[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING KOINONIA FOSTER HOMES, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Koinonia Foster 
Homes, Inc., for their hard work and dedication on behalf of thousands 
of children and families who are in need of their services. A great 
example of their efforts will be taking place as they sponsor a 
community-wide, interdenominational Honorary Pastors and Wives Luncheon 
on February 17th in Fresno, CA.
  In 1982, Koinonia Foster Homes, Inc., was founded by Miriam Golden 
who had previously fostered over 37 abused and neglected children in 
addition to raising her own four natural children. ``Koinonia'' is a 
Greek word that means to communicate relationship and fellowship, which 
entails that their staff and foster parents relate to children from a 
position of trustworthiness, dependability and a deep moral commitment. 
Koinonia Foster Homes is a State-licensed, nonprofit organization that 
works in cooperation with county social service agencies that remove 
children from their homes due to abuse and neglect and then refer them 
to Koinonia for placement in a foster home. Once referred to the 
program, Koinonia places these children in agency-certified homes where 
they receive love and guidance from caring, committed and trained 
foster families, as well as therapeutic services provided by master's-
level social work staff.
  Koinonia Foster Homes' mission is to provide the highest quality 
treatment foster care program available for children, youth and their 
families. Regional offices throughout California and Nevada support 
over 1,000 foster children, utilizing approximately 500 certified 
foster families. Koinonia's largest program is its Therapeutic Foster 
Care Program which provides treatment-based foster care to children 
between the ages of birth through 18 years of age who have been removed 
from their homes. Other programs include Residential Group Homes, The 
Crisis Resolution Center, The Day Treatment Program, and Bridgehaven 
which is a co-ed transitional housing program for youth ages 18-20. 
Koinonia Foster Homes is regarded as a leader in the care of at-risk 
children and the recruitment of new foster homes.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Koinonia Foster Homes, Inc., for the hope and 
compassion that they have provided for our children and communities. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in wishing them many years of continued 
success.

                          ____________________