Foster parents can provide a stable, loving home for children.
Thousands of children enter the foster care system across the United States every year. They are children of all ages and all ethnic groups, placed in foster care because of parental neglect and abuse. They are removed from their homes by order of a juvenile court. Many times the only hope these children have for a stable home is being placed in a licensed foster home. Every state has its own department that oversees the recruiting, training and licensing of foster parents. Many issues and concerns arise during the licensing process.
The Foster Parent Orientation
To become a foster parent, you must attend an orientation that will provide an overview of the process and an introduction to the time commitment it will take to complete all the training and meetings. A licensing application, including a detailed autobiography, must be completed by each foster parent candidate to begin the process.
Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Checks
The foster parent licensing process will require fingerprinting and a criminal background check of all candidates. Other persons living in the home who are older than age 18, such as the college-age children of potential foster parents, must also submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check if they will live in the home with foster children.
Meeting Home Certification Requirements
Part of the licensing process for foster homes is a home inspection. Licensing inspectors are looking for more than a clean and tidy house. They look at safety issues, especially if infants and younger children are to be placed in the home. Safety locks on cabinet doors, plugs on electrical outlets and safety gates on stairs are expected to be in place or available. Any cribs, car seats or baby equipment must be up to date and not on any recall lists. Any pets in the home must be up to date on all vaccinations and a record of their veterinarian care must be available for review.
Meeting Health Requirements
All potential foster parents must undergo a physical to ensure that they are healthy enough to withstand the demands of foster care. However, pre-existing diseases or conditions such as lupus, back problems or high blood pressure do not generally preclude candidates from becoming foster parents.
Meeting Financial Requirements
Financial standings of the foster family will be reviewed because the foster agency will need assurance that the foster parents can afford to take on the responsibilities of another child or two. Despite the fact that foster parents receive a stipend from the foster care agency or the state where they live, any experienced foster parent will explain that the stipend does not cover all of the foster child's expenses.
Meeting Transportation Requirements
Foster parents are expected to provide transportation for foster children to visit their biological parents, to juvenile court and to medical visits. The foster care agency will want to know that the vehicle that will be used is well maintained, licensed and insured. It also will want to know that adequate car seats are available for all children.
Additional Required Training
All foster parents must be first aid- and CPR-certified before having a foster child placed in their home. Pre-placement training is usually required, along with additional specific training modules such as be an educational advocate for the foster child and handle ethnic-related issues. Most foster care agencies offer a variety of classes designed to make foster parenting easier and more successful for the child and the foster parent.
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