§ 244. Hostels and foster homes. 1. The office is hereby authorized to provide or to pay for care in a hostel or foster home approved by the office as suitable for such cases for any probationer or parolee under the age of twenty-one years when the parole board or a judge of a court determines that there is no other suitable home for such probationer or parolee and that such probationer or parolee should be placed in such hostel or foster home. In addition to payment for such care, when ordered by the board or court, the office is authorized to provide or pay for clothing and other necessities, including medical and psychiatric treatment, required for the welfare of such probationer or parolee. The office may also provide or contract for such care in any suitable facility operated by a department of correction or by any other public or voluntary social welfare agency, institution or organization. A court with respect to such a probationer and the parole board with respect to such a parolee shall, subject to regulation by the division control admissions to and discharges from such hostels and foster homes. When placement is made in any hostel or foster home, or in any facility other than a public institution, such placement whenever practicable shall be in a hostel, or facility operated by or in the home of a person or persons of the same religious faith as the probationer or parolee.

2. The office shall have authority and the duty to stimulate programs for the development of hostels and foster homes for the care of probationers and parolees under the age of twenty-one years.