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What is foster care?
Foster care is the temporary placement of children outside of their
own homes. It occurs because of abuse, neglect, or other family
problems. When possible, the Department of Children and Family
Services and other agencies work with families to reunite them. When
that's not possible, measures are taken to get the children adopted
-- or prepared for independent life.
What kinds of children need foster
homes the most?
Many kinds of children will need foster homes. The children who
currently need homes the most are:
African-American infants
Teenage mothers and their babies
Children with special medical needs
Adolescents
Brothers and sisters who need to stay together
Hispanic children
Babies born with the HIV (AIDS) virus or with cocaine in their
system
Can we pick out the child we want?
You can express a preference on the age, race, and sex of the child
that you think would best fit in with your family. You do not have
to accept a child you do not want.
Can single foster persons care for
foster children?
Yes.
How many foster children can we take?
That depends on factors such as your ability, your enthusiasm, how
many children you have of your own, and how much room you have in
your home. The maximum number, including your own children, is set
out by state foster care agencys licensing standards.
Do all foster children have problems?
Most of them do, to some degree. Many are frightened and confused at
the sudden separation from their parents. Some are angry. Others may
think they are being sent to a foster home as punishment. Even
babies may be extremely fretful and irritable at first. These
problems gradually lessen, though, as a foster child comes to know
that you care for him or her.
What kind of support will we receive?
Financial Assistance
Foster parents in "regular" foster care programs receive a monthly
check to cover the child's food, clothing and personal allowance.
The amount of the check is based on the child's age.
Medical Care
Each foster child gets a medical card from the state that guarantees
payment for all necessary medical care and preventive medicine. You
will be given a number to call to get help in selecting a physician
for a child placed with you. The medical card is also accepted by
many hospitals and for approved prescriptions. You should not pay
any medical bill directly.
Education Services
Foster children go to regular public schools, unless they need
special education, for which the state can pay. Private or parochial
school tuition cannot be paid by the State. Foster children may
attend private or parochial schools, but only if the tuition is paid
by some other source.
Personal Support
The Progressive Life Center and your child's caseworker are
responsible for supporting your family on a daily basis. We provide
24-hour support, seven days a week. We have developed internal
supports, which include foster parent support groups, after hours
telephone numbers, and community resources.
Support from DCFS
The Department of Children and Family Services provides overall
support to licensed private child welfare agencies with foster care
programs, while maintaining its own foster care program. DCFS also
directly provides universal foster care information and impartial
advocacy for all foster families statewide.
How do we become foster parents?
Call our toll free number at 1-800 984-1824 to speak with a person
from our Foster Parent Recruitment Team or click here to make an
email request for more information. We will be happy to schedule an
orientation meeting as the first step in the process. We can help
you decide if foster care is a good plan for your family. The
representative will also give you various forms to complete
including an application, Child Protective Clearance Form for each
adult in the home and medical forms for each member of your family.
Because the law requires that a criminal background check be run on
all applicants, you will be fingerprinted. In addition, references
you provide will be contacted. While these checks are being run, you
will attend training classes to help prepare you for your future
role.
What types of foster parents are there?
Most foster parents begin to care for children whose goal is to be
reunited with their birth parents or other family members as soon as
possible. . Sometimes, however, the children we serve have suffered
significant trauma and require more structured care. We train our
foster families and provide them with the necessary tools to offer
therapeutic foster care to these children. Foster parents who either
already have necessary skills, or are willing to be trained to meet
the special needs of these foster children, may become part of a
"specialized" or "treatment" foster care program providing intensive
services. These foster families also receive extra payments.
How long does it take to get a foster
child?
The licensing and training process takes from four to six months.
After that process and your training are completed, children can
then be placed with you.
How will our children react to foster
children?
If
you've prepared them well for the coming of a foster child and they
understand the temporary nature of foster care, there should be few
problems. It's not unusual for your children to be a bit jealous at
first -- just as they might be jealous of a new baby in the family.
Do foster children need individual
bedrooms?
No. A foster child can share a room with your children or other
foster children of the same sex. The child must have a bed of his
or her own. A foster child may not share a bedroom with an adult --
except for brief periods due to the child's illness or another need
for attention.
Can we take our foster child on
vacation with us?
In
most cases, yes. But if it involves out-of-state travel, you must
call your child's caseworker in advance for approval.
Can our foster children go to church
with us?
Yes. Usually, you will get children whose religious background is
similar to your own. But if a foster child is of a different faith,
he or she must be allowed to attend worship in that faith.
Does a child's birth parents visit him
or her?
PLC works to maintain contact between a child and his biological
family. In most cases, visits between parents and children are an
essential part of the efforts to reunite families. The child's
caseworker has the primary responsibility for planning visits and
arranging supervision, if required. The caseworker will talk with
you and the child's parents to work out the time and location of the
visits.
Can we ever adopt a foster child?
The first goal is to return foster children to their biological
families when that is possible. However, if a foster child who has
been in your home for some time becomes available for adoption, you
can discuss your interest in adopting him or her with the
caseworker. At that time, you would have to meet all of the regular
requirements for becoming an adoptive parent.
Won't it be hard on us when the foster
child returns home or is adopted?
Yes. That is, in fact, the hardest part of being a foster parent.
You will certainly feel sad for a time. It's only natural -- just as
it's natural for your foster daughter or son to want a family of his
or her own. But there will always be new foster children who will
need your care and affection.
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