Usually a foster care caseworker is assigned to a new case within two to four weeks of a child or children entering the foster care system. Siblings entering foster care would normally have the same foster care caseworker. By the time a caseworker is assigned to the case, the children have already been in a foster care home for two to four weeks. Hopefully, it is the same home that child protective services (CPS) placed them in the day they were removed, but it isn’t always. Since the children are settling into their new home, the worker doesn’t usually... more

Children have been removed from their parents’ home by child protective services. The children have been placed either in a licensed foster home or with an approved relative for temporary care. Unless the children were removed for extreme reasons, the original permanency goal of foster care is usually reunification with the birth family. Within a couple of weeks after the children are removed, the parents will meet with the foster care worker who has been newly assigned to their case. The foster care worker will review the reasons that the children were removed... more

When a child is removed from his or her parental home a judge or magistrate must sign an order allowing it. A child protective service worker usually requests this order, although a police officer may also request it. Once the removal has been approved, the child can be placed temporarily in foster care, a group home, or juvenile facility. That order is temporary, however, and after it is signed, an adjudication hearing must take place within 72 hours. Typically, a foster care worker has not yet been assigned to the case. Therefore, the child protective service worker involved in the... more

How did you know that you could handle what they send your way? This is a difficult question that I had to spend sometime thinking about. I do not think anyone knows for sure without a shadow of a doubt that they can handle anything that Child Welfare throws their way. It is not about being a super parent that knows all there is to know, and really, is there such a thing? Parenting whether through fostering and our own children it can be a daily learning experience.

Granted this is totally my opinion but here goes. It is more about being willing to learn... more

Knowing this was the right thing for my family was not as easy as knowing for myself. My husband was reserved about being a foster parent but he also knew how important this was for me on a personal level. I was not sure if it was something that it he would take to or like.

In time he fell into it, granted it was not his passion as it was mine. When we started fostering the children that we have now adopted he found that he did like it. We had the pleasure of fostering a newborn infant right from the hospital, she was born addicted to drugs and went through... more

How did you know for sure that foster care was the right thing for you to do?

Knowing that foster care is the right thing to do for you personally and your family is not something easy to explain. I have been asked how does one know this so I will give it my best shot and try to explain. Everyone will probably have a totally different idea or thought about it so please share below.

First, I the think the biggest question should be the reason you have decided to become a foster parent. Helping foster children work through their abuse, behaviors,... more

You have been thinking about becoming a foster parent but you are not quite sure it is right for your family. Not every person or family is cut out to be foster parents. Understanding what is involved with parenting abuse or neglected children and how much of your time foster care will consume is the first step.

This is a decision that will impact every one in the household. If you have children at home this will probably have the greatest impact on them. It will be a huge adjustment for your children because of your time taken away from them and the behaviors, issues, etc. that most foster children will be dealing with. You can successfully foster parent while raising your own... more

In the past, the Department of Social Services, or Health and Human Services, (called DHS or DSS), did all foster licensing. As local government agencies got busier they started contracting out services. Now, in some counties, private foster agencies are contracted by the state to license foster and adopting parents. In these cases, you must choose your agency from competing ones in your county.

Steps

1. Call your local state Child Welfare department and inquire if they handle the licensing and placement of children. (See below for resource)

If YES, ask for application and proceed with your local state or county agency. If NO follow... more

Requirements To Be a Foster Parent

Must be at least 21 or 25 years old in some areas

Criminal background check and fingerprinting

Stable income - not dependent on reimbursements to support your family

Dependable transportation, and driver’s licenses

Have a bedroom with the required square footage

Attain the required training hours (You will have to do training annually)

Home study

Pass a health and fire inspection

Time to care for a child

CPR and first aid

Your state and agency will or may have additional requirements.

You will go through four steps to become a... more

Self help skills are a big one. Remember who has been there to teach these children. Most all of my children (including babies/toddlers) came with food issues. They are afraid that the next time it is time to eat there will not be any food left. This means they may hoard food (hide it everywhere), eat with their hands while shoveling in and/or want to eat all the time and everything in sight.

Taking a bath even with older children may need to be taught. Don’t take things for granted. Learn from my mistakes. Using soap may have to be explained, shampoo to wash their hair (don’t forget to explain about the rinsing process). We had a 14 year old boy, that had a burr cut. He... more