Requirements
The following requirements must be met to qualify to be a foster parent:
Foster parents must be at least 21 years of age.
Foster parents may be a single parent.
Foster parents may be employed full time.
Foster parents must pass an intial medical appraisal by a licensed physician establishing that the resource parent is physically able to care for children and is free from communicable disease.
Criminal and ChildLine background checks must be completed on all individuals (18 years and older) in the household.
FBI fingerprints must be completed on all individuals (18 years and older) in the household.
A foster parent must be able to document financial stability.
A foster parent must participate in 12 hours of pre-service training and then participate in 6 hours of Agency approved training annually thereafter.
The foster parent’s housing situation must meet the following requirements:
Separate rooms for all adults and children
Separate rooms for children of a different gender over the age of 5
No exposed wires
Smoke detectors on each level
Fire extinguisher (Class B)
All weapons secured and inaccessible
Medication, cleaning solutions, and poisons secured and inaccessible
Safety screens for fire places, wood stoves, etc.
Pools, hot tubs, etc. secured
Well test (for bacteria) if on a well
Outlet safety caps, for children under 5 years
Emergency numbers posted on each telephone
Foster parents may not smoke inside their homes or cars. Foster parents may not allow anyone else to smoke around foster children.