Chenoa Group Foster Care: Helping Youth & Animals

Invest today and help us build a bright future for children and animals in need.

For 20 years, Chenoa Manor has served our community as an Animal Sanctuary and Learning Center in Avondale, PA. Now, we’re taking the next step and partnering with the State of Delaware to create a group foster care program that will offer local teens a safe and supportive home with access to innovative therapeutic programs that nurture connections with their community, animals and nature. But in order to start this next chapter, we need your help more than ever.

Founder Dr. Roberto Teti, DVM has worked with youth in the state of Delaware through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program for the past 10 years, and in 2022 became the legal guardian for a 17-year-old in the foster care system. We’ve seen firsthand how a lack of financial resources, home stability, family support and mental healthcare can affect a child’s ability to develop relationships, perform academically, and really just get to experience a full, happy childhood. But we believe at the root of these challenges, there is hope: with the right care and support, all children have the potential to grow into thriving adults.

In addition to offering a permanent home to 200+ farm and exotic animals in need (from horses to pigs to goats to geese, with many other species in between), serving youth has always been one of our core tenants. Through our Learning Center, we've nurtured and empowered countless young people. Our educational programs allow teens to feel safe and thrive, helping them to gain a better understanding and respect for themselves and others while working on communication and vocational skills, confidence and compassion. But we've always felt like we could make an even greater impact if we were able to offer teens without other alternatives residential care.

"In 50 years of operating over 20 programs serving 150,000 at-risk kids from 3 states, animal care therapy is the most effective therapy I have ever seen." - Roger Dawson, former CEO of Youth Services Agency

Over the past few months, we gathered a group of passionate, engaged community members (many of whom are experienced in the social work, psychology and advocacy fields) to act as our board and advisors, and with their direction and input developed a framework and business plan for the Chenoa Group Foster Home. We submitted this proposal to the Delaware Division of Family Services in February, and a few months later were incredibly grateful and excited to learn our innovative proposal had been accepted pending successful contract negotiations and licensing status. This contract will include a comprehensive budget to help support a nurturing, family-style group home for male teens aged 13-18 in the foster care system, complete with individualized mental healthcare, educational support and therapeutic/vocational programs at our farm location.

We have a long road ahead and a LOT of work (and fundraising!) to do before we're able to start accepting youth residents. In addition to continuing to manage and operate our animal sanctuary, we are in urgent need of start-up capital to help transition into this new chapter. There will be a LOT of changes - not only will we be starting the process of hiring full-time staff, we will also be renovating and furnishing a home in nearby (less than 10 miles away!) Kennett Square to act as our new residential facility. It can feel daunting, but we know with the right community partnerships and support from people like you, we'll be able to build something that will continue to help children and animals for years to come.

Any amount will help us on this journey. Whether you can spare $5 or $500, your donation will help us provide animals and teens with compassionate, nurturing support.