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| foster parent information |
Q: How do I become a foster caregiver? How long does it take to become licensed?
A: Becoming a licensed foster caregiver takes a great deal of time, energy, and commitment.
It requires a certain number of hours of training, a thorough
home-study, and the completion of required paperwork. Caregivers are
required to submit medical clearances, financial statements indicating
they are financially self-sufficient, and references in addition to
other documentation. In general, the licensing process takes 4-6
months. We can assure that we will do everything within our power to
work with future caregivers to get them licensed in a reasonable amount
of time. However our primary goal is to prepare caregivers to be
successful in their role as foster caregivers.
Q: Do I have to own my own home?
A:
No, you do not need to own your own home. The expectations are the
same for caregivers that rent or own in that they pass their fire
inspection and safety audit. Renters will want to make sure that they
follow the rules of their lease which should specify how many occupants
they are allowed to have.
Q: What is the home-study process like?
A:
Once a foster caregiver completes their pre-service training and
paperwork, the licensing specialist will begin their home-study. The
home-study consists of several interviews and a safety-audit of the
home. All members living in the home will be part of the interview
process. The foster caregivers will be asked to respond to many
different questions (i.e. family history, financial status, reasons for
fostering, parenting style) that will help us to get to know them and
what it may be like to live in their home and be part of their family.
A way in which we like to look at the interview process is by asking
what you would want to know about someone who was going to care for
your children. We do everything we can do to make the home-study
process a comfortable and positive experience.
Q: Do I have to be married to be a foster caregiver?
A:
No, a foster caregiver can be single, married, in a committed
relationship, or a co-parent with another adult. It is Rosemont policy
that if a caregiver lives with another adult who will have daily
interaction with the foster children, that person also becomes
licensed.
Q: Do I get paid for being a foster caregiver?
A:
Foster caregivers are paid a daily rate for each child in their care.
This rate covers the expenses a caregiver would need to provide
excellent care for the child. It is also intended to compensate the
caregiver for their time, energy, and support.
Q: What are the children like who may be placed in my home?
A:
The foster children and families we serve come from a diversity of
backgrounds and experiences. They differ by race, age, ethnicity,
emotional and behavioral challenges, etc. A majority of our children
are over the age of 8 and need a great deal of time, energy, and
commitment. It is expected that they will have mental health issues
such as depression, anxiety, and demonstrate difficult behaviors (i.e.
lying, "mouthing off," skipping school). One of our greatest needs is
for caregivers that can successfully work with teens.
Q: What is the process like to have children placed in my home?
A:
Rosemont receives referrals for children primarily from Franklin County
Children's Services. FCCS contacts us, in addition to other agencies,
to see if we have any homes which would be a good fit for a child in
need of a foster home. If appropriate, we will contact a foster home
and read all of the information we have for the child to the caregiver
(s). If the foster caregiver is interested, we contact FCCS and offer
the caregiver's home. At that point, FCCS will make a determination
about whether they are interested in placing that child in your home.
If they are, the caregiver will be contacted and arrangements will be
made to place the child.
Q: Do I have any say about which children are placed in my home?
A:
Caregivers are under no obligation to accept any child into their
home. Upon receiving a referral for a child, we determine which homes
would be suitable and contact these homes. Suitability is determined
by the child's issues, how many children are in a particular home, how
stable the children already in the home are, in addition to many other
variables.
Q: How long do the children stay?
A:
Children may be placed in your home anywhere from a few days to several
years. Placement length depends on many variables including the plan
that is created for the child to be reunified with their biological
family.
Q: What happens if a child is placed in my home and things do not work out?
A:
While we do what we can to make sure that a child is a good match for a
foster home, sometimes a child ends up needing to be removed from a
foster home because they are not doing well in the home. However, we
attempt to figure out if there is anything that we can do to support
the caregiver to preserve placement of the child in the home and work
through any difficulties that may be surfacing. There is extensive
research that suggests the experience of multiple placements has a
negative impact on children.
Additional Foster Parent information is available on these pages:
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