Agape Villages is a licensed foster family agency and licensed adoption agency that places children in foster homes in communities throughout Northern California, including the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. The agency accepts referrals from California's Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services, and County Mental Health Departments. It serves disadvantaged children, adolescents, and young adults from newborn to 21 years of age.

"We are a special organization because we help find loving foster homes for kids who have been removed from their biological homes, often due to abuse and/or neglect," says Janet Kleyn, who has been with Agape Villages in the role of President and CEO for 18 years. Agape Villages provides children and youth with safe, loving foster and adoptive homes, along with comprehensive support services, to help them overcome challenges, reach their potential, and build brighter futures. One example is the agency's Independent Living Skills Program, which prepares teen foster youth for living unassisted in the outside world. This program offers practical classes in resume writing, personal banking and finances, healthy cooking, driver training, and job interview training. Teens can also go on junior college tours that introduce them to regional two-year colleges such as Las Positas.

Biological parents typically invest a median amount of just under $50,000 on their young adult children after age 18, thus giving them a chance at becoming productive, self-sufficient adults, according to Kleyn. Foster youth, on the other hand, are thrust into the world as independent adults at the age of 18 or 21 without a safety net. They receive, on average, less than $10,000 of financial assistance. That makes the Independent Living Skills Program an especially important tool for giving older foster youth an opportunity to learn the critical life skills necessary for them to become self-sufficient after emancipation.

“There is an urgent need for foster parents,” notes Kleyn. “People can be single or married, own or rent. There is no maximum age. And 80% of children who are placed in Agape homes are reunified by the judge to their biological families. It is a temporary placement.” Agape Villages originated as Sierra Children's Home and has been advocating for children since the 1960s. Since then, the agency has helped thousands of children find loving foster homes. The agency currently works in 23 counties throughout Northern California and relies heavily on volunteers to meet its mission.

"We are constantly looking to add to our volunteer team," says Kleyn. "It is very rewarding work." Kleyn notes that volunteers may commit to as little as one hour per month. The agency's headquarters is located in San Ramon but volunteers can be located elsewhere in the Tri-Valley. In addition to volunteers, Agape Villages also looks to donors to support its work. "We are constantly fundraising whether it be through grants, individual donations, or our major event in October," Kleyn says. "All of the money goes toward critical foster care programs." The Hacienda community is invited to support Agape Villages in October at its annual Tri-Valley dinner and auction. The fundraiser, called a Taste of Italy, will be held at the Pleasanton Senior Center on October 24, 2026 beginning at 5:30 pm. The event will feature an Italian dinner, silent and live auctions, and more.

“Children are removed from their biological homes by Child Protective Services for their safety,” Kleyn adds. "They need safe, loving foster homes to live in while people work to help their biological families become safe. Readers who want to support us should become foster parents, donors, or volunteers.”

For more information about Agape Villages Foster Family Agency, please visit www.agapevillages.org, www.facebook.com/AgapeFFA, or www.instagram.com/agapeffa.

For more information about the Taste of Italy fundraiser, please visit www.agapevillages.org/event/taste-of-italy.