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1. Why become a foster parent?

By becoming a foster parent, you can give children a safe place to stay while their families get the help they need. The connections you make with a child in foster care and the positive role model you are to them and to their parents can last a lifetime and benefit the whole community.

2. Why do children come into foster care?

Children are placed in care for many different reasons. Sometimes their family cannot provide them with the basic safety and protection they need. Birth parents may face difficulties such as substance abuse and mental health issues.

3. How long is the foster care certification process?

Pre-certification classes are required and take 10 weeks. Topics include: Understanding the Impact, Helping Children with Attachments, Helping Children with Birth Family Connections, and Discipline without Punishment. We hold the classes twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Family home meetings, background checks and a written homestudy are also part of the process. Typically, it can take up to 6 months to become certified.

4. What if I have an arrest record?

That depends on the nature of the crime and how many years have passed. We will work with you to determine if you can go forward with the process. We may need to develop a safety plan as part of your certification.

5. How quickly will you place a child in my home?

Once you are certified we may call you the next day, or, there could be several months before we have a child that may fit with your family, your neighborhood, or with the ages and sex you have indicated. Placements are driven by the needs of the children and their families.

6. How long do children stay in care?

Some placements are short term but typically, the stay can last as long as 18 months. The length of time is determined by the birth parent’s ability to engage in services which will help them provide a safe and stable home.

7. What about the birth family?

Foster parents must be willing to co-parent with the birth parents, and to work in partnership with service providers and with the agency. When children come into care, the goal is to reunite them with their birth parents as soon as possible. The children must visit and have regular contact with their parents. The type of contact and the frequency will be determined by many factors. Foster parents are an integral part of this process.

8. How can I afford to care for a foster child?

Foster parents are volunteers who receive a monthly check for each child’s care expenses. The rate depends on the age of the children and the level of care needed. Medical and dental costs are covered. Other costs such as day care for working parents may also be covered.