What are the qualifications for becoming a foster parent?

Answer 1

Meet the challenge of helping children grow and develop mentally and physically.
Be able to provide care and supervision.
Be able to work as part of a team with social workers and biological parents.
Be skilled in creative problem-solving and listening.
Be financially independent of the foster care payment

Answer 2

It varies, but for most states, you have to take a six or eight week class, get fingerprinted by police, have a basic background check of some sort, get letters from friends/family answering a few questions about what kind of person you are, get a physical from your regular doctor and have him fill out a form, and you have to have a "homestudy" where a social worker visits your home, gets to know your family, checks for basic safety, measures to be sure you have the required number of square feet of bedroom per foster child, and so forth.

It's a lot of hoops to jump through, but as a general rule, if you're dead-set on doing it, and your home is not falling apart or dangerous, you'll pass if you just keep at it.

The most important thing you can do, if you're considering becoming a foster parent, is read. Read books like When Love is Not Enough, Parenting the Hurt Child, and anything else you can lay your hands on about common problems in foster children, including drug exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder, coping with past abuse, and so forth. Attachment parenting is really important. And throw all that stuff out the window about how mature kids should be at various ages, and what is and is not appropriate to do with them. You're going to be dealing with kids who have likely never had the opportunity to be babies, toddlers, or children, and they need those steps for healthy emotional, social, and mental growth. Many of them have never had a parent who acted like a parent. If they're going to be in your home longer than a couple weeks, be ready and willing to baby them, so that they can grow up.

It will sound terrifyingly difficult, as you read some of this stuff, but, remember. Foster parenting, and adoptive parenting, is more than just a different way to bring a child into your home. It's a whole different way of being a family, of being a parent, of raising a child. It's hard because you haven't learned this style of parenting before. But it can be done, and it can be done well.

Answer 3

Most states require a certain amount of hours of training (36 hrs. in Ohio). Then while you are training, they will typically run your fingerprints, do a financial check (to make sure your not going to be dependent on the money you receive for fostering), you'll have a home inspection to make sure your house is up to code. You'll also have a home study done, to see how you run your house so to speak. Keep in mind that if you are married (I do not believe this is required though), you and your spouse will both have to complete the training and be there for the home study before you can become a foster parent. Best of luck to you, these kids need and deserve all the love they can get.

Answer 4

The criterias are pretty subjective in different states and countries.
But I suppose the common criterias the authorty would be looking for are:

1) Has the person applying got a healthy family.
2) The number of children dependant on the parents within the family.
3) The combine income of the parents.
4) Social records and behaviour of the parents.

Hope these help...

Answer 5

the main qualification is you need to have a steady job where it can send references if needed.
also youneed to have a stable home. if you owned your house it much better than if you rent.
if you are going to be a single parent, you will qualify but its harder than if you are a couple. if you have a partner but of the same sex, the courts, unfortunely, see you as a single parent, not a joint parent,.
they also do a background check on you to make sure there were no criminals past, to see how well your credit is, and also if you had any wrong doing with HRS. also you should take a course with the HRS , they give for individuals who would like to become foster parents or guardians.

Answer 6

You have to a home with enough room for a child, i.e., two children to a bedroom, so having an extra bedroom is a must. There is no requirement in most states as to whether or not you must be married. I was a single mom special needs foster parent for many, many years. The only requirement is that you make enough money to support yourself ~ without the money you would receive for reimbursement for the children. If you are not partial to the children you receive, I highly suggest Koinonia Foster Homes if you are in California. They are a special needs foster home association licensed throughout California. These might be children with physical or emotional disturbances who have usually been through the county system already and need a more specialized home. Koinonia offers monthly parenting seminars and weekly to monthly at home support with qualified social workers who are really there to support you. Best wishes and prayers =)

Answer 7

First of all you must be a great parent and have the all the requirements of a good home. A background check. And also financial check if you can or cannot support your foster child.

Answer 8

I wish what all these people are answering were true. Unfortunately, we hear tooooooooooo many horror stories to believe all these precautions have been taken. I believe the system is overly eager to get these kids in a home-ANY home & do NOT take the precautions they should.

If you are interested in being a foster parent out of compassion then I think you have taken the first & most important step & I hope everything works out well for you.

Answer 9

just have a house or even an apartment. pretty much it. don't even need a job here in michigan. honestly, i had two different sets of foster mothers that didn't work. the threshold is very low really, they're desperate to put unwanted children somewhere. just becareful they don't die though, but apparently you can starve and abuse them all you want. most just get neglected though. sorry, but i really don't have much respect for the fostercare system and yes i can comment on it. i was in it.

Answer 10

Its a very long and hard process especially if ur not family related in some way. But after all the B.S. is worth every thing you go through! I would say contact social services