Many years ago when I went to an orientation to become a foster parent, I went to a CPS (now DCS) office and got some information from a nice enough lady. Licensing was done by the state. Today, the process is different.
Today, DCS works with 17 different contracted agencies to facilitate the licensure process as well as case management for foster families. The foster care license is issued by the State, but the foster care agency is responsible for the training, home study and ongoing monitoring of the foster home.
What this means for you as a potential foster parent is that you have choices. And as with all things when you have choices, you have to do some research before making a decision.
Here are some things you should know to help with your decision making process:
- The basic licensing process has the same requirements for all agencies. All agencies use Foster Parent College curriculum that is required by the State. However, a few agencies require additional agency specific trainings.
- All agencies work with the same children. This means that one agency doesn’t just handle babies or teens. When a child is in need of a home, all agencies who have an open bed for the age they are looking to place are notified.
- The location of your agency doesn’t necessarily matter because after the initial training, your licensing worker typically comes to your home.
So what should you look for when looking for a foster care agency?
Level of Care
Foster care has several levels of care and while regular foster care requirements are the same across agencies, some agencies offer higher level of care such as Medically Complex, CDH (Child Development Homes) and Theraputic. These levels require additional trainings to help you prepare.
Size and Reputation
There are several well known agencies who have been doing business for a long time and foster care is one of the many programs they offer. These agencies are pillars of the community and many choose these agencies just by the name alone. The benefit of working with a larger more well known agency is that they have been doing business for a long time so they have processes in place. The drawback is that because they have been doing business for a long time and they are so big they might not have the ability to be open to new ideas.
Some agencies are smaller and newer. The benefit of a smaller agency is they don’t have layers of management so decisions are made quicker. They also have the ability to think outside of the box and come up with solutions and implement them quickly without so much red tape. For some smaller agencies, Foster Care is their only program. The drawback is that they are not as well known and often times they are working on putting systems in place.
Faith Based
Some agencies are faith based. Some require that you are a member of a church. Some pray with you during home visits. Some require that there is a stay at home parent. Some do not license same-sex couples. Many are linked with a church where they have support from the congregation for extra support, i.e. holiday gifts, other programs, etc.
Support and Experience
Your relationship with your licensing worker is important because they are your primary support. Are they available to you only 9 – 5 Monday – Friday? Do they respond to phone calls or texts or emails in a timely manner? Do they go to court and other important meetings with you? Does the agency provide support events and additional trainings?
What kind of experience does the licensing worker have? Do they have experience being a foster parent? Many agencies hire recent college grads with no experience, let alone parenting experience or foster care experience. Sometimes that personal experience can make a huge difference in how they support the foster family. It is not easy getting parenting advice from a worker who is not a parent (yes I realize I am generalizing, there are some great college grads!).
It’s rewarding but hard
Being a Foster parent is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. But it can also be hard because you are taking care of children who have been through trauma and working with a system that seems broken many times. Plus you are expected to work with a team of professionals who may or may not be good at their jobs. So finding an agency that fits your needs, where you feel valued and supported can make the difference between you continuing to be a foster parent or run for the hills screaming. But most importantly, it provides a home for a foster child who desperately needs a stable and loving family.
If you are ready to find out more, please click here.
Mea Sparks 