Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Q. Do I have to be married to be a foster parent?
A. No, many of our foster parents are single. It is always nice to have help in raising children, however it is not a requirement. We do ask that the child is always in the presence of a cleared adult, but he or she does not have to be your spouse.
Q. Can I work and be a foster parent at the same time?
A. Yes, however it can become difficult to manage having a foster child that needs full time daycare while you work. You would need to make sure that the child would always be with a cleared adult while you were at work.
Q. What is a “cleared adult”?
A. A cleared adult is someone who has been fingerprinted through the Department of Justice and cleared the Child Abuse Index. Once both entities have said the adult is ok, then they are considered cleared.
Q. How old do I have to be to be a foster parent?
A. Foster Parents must be a minimum 21 years of age. However outside care takers can be age 18.
Q. How long does it take to become a foster parent?
A. It depends on how motivated you are to finish all of the requirements. The fingerprinting and clearances can take a few days to a few weeks to accomplish, but the rest of the requirements can be completed rather quickly if you are dedicated to completing the tasks.
Q. Will my own children be affected if I take in foster children?
A. Whenever you change the dynamics of a family people are affected in many different ways. What is important is that the communication between you and you children remains positive and encouraging. Be open with your children about issues that arise from taking in foster children and encourage discussion about problems.
Q. Can I choose the children that come into my home?
A. Yes and no. You always have the right to say no to the placement of a child in your home. However, we cannot guarantee that you will get a particular child. We can work with you to find out the best fit for your home and try to find a match.
Q. How long does it take to get a child once I’m a Certified Foster Parent?
A. It depends. The more restrictive you are about the type of child you want the more time it will take, usually. We get placement notices from the different counties in the area and sometimes we get a child that fits your family quickly and sometimes it takes a while. For example, if you are looking for twin girls between the ages of 4 and 6, this could take quite a while. If, however, you are willing to take a teenage boy, then the placement opportunity is much higher.
Q. Will I be able to meet the child before he or she is placed at my house?
A. We will always try to accommodate your request to meet the child before he or she moves into your home via a “pre-placement visit”. Sometimes this can be a formal meeting for an hour or two; and sometimes this can be an overnight or weekend visit. Unfortunately, there are times where a child needs a home immediately. At these times, you always have the right to say no if you want to.
Q. Do I have to own my own home?
A. No, as long as you have a stable home it can be in an apartment or duplex or other acceptable living spaces.
Q. Is there help available if I am having problems with my foster child?
A. ABSOLUTLY! Our professional Social Work Staff is available to you when you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Q. Is there training I can take to help me become a better foster parent?
A. We require that all foster parents take a minimum of 12 hour of training each year. We also encourage foster parents to attend any of our trainings that we offer to staff who are being trained to work in our group homes as many of the subjects can relate to the foster home as well.
Q. How do I get started?
A. Come into our main office located at 1906 El Camino Ave, Sacramento, CA 95815 and ask for an application to become a foster parent. We will ask you a few questions and then schedule an orientation with your family.
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