What Is Needed To Be A Foster Parent

The most important part of being a foster parent is to provide love and safety to every child in your home. Children in care have experienced a great deal of trauma and are in need of families who can give them care and support as they both adjust to being in a new home and grieve and process all they have been through.

To become a Haven Foster Care Family, clients must:

• • Be over 21 years of age.
  • Complete all mandatory therapeutic foster care training.
  • Obtain necessary FBI, criminal, and child abuse history clearances.
  • Comply with all state regulation and agency policies.
  • Have a consistent source of income.
  • Maintain a stable, clean, and well-kept home.
  • Be approved through the family profile process as detailed below.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the foster care system, the process of becoming a foster care family, and the impact of trauma on children.
  • Demonstrate an openness to communication with biological family members, a respect for the foster care process, and be supportive of the goal of reunification.
  • Understand they are not permitted to have more than six children residing in their home at any time.

Factors that do not affect the ability to be a foster care parent include:

• • Marital status
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Ability to be a stay-at-home parent

What is expected of you as a foster parent?

Characteristics of foster care parents include being stable, mature, dependable, and flexible; advocates for children; being a team player and able to work with many individuals involved in the foster care process; and support reunification with the biological family.

As a foster parent, you are expected to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the child to live in, including his or her own separate bed and a place for their belongings. You will provide for the child’s physical, emotional, and mental health needs as you would for your own child.  You need to assure that the child attends school daily (unless ill), as well as all medical and dental appointments. You are to provide appropriate clothing and personal care items for the child, as well as transportation in accordance with the child’s individual service plan. Every child in care should be involved in at least one recreational activity that promotes healthy development of the child.

Assist the child to maintain realistic relationships with his/her family through cooperation with visitation, understanding feelings, and preparing for permanence. Cooperate with the agency to develop and/or implement the terms of family service plan, the child‘s individual service plan, and goals for family reunification or permanency.

Confidentiality: All resource parents have the obligation to treat all information regarding foster children and their biological family in a strictly confidential manner. Haven will provide you with relevant information regarding the child and his/her family. Foster children may also share other information with you. As resource parents, you are prohibited from discussing this information with anyone outside of the child’s team. Discussing confidential information with your neighbors, friends, or other relatives is inappropriate and potentially harmful. Any violation of confidentiality is a violation of state and federal laws and could result in legal action against the resource parent.