Utica National has partnered with The House of the Good Shepherd donating $15,000 to provide funding to support kinship families in our Foster Care program. Relatives of children placed in foster care help the child stay in familiar surroundings with people they know, and is encouraged by The House. In addition to this generous donation, The Mele Family Fund donated $15,000 to support our foster care kinship families.

“We are grateful to The Utica National Group Foundation Fund for their generosity and supporting the kinship families in foster care. When a child is removed from their home, being placed with a family member helps ease the trauma of separation and helps comfort the child,” said Leila “Lee” Bjornland, Director of Development and Communications, The House of the Good Shepherd.

“The House of Good Shepherd has been providing important programs and services to children and families for decades. The goal of the Utica National Group Foundation is to help organizations offering such programs and services in our community continue their good work. That’s why we’re pleased and excited to support the Kinship Program – it helps to strengthen and improve the lives of children and families when they need it most,” said Bernard J. Turi, Senior Vice President of Utica National.

The Foster Care program at The House of the Good Shepherd helps children who are unable to live with their birth parents or relatives or might otherwise be in residential placements. Most children are in need of short-term care while their families receive services and work toward reunification. Last year, more than 125 local families received foster care services at The House.