Care for Children in the Casa Neighborhood

Want to make a difference in the lives of young children?

At Casa de Esperanza, our dedicated caregivers offer hope and love to children who have faced unimaginable challenges.

As a member of our team, you’ll become a part of children’s lives, creating a home filled with laughter, learning, and love. Your days will be filled feeding, playing, teaching, crafting, and more — moments that build trust and joy. 

You’ll manage a household, making a house into a home where every child in our neighborhood feels safe and valued.

Working closely with caseworkers, support staff, and community volunteers, you’ll be part of a collaborative effort to provide the highest quality of care. 

Provide care in one of three paid positions:

1. Family Based Care (FBC): 24/7 live-in foster parents

2. Hourly Caregiver with daily 8-hour shifts

3. Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Service Member: 12-month service program

As a Casa de Esperanza caregiver, each day brings a new opportunity to make a lasting impact, not just in the lives of these children – but in your own heart.

Family Based Care (FBC)

Become a live-in foster parent.

In the heart of a secure, private neighborhood, our Family Based Care (FBC) foster parents live in a fully furnished home and care for children full-time.

Living in our neighborhood gives both foster parents and foster children a sense of community among people dedicated to caring for each other. Here, children are safe and foster parents are supported 24/7 by each other, our volunteers, and our staff.

You’ll be responsible for the daily care of the children placed in your home and for the coordination of all medical, dental, and developmental care needed by the children in your home.

As a full-time foster care employee of Casa de Esperanza, you’ll receive housing, vacation, insurance, 401(k), and more.

Family-Based Care (FBC)

How To Apply

Inquire

Reach out to Darean Talmadge (dtalmadge@casahope.org or 713-818-0130) and learn more about our program. Attend an information meeting to learn about the application process and what it is like to provide care in the Casa Neighborhood.

1

Apply

The employment application process includes references, background checks, and interviews.

2

Homestudy

Complete a homestudy through Casa de Esperanza in which you will have the chance to discuss your unique family strengths and the type of care that you would like to provide.

3

Move in for training

Once accepted as an FBC Foster Parent you will join us in our Casa Neighborhood and complete required training. Our experienced and professional team will equip you with the parenting tools you will need to be ready to begin to provide care.

4

Provide care

Throughout your foster parenting journey, our team is available 24/7 to answer questions, address emergencies, and make sure you feel confident in meeting the unique needs of the children in your care.

5

    Working at Casa de Esperanza for the past 6 months has been wonderful and I’ve learned so much in so little time. These children have taught me the meaning of unconditional love. Being able to provide kids with love, safety and a sense of family has to be the most rewarding part of this job.

    Some of best moments are when they remember your name and excitedly shout for you, and when they look at you and say, ‘I love you.’ I never knew how much I could love a child I had never met before fostering at Casa.

    I am so grateful to be surrounded by other wonderful foster parents who have become my second family. Never in a million years did I expect to be a foster parent at 22, but the best things in life come unexpected!

    Berenice, Family Based Care Provider

    Coming to Casa de Esperanza, I knew I would be challenged and stretched beyond myself, but I didn't realize just how much! For the first time in my life, I have to put someone else’s needs and wants entirely before my own. That knowledge seems to hit me the hardest at 4 o’clock in the morning when I’m trying to comfort a crying infant. In that sleep-deprived state, you see a whole new side of yourself.

    But then there are the moments of pure joy: playing Jenga on a rainy day, the first time a child learning to talk says your name, riding bikes, and laughing together over the smallest things. All of this happens at Casa de Esperanza, sometimes all within the same 24 hours.

    These children need us to love them and keep them safe, to look past their labels and previous trauma, to advocate for them and see them as the unique person they are. But I have also learned how much I need them, to make me the kind of person who can fully give myself to giving them the love they deserve. Being here with these kids I’m truly living. When I’m with them, I am truly present and they make me come alive. That is such a gift to receive every day.

    Rebecca. Family Based Care Program

Hourly Caregiving

Become an hourly caregiver.

Direct Care Staff provide child-care and supervision to children in placement in the Casa de Esperanza Neighborhood. This care includes feeding, holding, comforting, and giving medications to infants and young children during an assigned day or awake overnight shift.

Full time positions will receive full time pay, as well as insurance, vacation, 401k and more. Your contribution will leave a lasting impact on these young lives whether you are preparing meals, engaging in play, or providing emotional support.

Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member

Apply for our service year program.

Hands of Hope AmeriCorps is a paid 12-month program where you  provide direct care and supervision to children 0-6 years old and live in a fully furnished home in our private neighborhood.

While the program is only 12 months, the impact you will have on the children in your care is lifelong. And each child’s strength, resilience, and love will make a lifelong impact on you.

You’ll leave the program with greater knowledge and experience of the complex problems faced by families and children in the child welfare system.

