Being a foster parent makes a difference in the life of a child.
Countless children in Los Angeles County are in protective services custody. Perhaps their parents are in jail or have addiction problems. Perhaps a tumultuous divorce has turned ugly. Whatever the reason they are removed from the home, these children need a stable loving atmosphere to thrive in. Foster care agencies provide this for the children by recruiting and training adults who may or may not have their own children to become foster parents. Foster parenting is an immense responsibility, but with proper training and assistance, it can be a good experience for the child and the foster parents as well.
Instructions
1. Select the foster family agency that you would like to work with. A good resource for locating an agency near your home is the California Department of Child and Family Services. While you are actually fostering a child directly from this agency, you must go through a licensed foster family agency (FFA) to become certified to be a foster parent. Keep in mind that rules about minimum age vary at different agencies. For instance, one may have a policy that 21 is the minimum age to foster children and another may have a policy that 25 is the minimum age.
2. Attend a foster parent orientation at the foster parent agency you have selected. This orientation is mandatory and will help acquaint the prospective foster parents into the L.A. County requirements for fostering children. It is also a chance for prospective parents to meet other foster parents. Local foster care families often know each other and can help acquaint the newcomer with others. This orientation is also the chance to ask questions that you want answered and starts the process of becoming a foster parent.
3. Submit an application obtained from the foster care agency you selected. An application will include submitting to a background check of all adults in the home. Anyone who has been convicted of a crime of violence of a sexual nature will be unable to foster children. Fingerprinting and income verification is required. A potential foster parent must have sufficient income to meet the needs of the household. Most applications also include drug screening and a physical examination. Potential foster parents are required to have an insured automobile and a clean driving record.
4. Attend foster parent certification training through the foster care agency you have selected. Each agency in Los Angeles County has different requirements on the number of hours needed to complete this training. This is usually related to the type of children the agency manages. If an agency handles predominantly children with behavioral problems, the classes will be longer to prepare potential foster parents for the job of dealing with these issues. There are usually 24 basic class hours for certification.
5. Submit to a home study of you and your family. This will involve a social worker or a representative of the agency making a home inspection to make sure it is suitable for the children or the additional children a foster parent would be taking on. This includes a view of where the child will be sleeping. There are often some stringent requirements to this. No more than two children are allowed to a room and no more than six children to a house, without a court-ordered exception. While the inspection won' critique your home decor, it will make sure the home is a safe and nurturing environment. The representative will interview all family members, even the biological children in the home, since the entire family must approve of adding the potential foster child or children.
6. Complete these steps successfully and Los Angeles County will approve you as a certified foster parent and you will be able to receive children. The number of children is decided between you and the department of family services. Foster parenting is a large responsibility, but it can be a rewarding one for family and child.
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