The Cottage Home

A community service project of the
Ventura Downtown Lions
Cottage Home Foundation, Inc.

An opportunity for children in need to become part of an active, nurturing family.

Owned and managed by the Cottage Home Foundation, Inc., the Cottage Home is located in a typical middle-income neighborhood, close to schools, churches, parks and other community facilities.

The Home parents are certified and licensed by the Ventura County Public Social Services Agency and selected by the cottage Home Foundation Board of Directors. The county provides child welfare case workers, financial assistance and guidance. The cottage Home Foundation, a non-profit corporation, maintains the house and attempts to provide the balance of the support and assistance.

The parents in the Home since its founding in 1969 have been successful in providing a nurturing family environment for well over 200 foster children.

The History of the Cottage Home…

In April 1969, Dr. Robert Coombs, a Ventura Downtown Lions Club member, presented the idea of establishing a foster care home to the Lions Board of Directors, patterned after the Cottage Home program run by a church in Australia. Following discussions and applications with municipal and county agencies, the Lions formed the Cottage Home Foundation, Inc., purchased a 5-bedroom house in a family-oriented neighborhood, selected licensed foster parents, and moved the family into the cottage Home in August 1969.

The Cottage Home Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation is administered by a 12-member board of directors, responsible for choosing and assisting the foster parents, helping provide for the children's well being, and maintaining the house and property. The success of Cottage Home has been—and will continue to be—the love and care of excellent parents in the Home and the warm hearts and generous donations of Lions Club members and concerned local citizens.

The Children…

Foster children are selected for the Cottage Home by an agreement between the Home parents and the County of Ventura's Children's Services Division of the Public Social Services Agency (PSSA). The county provides financial support to help cover the children's physical needs, and social workers to help deal with their emotional and psychological needs. The Lions Club seeks to support a stable home environment by providing assistance for family activities and outings.

Since the Cottage Home is permitted to care for up to six foster children, it has the unique ability to keep sibling groups together, allowing their parents time to work toward reorganizing their lives and reuniting their family.

Donations…

The Cottage Home is a major community service project of the Ventura Downtown Lions club. The Cottage Home Foundation, Inc. [a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization] depends on club members for financial support. Contributions are tax deductible. If you are a Ventura Downtown Lions club member, your contribution can be included in your monthly bill.

 

I wish to contribute as follows (check where applicable):

Contribution: per month ___ - per year ___ - one-time gift ___

Signature ___________________________ Date ________

 

If you wish to make a one-time contribution, please mail your check to:

Cottage Home Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 395
Ventura, California 93002