I'm so grateful to be a part of an organization that makes a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.

The first time I felt like I was making a difference was when we had several young children who were nonverbal. When they started using sign language for “more” and “all done” at the dinner table, everyone was so excited! Now, they are speaking clearly, can identify colors & numbers, and know the sounds that each letter of the alphabet makes!

It is extremely rewarding to see our kids grow and reach new developmental milestones each day. To other people considering AmeriCorps, always remember that you are making a difference, even on days when you don’t feel like you are.

Deja, Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member

AmeriCorps FAQs

What is the deadline for the application?

The AmeriCorps service year calendar is from September to August the following year. We cannot accept and process applications after June 30 for the current service year. All applications for those wishing to start in 2025 must be submitted prior to June 30, 2025.

We accept and process applications on a rolling basis. As such, qualified applicants who submit applications earlier are more likely to be offered a position.

What is involved in the application process?

The application process includes the following, in the following order:
• Completion of Casa’s application
• Collection of references
• Virtual interview
• Contingent offer pending background checks and other required documentation*
• Cleared pre-placement drug screen, clear random drug screens for duration of placement*
• Completion of TB Screening
• Annual vaccinations for influenza
**Casa de Esperanza will cover the cost of fingerprinting for background check and cost of drug screening

What are the Benefits of being a Hands of Hope Americorps Member?

The benefits below are reflective of those provided by AmeriCorps for the 2024-2025 service year. We will update Members when we know the updated budget information.

Living Allowance: $23,800. Education Award to be received upon successful completion of the program: $7,395.

Do I need to have a driver’s license?

While having a valid driver’s license for at least two years is preferred, not having a driver’s license will not prevent us from hiring a strongly qualified candidate. Having a driver’s license is preferred, because the role of the Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member involves a great deal of transporting children to appointments. Generally, a home can support only one Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member without a valid license for at least two years, as this places a greater driving burden on the other AmeriCorps Members.

What does a typical day look like?

The day-to-day routine can vary greatly from week to week and from house to house depending on the ages, medical needs, emotional needs, and behaviors of the children in your home. However, AmeriCorps Members will do everything that parents in other settings do to raise children and run a household. AmeriCorps Members provide primary direct care, as well as take their children to doctor and therapy appointments, and transport children to visits with their parents. AmeriCorps Members engage their children in age-appropriate activities to help them make progress toward their developmental goals. Much of the day is spent playing with the children, both inside and outside, but also includes changing diapers, giving baths, making meals, feeding babies and cleaning up constantly to stay one step ahead of your very active children. As the children are in foster care, documentation of activities, appointments, and progress is an important part of the daily routine as well.

I can’t commit for a year. Can I do nine months? Six months? Three months?

All Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Members must commit for a 12-month period unless another agreement has been made between the candidate, Equal Heart, and Casa de Esperanza. We encourage you to visit our careers page https://casahope.org/careers

Can I apply if I am out of state?

Yes! In fact, the majority of our AmeriCorps Members come to us from other states.

Can I have another job/take classes while I am in the program?

Your Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member role and schedule must always come first in your scheduling. However, if you can engage in outside work and/or classes that do not impact the schedule provided to you by your supervisor, you are permitted to do so.

Can I participate if I have children of my own?

Unfortunately, this position is not compatible with those who have dependent children of their own, as you are required to live on-site and we do not allow other children in the Neighborhood. However, if you are interested in being involved with the work that Casa does, you may be interested in becoming a weekly volunteer instead.

My major seems unconventional for this program. Should I still apply?

We accept applicants from all different educational backgrounds into our program. While some majors occur more often in our program (Psychology, Pre-Med, Social Work, Early Childhood, etc.), we have had very successful Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Members from a wide variety of majors. What is most important is that you are passionate about the work that we do and can live and work well with children and other AmeriCorps Members. We are more interested in your attitude, work ethic, interest in social justice issues and your love for children than we are interested in your major area of study.

What costs are covered by the organization and what costs are covered by the Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Member?

On-site housing is provided to all Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Members. There is no cost to the Member for things such as rent, utilities, or Wi-Fi. All costs associated with caring for the children will be paid for by the organization. AmeriCorps Members’ personal expenses including, but not limited to, groceries, toiletries, etc. will be the responsibility of the AmeriCorps Member.

Do I need a personal vehicle?

Each house has an assigned vehicle to transport the children. Transportation not related to transporting or meeting the needs of the children (picking up prescriptions, etc.) will not be provided by the organization. While children can NEVER be transported in personal vehicles, you are permitted to bring a personal vehicle or use public transportation/ride-sharing for personal use should you decide not to bring a personal vehicle.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the Hands of Hope AmeriCorps application process?

If you have questions that are not answered on this FAQ page, we welcome you to reach out to the Human Resources Coordinator, Darean Talmadge, at dtalmadge@casahope.org.