Foster families can be challenging and rewarding, as well as children being fostered.Foster parents care for children when the state takes them from their natural families because of safety concerns or because the family voluntarily gives them up.The general process for becoming a foster parent is the same regardless of which county you live in.
Step 1: Read about the responsibilities.
A stable home for children who cannot currently live with their parents is provided by a foster parent.Abuse or neglect can lead to the removal of children.A foster parent needs to provide more than just food, shelter, and clothing because the child probably suffers from trauma due to being separated from his or her home.You need to make sure that children get the mental and physical health care they need.Children must be allowed to visit their parents or siblings.You can find a foster parent manual here.There is a discussion of foster parent responsibilities.
Step 2: It's nice to let people into your home.
Accepting a child into your home is one of the things you need to be comfortable with.Case workers visit foster parent homes on a regular basis to check on the child and assess the living quarters.
Step 3: Understand the financial reimbursements.
Foster parents are reimbursed for the cost of caring for a child if they have provided a service to the community.Depending on the child's age and whether the placement was an emergency, counties set their own rates.Payment will depend on whether your home is identified as providing Basic, Special, or exceptional services, which is determined according to the needs of the child.A basic home provides services for a child with no identified special needs.To be considered for a special or exceptional home, you need to go through special training and participate in case conferences.The allowance and transportation costs for the child are provided by the state.Depending on the county, child care allowances may be available for foster parents who have to work outside the home.If the child is the right age, he or she may be eligible for free or low-cost daycare.
Step 4: You can learn about the rights of a foster parent.
Foster parents have the ability to reject the placement of a child in their home.Limit the number of children that can be placed with you.You can get information on the children that are placed with you.The caseworker will make regular visits.Conferences are held in the foster home to discuss the child's plan every 90 days or less.Receive training on how to help the child.Family Court permanency hearings on the child can be participated in.Have your privacy respected.
Step 5: Check to make sure you meet requirements.
If you want to become a foster parent, you should check to see that you are over the age of 21.The members of the foster household must be free of communicable diseases.Foster families that have physical handicaps or illnesses will be included in an individualized assessment.If the foster parent can provide adequate foster care, the Department may require a written report or physical examination from a physician.The agency must approve the employment of the foster parents outside the home if only one of them works there.Marital status can be a factor.The agency needs to know about changes in marital status.There is ability and motivation.The agency will look at your ability to be a foster parent.During a home assessment, you can meet and talk with a Department representative.
Step 6: Meet other foster parents.
If you want to understand what being a foster parent is like, talk to other foster parents.If you don't know of any, contact your local Department and ask if they can give you a referral of someone to talk to.
Step 7: The Department of Social Services can be reached.
Contact the Department of Social Services in your county to begin the process of becoming a foster parent.There is a listing of county offices.A representative from the Department will talk to you about fostering and the certification process.To be certified, you have to pass a number of checks, including a State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, a criminal history check, and a home study.
Step 8: There is an SCR clearance.
The Department can check if you are the subject of an indicated child abuse maltreatment report filed with the State Central Register in New York State by completing forms.The Department will check the state's registries to see if you lived there in the five years preceding the application.The forms should be given to the Department representative.
Step 9: Go through a criminal background check.
You will have to go through a criminal background check as part of the application process.The Department will need a set of fingerprints to do these checks.Your fingerprints can be taken at the local Department of Social Services office.You will be directed to local law enforcement in other counties for either digital or ink-based prints.If you have people who are frequent visitors to your home, you may have to do a background check on them to make sure they are safe around foster children.
Step 10: Make sure you have enough room for the foster child.
The representative will check to see if you have enough space.The representative will want to see the sleeping quarters of the child.Children of the opposite sex are required to have separate bedrooms if they are siblings or half-siblings in New York.Unless the children are siblings or half-siblings, no more than three people may occupy a bedroom.A child over the age of three cannot sleep in the same room with an adult of the opposite sex.Children can't sleep in the same bed as adults.There must be a crib or bed for each child.
Step 11: You need to assure that you have clean water.
An adequate supply of safe water is required by New York regulations.
Step 12: The house needs to be cleaned.
The representative wants to make sure that the home is clean so that physical well-being and comfort are assured.Clothes, books, magazines, and other objects should be stored.Throw out unsafe food.Don't just clean the child's bedroom.The representative will want to see that the house is clean.New York regulations require that bathing and lavatory facilities be kept in a sanitary condition, so pay particular attention to the bathroom.There are toilet bowls, showers, bathtubs, sinks, and tiles.There are missing tiles and dirty shower curtains.
Step 13: Make sure the conditions are safe.
It's important that your home is also safe.Make sure you don't have exposed wires or easily accessible medication.Address these problems if you do.Hire an electrician to protect exposed wires and a carpenter to fix rickety stairs.Medicines and cleaning supplies should be kept out of the reach of children.There are dangerous implements like guns, knives, bows and arrows.They are with friends or family.Department representatives will come to your home after the foster child is placed with you, so you should leave them with family or friends.
Step 14: Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
You should have a smoke detector.If you need new batteries, put them in the smoke alarm.Make sure you have a fire extinguisher.
Step 15: Meet the person.
In order to get a sense of the applicants character, motivation, and willingness to cooperate with the agency, you will meet with a representative and answer questions on a variety of topics.Discuss your experience raising children.Any experience with child abuse or neglect.You have an approach to discipline.Foster parenting can have an impact on your family's lifestyle.It is important to provide a safe environment for children.You can be a partner with the agency in carrying out permanency plans for the child.Your ability to provide a stable and meaningful relationship is assessed.
Step 16: Ask for references.
Three references from people who know you will be part of the application.Signed statements from these people will be sought by the agency to attest to your judgment, moral character, and ability to establish meaningful relationships with children.In lieu of a signed statement, the agency may interview your references.
Step 17: You can take a training course.
A training program is required for potential foster families to accept children into their home.Training on the documentation you must keep, the agency's expectations, benefits you and the child are eligible for, types of behaviors to expect from the foster child, and other pertinent issues are covered in these programs.Foster parents who are offered more specialized training must refresh their training every year.
Step 18: Wait for your foster child.
You will be ready to receive your foster child once all training and investigations are complete.It's likely that you won't have to wait long for your placement.Foster families are needed in New York.Depending on the situation, the length of stay could be as little as one night.Sometimes a child can remain in foster care and be with the same family for more than a year.
Step 19: Adopt.
If the natural parents are unwilling or unable to correct the issue that caused the foster child's removal, adoption is an option.Foster care standards are different from home certification standards.If you are interested in adoption, you should meet with a family law attorney.Referred programs should be run by your state's bar association.