Frequently Asked Questions

What is foster care?

Foster care is the temporary placement of children and youth with families outside of their own. The goal is to provide a safe, stable, nurturing environment.

What is a foster parent?

A foster parent is a person who cares for children/youth who are not in their custody.

How long does a child stay in foster care?

Typically most of the children in our program stay for 12-18 months.  Sometimes children need to stay longer in order to finalize the goal of reunification, adoption or independent living.

What type of supports do foster parents receive?

Each family or child is assigned a Foster Care Case Manager who will visit the home on a weekly basis.  In addition, foster parents are assigned a Foster Parent Supervisor who will meet with them monthly, or more if needed.  The program also provides foster parent support groups, on-going training and 24 hour on-call support.

Will I get financial assistance?

Foster parents are given a reimbursement for each night the child sleeps in their home to provide for the basic needs of the child.  Reimbursement for intensive foster care ranges from $50-$56 per night.

What are the requirements for becoming a foster parent?

•  Age 25 or older, spare bedroom, high school diploma or GED 
•  reliable transportation, clean criminal background check, stable home environment
•  regular source of income, character references, medical examinations
•  homestudy/family assessment

Will I get some training?

Foster parents receive an initial training before a child is placed in their home. Foster parents are then responsible for attending at least twenty hours of training a year in order to maintain their foster care license. Trainings are offered for free by the agency.

Can I specify the age and sex of the child I want to foster?

Foster parents may specify the age and sex of the child that they feel comfortable parenting.  The program works closely with each foster family and each child referred to ensure a successful placement.