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Foster Parent FAQ's

Q. What do I need to learn to become a
      foster parent?

No previous parenting experience is necessary, but it can be very helpful. What is required is a sincere desire to help a needy child. All foster parents will go through an orientation process prior to being approved by our agency. This process will introduce you to foster care, our program, and the requirements of the Department of Public Welfare. This process is important because it helps ensure the safety and protection of children through our formal and informal meetings with your family. We will get to know each other and begin to build a working relationship. Also, the things you need to learn to assist you in working with a child are discussed with you during our orientation/approval process, You will also receive instruction through an on-going training program conducted by our agency. We utilize both Friendship House and community child care professionals to help provide a better understanding of the needs of children.

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Q. Where do these foster children come from?

Foster children come to the attention of our agency through referrals from county Children and Youth Services and occasionally Juvenile Probation. These children generally come from abusive situations and/or long term patterns of neglect. They are referred to foster care when all other means of preventing placement have been exhausted or when it is determined that the child is in imminent danger of further abuse if allowed to remain in their current environment. Children are then placed with families who can provide and care for them until their biological families stabilize to meet the child's needs or until more permanent options for the child are available.

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Q. How long do children remain in my home?

This varies greatly depending on the biological families' situation and needs. The average stay in our program is roughly anywhere from 8 months to 1.5 years. The initial goal for all children in care is to be reunited with their biological families or a relative. The extent to which the biological family addresses the issues which necessitated placement of their children will determine how long the children remain in care.

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Q. How long does it take to become a foster
      parent?

Once a family decides they would like to become foster parents and aligns themselves with an agency, they will go through the Application/Approval Process. This process is a joint effort between the agency and your family. Your home will need to meet the requirements set forth by the Department of Public Welfare. You will need to submit to a criminal and child abuse records check for all adults (Eighteen years and older) who live in your home. You will also need to participate in our orientation training programs. Throughout the process, we will discuss what your interests are, what kinds of children your family would like to care for and what our expectations will be. The entire process generally takes 2 months.

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Q. How will children come to my home?

     Do I have a choice of children who are to be      placed in my home?

     Who comes to my house and when?

Through our Foster Parent Application/Approval Process, we explore and discuss the strengths and interests of your family to determine the different types of children who would be suitable in your home. Families decide based on whatever criteria is important to their family what type of children they would like to care for in their homes. Many families want to care for infants and preschool children, other families want to care for older children. Some families decide they want only girls or only boys. There are also families who work only with teenagers or pregnant teens. Families often determine it is important that a foster child practice the same religion or are of the same race or ethnicity as their own family. Based on your family's desires, we attempt to match children who are referred to us. When a referral is made to us, we assess available homes and, if appropriate, we would contact your family. You will be provided with information related to the child's placement. Families will then discuss this information among themselves, and if available, Friendship House and the County Agency will determine arrangements for an initial visit and a pre-placement meeting with your family. If your meeting with the child goes well and your family members want to pursue the placement further we make arrangements for the placement of the child. The actual placement of the child is the responsibility of our agency. A caseworker who is assigned to your family will make all arrangements for the placement and accompany the child through your initial meetings. Caseworkers are in contact with you regularly and visit your home, a minimum of twice a month. We are also available for support twenty-four hours a day.

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Q. Can we adopt our foster children?

Foster parenting is typically not an adoption process. The ultimate goal of most children in our care is to be reunited with their biological families. However, for many children there is not a family to return to or that goal is not a reality. Only County Children & Youth Services through the court have the authority to decide if parental rights are terminated and the child be placed for adoption. In many cases, fostering a child becomes a fostering-to-adopt situation. When this occurs, your family may be assessed as adoptive parents, if that is your decision.

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