care. As well, there is a discussion that MAPP is the first step in the "mutual assessment" process; both the social worker and the parent need to assess if this adoption path is the most appropriate path.
The second meeting addresses a child's transition into foster placement; understanding the move from both the child and birth parent's perspective and learning about the experience of loss and the stages of grieving.
The third meeting discusses children's development; assessing "normal" development, the effects of maltreatment on development, the importance of "attachment" and the cycle of attachment.
The fourth meeting outlines approaches to behavior management; different management techniques, their implementation and special considerations for children who have been abuse and neglected.
The fifth meeting addresses the special needs of children in care; the importance of their health and safety, the need of children who have been sexually abused and the need of children that have been exposed to domestic violence.
The sixth meeting explores the importance of maintaining and supporting connections; to birth family, to culture, to foster parents and to the memories of caretakers.
The seventh meeting is typically a panel discussion with panel guests that are foster parents, adoptive parents, therapists, DCF lawyers, or other involved people in the adoption process. Class members are encouraged to bring family and friends to this meeting.
The last meeting in MAPP is a chance to revisit the information presented, the impact of placement on the foster/adoptive family and how to make the decision about fostering or adoption.
Registration for Adoption MAPP Training
Thank you for your interest in our
"Waiting Children" Adoption Program and MAPP training.
The training is 24 hours and is required by the Department of Children and Families. Families who complete MAPP training will have a home study report, which can only be used for DCF
"Waiting Children." Saturday trainings are accelerated and consist of two meetings per day.
When: Four Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: September 19, October 3, October 17, and October 31
Where: 780 American Legion HighwayRoslindale, MA 02131
DirectionsTo register for the class, or for more information please contact Bridget Chiaruttini at (617) 264-5313.
The Home supports domestic adoption by gay and lesbian families. -------
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