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Answering the Call To Be A Foster or Adoptive Parent
There are no model or perfect kinds of people who can be loving, effective parents and offer a home to a child. However, the following are some of the characteristics necessary to be a good foster or adoptive parent:
- Stability
- Maturity
- Commitment
- Dependability
- Flexibility
- Sense of Humor
- Enjoys children and is an advocate for them
- Is a team player willing to work with your social worker, the birth parents as needed, and with community service providers.
Still Not Sure... then check out this article: Should I do foster care?
Statutory Requirements
- Must be 21 years of age
- Must pass background checks
- Must rent or own your home
- Single or married with children or without
- Have income to meet your basic needs
As a Foster Parent ... What Is Expected of Me?
As a partner in assessing the needs of a child in your home, you are expected to attend regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the child's development and progress toward treatment goals, and to provide a structured, goal-oriented and family focused treatment environment . Foster Parents partner with the child and staff in designing and implementing a structured home environment, which allows the child to work toward his or her goals.
The Foster Family is expected to work as a team member with the biological family, if they are involved. The degree and intensity of this involvement may vary depending upon the family situation.
The Foster Family will provide transportation to visits or other family appointments. Foster Parents receive reimbursement for the care they provide.
The Foster Family is expected to complete monthly reports and other records regarding the children in their home.
The Foster Family has access to the 24-hour support system that is offered by The United Methodist Childrens Home.
What Makes it "Treatment" Foster Care?
Treatment Foster Care uses a client-centered / systems approach in response to each child's unique strengths and needs. Children are participants in the treatment process, rather than having treatment "dictated" to them. Treatment Foster Care offers "support groups" that are designed to assist children in making a smoother adjustment in foster care while simultaneously addressing certain clinical dynamics. Treatment Foster Care offers clinical services to meet the recurrent issues of sexual abuse, grief and loss, social building skills etc. To encourage children to be active in their community, it is expected that every foster child will participate in at least one community based activity. When appropriate, older teens are encouraged to seek employment as they learn, develop maturity and responsibility.
How Does UMCH Help Foster Parents?
UMCH provides social workers, counselors, a psychiatrist, licensing specialists, and other treatment specialists to assist you in the vital treatment work that you will be doing with the children and their families. You will never feel like you are going it alone!
Additionally Foster Parents receive intensive training and continued support in order to be active members of a professional treatment team. Staff will match the needs of the children referred with yourcapacity to provide that care. After a child is carefully matched with your family, a treatment plan is developed and goals are set in order to insure the best possible care for the foster child.
Children work on their specific issues within the context of a nurturing family under the supervision and guidance of UMCH Staff. Foster Parents and Staff encourage partnership with biological families throughout the child's placement in foster care. The importance of biological family involvement is stressed at every level of care, training, and planning. Biological families are encouraged to communicate with the foster parents and the children alike.
How Do I Get Started?
Potential Foster and Adoptive Parents usually have many questions when considering becoming a Foster Parent. Informational Sessions are offered quarterly just for this reason. These sessions are the perfect opportunity to ask questions and gather information to make an informed decision about foster parenting. To become licensed as a Foster Parent with The United Methodist Children's Home, completion of the pre-service training curriculum is required. The training and information sessions are free.
How Quickly Will A Child Enter My Home?
From your first contact with The United Methodist Children's Home, it will take approximately three to four months to complete the training and licensing process. Once licensed, the type of child for whom you have agreed to care will determine how quickly the first child will be placed with you in foster care. For instance, Foster Parents wanting children over the age of thirteen years will generally have a shorter waiting period than those wanting infants and toddlers.
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