Family stability and personal maturity Being a steady advocate for children Being a “team player” with your family and your welfare worker[1] X Trustworthy Source AdoptUSKids National organization devoted to providing educational resources about adoption and the child welfare system Go to source
You do not need to be married in order to become a foster parent You do not need to own or live in your own home You do not need to be wealthy You do not need to already be a parent or have kids of your own You do not need to be young You do not need to be a stay-at-home parent
Income verification through your employer. (Again, you do not need to be wealthy to become a foster parent, and many expenses associated with the raising of foster youth are reimbursable. ) Criminal record screening at all three levels — local, state, federal Letters of reference from your employer as well as from personal acquaintances Age verification by birth certificate or other legal means
Be responsive to the caseworker’s requests in a responsible, timely, and open manner. Honor your caseworker’s requests for documents and information. Pledge to maintain confidentiality about children in foster care as well as the details surrounding their family. Accommodate your caseworker on required home inspections and criminal background checks.
Family background and any relevant parenting experiences Education and employment Personal relationships and social life Information about your home and the neighborhood you live in Your reasons for wanting to foster parent and your readiness to do so
During this time, do as much research as you can about the types of issues foster children will have. Some come into the system abused — sexually, mentally and physically — and this presents serious issues for the both the foster youth and parents. Contact your state foster parent association and talk to other foster parents for insights and advice. Network with them and find out firsthand what’s it’s like to be a foster or adoptive parent. If a caseworker comes to you with questions which you think may put your eligibility in doubt, never lie. If your caseworker believes you to be deceptive or dishonest, your eligibility will suffer. Most issues that come up can be worked around. The best policy is openness with your caseworker.
If you are feeling weary, unsure, or unwilling to accept the placement, know that you have the right to back out of the placement request before it’s finalized. [4] X Trustworthy Source AdoptUSKids National organization devoted to providing educational resources about adoption and the child welfare system Go to source
In most states, foster children are covered with Medicaid cards, which includes medical, dental and counseling services. If the child needs daycare, this is a cost you’ll probably be responsible for. Again, this differs from state to state; some states include a monthly stipend for childcare.
Form emotional bonds with your foster youth, but don’t expect them to stay for very long. Foster care can last a matter of weeks or months, but it rarely drags on forever. More than half of foster youth are eventually reunited with their natural parents. If reunification with their birth parents is no longer possible, you may be able to adopt your foster youth. This may only happen after the legal rights of the parents have been officially severed. [5] X Trustworthy Source AdoptUSKids National organization devoted to providing educational resources about adoption and the child welfare system Go to source Continue to work with your caseworker to help meet the day to day needs of the foster youth. Stay in touch with your caseworker. They will help you better provide for your foster youth, if only with moral support.
In most states, babysitters 18 or older can legally sit foster youth, although your particular state may have a provision against it. Ask your caseworker for more details if you are unsure. Respite care is a temporary handing over of the foster youth to another caregiver in order to give the foster parent(s) a break. Again, check with your caseworker for more information about respite care.
