FAQ
Foster Care BasicsHow can I get started on becoming a licensed foster parent?
A child will be placed into your home by CPS (Children’s Protective Services) as they are the entity that conducts removals if it becomes necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of a child. In the span of a few days, a foster care worker will take over the case and they will serve the child and the family in an effort to achieve reunification. All the while, you will maintain your licensing worker to approach with questions, concerns, and every now and again, a good laugh or cry! Check out our New Foster Parent Guide for more resources, tips, and worksheets that you might find helpful.
How long will it take to get licensed?
The licensing process is applicant-driven which means your motivation and progress only serve to speed up the process. The statewide goal is to license a home in less than 180 days from the date an application is signed.
How do I know if my home is suitable for licensure?
In conducting a home evaluation, the worker’s primary assessment is on safety. While a castle up on a mountainside sounds dreamy, safety and space availability are the focus. There is a requirement to have at least 40 square feet of space in a bedroom per child as well as two means of egress (a door and window). The remainder of the home will have requirements such as finished walls, working smoke detectors, flushable toilets, etc.
Can I adopt my foster child?
The primary goal of fostering is to provide a child with a safe and stable home for a short period of time until they can be reunified with family. Reunification is most desirable, and adoption should not be the goal in fostering. However, if reunification cannot be achieved, alternative goals of guardianship or adoption may be pursued for the child.
What should I expect when a placement occurs?
The most important thing to do when a child is placed is to acclimate the child to the home and your family to the child. Before going to sleep, a child should be made aware of where the bathroom is, where to get a drink if they are thirsty, reminders of names, asked about bedtime routines, night light needs, etc. A removal and placement is traumatizing and scary to a child and the day/night one goal should be to make them as comfortable as possible.
Unfortunately, as everyone adjusts to the new placement, a lot is happening. Admittedly, the first thirty days are a bit chaotic! Click below for a list of things the worker should be doing right away in terms of forms and action steps.
Download our information sheet on What to Expect Within 30 Days of Placement.
Will there be anyone to help me after I get a placement?
A child will be placed into your home by CPS (Children’s Protective Services) as they are the entity that conducts removals if it becomes necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of a child. In the span of a few days, a foster care worker will take over the case and they will serve the child and the family in an effort to achieve reunification. All the while, you will maintain your licensing worker to approach with questions, concerns, and every now and again, a good laugh or cry!
How long are kids normally in foster care?
All cases are different. Remember we are dealing with humans and not robots; however the goal is to have a child on the path to reunification or adoption by the year mark.
After hours emergency numbers?
In the event of an emergency that occurs after hours when foster care and licensing workers may not answer, you can still reach someone by contacting Centralized Intake at 855-444-3911.
How much will it cost me to get licensed/foster?
During the licensing process, there should be no costs incurred by the applicant! Once a child is placed in your home, a daily foster care reimbursement will be issued to help offset the costs of caring for an additional household member. Foster parents are also eligible for community/state programs such as WIC, daycare assistance, etc.
What are all these strange acronyms my worker keeps using?
There are a lot of these! Feel free to stop a worker or service provider for clarification if they throw one out in conversation.