Able to receive needy children for out of home placement from any California location, and licensed to recruit foster parents and certify homes for foster care in 18 California Counties, Nepenthean Homes-FFA is the best source for hard to place children or children with special needs. Nepenthean offers a wide range of services which can be tailored to specific casework needs. At Nepenthean Homes, an innovative, creative team understands the complexities of the child welfare system and the obstacles faced by County placement representatives and other social service professionals.

Nepenthean Homes Foster Family Agency is a private, non-profit corporation licensed by the State of California to provide Treatment Foster Care within the Foster Family Agency level of the care continuum. Established in 1989 by a team of experienced social workers and clinicians, Nepenthean has provided needed services to many abused, neglected and abandoned children and their families.

The word Nepenthe means to banish pain or sorrow. It is an appropriate and descriptive name given an agency that applies a caring, consistent ethical manner to the needs of children and their families in an effort to relieve them of their pain and suffering.

Nepenthean Homes FFA works within the community on at least three different levels, to provide assistance to children and their families who are in crisis. Foster care provided by professional, certified foster parents and clinical services providing support to the client and foster parent are the first two levels of service.

Another area of service is provided by Nepenthean Homes FFA volunteer Auxiliaries as a support to the foster family agency itself. The Auxiliaries are made up of many devoted members of the community in which Nepenthean Homes FFA operates. The Auxiliaries plan and stage various fundraising events throughout the year that directly benefit clients in care. Summer camp, Christmas, and birthdays are a few of the many areas to which the Auxiliaries direct their focus on support, always aimed at building and promoting self-esteem. Other areas supported are education, athletics, music, voice, or other special training. Those interested in giving of their time and energy to directly help children and families should inquire about Auxiliary membership by contacting the Auxiliary President (see their area on our "Contact Us" page).

Nepenthean Homes Foster Family Agency (NHFFA) is a private, non-profit corporation that gratefully receives donations for support of its various programs. All donations go directly to address the special needs of children in the agency’s care, such as summer camp, special schooling, medical, dental, or optical needs not covered by regular Medi-Cal payments, and other special needs that may arise while a child is in care with NHFFA. If you would like to make a donation of any amount, please click on the link below. You will receive a letter of receipt for your donation. Thank you.