Below are a list of common questions that individuals have about foster care and the process of becoming a foster parent.

Q: Do I get to choose the children who are placed in my home?

Yes. We ask that you provide us with a general idea of what type of children you would like to provide temporary care to, i.e. age, gender, race, etc. We will contact you when a child meeting your general guidelines requires placement in foster care. After being provided with information we have regarding the child needing placement you can chose whether or not you would like to foster the child.

Q: When will a child be place in my home?

There is no known or guaranteed timeline for a child needing placement in resource care. There are times when the Agency will have numerous placements within a short period of time and there are periods of time when there are no placements. If you have very specific guidelines for what “type”, i.e. Caucasian girl 0-2 years old, of child you will care for it may take longer for a child to be placed in your home.

Q: Do I receive payment for children being placed in my home?

Yes. You receive a tax-free reimbursement for each child placed in your home. All children 0-5 years old qualify for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and school age children are eligible for the free lunch program; resource parents income is not considered.

Q: I work, what do I do about child care?

Children placed in resource care must be cared for in a licensed daycare facility. All children in resource care qualify for subsidized daycare as long as the resource parents meet the required number of hours of employment per week; resource parent income is not considered.

Q: What if I need a babysitter?

The agency will pay a resource parent to babysit foster children as needed. You may also request a relative or friend be approved to babysit for occasional, temporary situations, i.e. while at the store, going to dinner, etc.

Q: What about medical care?

Most children in foster care have medical assistance to cover all medical and dental needs. Some children have private insurance through their parents. Resource parents are not responsible for medical bills.

Q: Will my foster child's parents get my address and phone number?

The Agency is required by law to provide your address to your foster child’s parents within 24 hours of placement. On rare occasions, it is unsafe for your address to be provided to the child’s parents and the Agency will request the court order this information not to be provided. A caseworker will ask your permission prior to giving out your phone number. Some children have phone contact with their parents and arrangements can be made for the child to call their parents or for the parents to call the child. Please remember that with current technology even if your address and phone number is not given to your foster child’s parents they may still be able to find the information the the child may give the information to their parents.

Q: Do visits occur in my home?

The Agency has three caseworkers who specifically schedule and supervise visits between children and their parents. Initially, some visits may be supervised at the Agency. As the reunification process progresses, community visits and visits in the parents’ home may occur. Foster parents are responsible for transportation to and from visits and will frequently have contact with their foster child’s parents when doing so. Frequently, foster parents become more comfortable with their foster child’s parents and when appropriate, may provide some supervision of visits in the community.

Q: Can I take my foster child on vacation with me?

In most situations foster parents can take their foster children on vacation. It is important that the foster parents notify the child’s caseworker as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Foster parents must inform the Agency of where they will be traveling. On some occasions, the Agency may prohibit a foster child from attending the foster parents’ vacation. This typically will only occur if the vacation interferes with the Agency’s reunification plan or if a child would miss an extended period of time in school.

Q: What if things aren't working well with the foster child in my home?

You can request that a foster child be removed from your home. Unless there is a crisis situation, the Agency requests that you give approximately ten days for an appropriate resource home to be located.

Q: Can I adopt my foster child?

First and foremost the Agency’s goal is to reunify children and parents. If a family is unable to be reunified and parental rights are terminated you may express  your desire to adopt your foster child. No children are initially placed in foster care with the goal of adoption.