Questions to ask yourself as you begin the process of becoming a foster parent What is Foster Care? Why do we need Foster homes? What do you know about Foster Care?

Relationship: Gender: Age: Marital Status: Who are the most common confirmed perpetrators of abuse or neglect? Parent (78.1%) Female (56.8%) yrs (37.7%) Married (29.4%)

Questions to ask a prospective foster parent: What do I expect from the children? How is having foster children going to impact my family? What support system do I need to have in place?

Types of Services Basic Foster Care Treatment Services - Therapeutic Foster Care Respite Care Assessment Services - Emergency Placement Transitional Living

“Basic” Foster Care Includes: A supportive setting, preferably a family that provides:  Routine guidance and supervision  Affection, reassurance and involvement in age appropriate activities  Contact with family members as appropriate and allowed.  Access to therapeutic, habilitative and medical interventions from professionals and paraprofessionals as needed and recommended.

“Basic” Foster Care Child Characteristics:  Capable of responding to limit setting and other interventions  Transient difficulties and occasional misbehavior  Brief acting out in response to stress  Behaviors are typical for child’s age and minimally disturbing  Mild developmental delays from mild Mental retardation.

“Treatment Services” or “Therapeutic” Foster Care Includes: A supportive setting, preferably a family that provides: More than routine guidance & supervision - 24 hour supervision may be needed for some children Affection, reassurance & involvement in age appropriate activities Contact with family members as appropriate & allowed. Access to therapeutic, habilitative & medical interventions from professionals & paraprofessionals in order to meet the child’s needs. For primary medical needs and habilitative needs interventions from a skilled caregiver may be required.

“Treatment Services” or “Therapeutic” Child Characteristics:  Child has difficulties in one or more area of functioning. Frequent or unpredictable intense misbehavior Frequent or unpredictable physical aggression Moderate to severe self injurious behavior Mild to severe substance abuse Withdrawn or isolated  Moderate to severe developmental delays or Mental retardation.  Primary medical needs

Respite Care Providers:  Provides care for children for periods of 72 hours up to 14 days  Reimbursed for care  Requirements: Background check FBI check CPR / 1 st Aid TB test Home visit and assessment Behavior Management/ Medication training

Assessment Services Emergency Placement: Little information available We provide what we are given Children can come anytime of day or night. May not have anything Family needs to provide car seats and appropriate beds

Supporting Children & Families in Transition  The first 30 days: Multiple appointments Difficult & unpredictable behavior Mood swings Approach/Avoidance behavior Lack of sleep Your children disrupted  Could you make a decision if you did not have the information? Foster Parents have to be comfortable with some unknowns Adoptive parents also have to be comfortable with some unknown information.

Basic Requirements to be a Foster Parent At least 21 years of age High School Diploma or GED Single, Married or Cohabitating at least one year Demonstrate emotional stability & physical health Ability to provide nurturing care, appropriate supervision, reasonable discipline, & a home-like atmosphere for children

Basic Requirements for a Foster Home 40 Sq. Ft. per child in a bedroom No more than 4 children in a bedroom 40 Sq. Ft. of activity space per child Minimum square footage for one child in a bedroom is 80 Sq. Ft. One bathroom per 8 people Children must attend public school Children covered by Medicaid

What is next? Once you have completed reviewing the orientation power point; – the Orientation Quiz to receive credit for the orientationOrientation Quiz – Submit the completed Orientation Quiz to Christina Smith at