A foster parent provides a safe, loving home for children who are unable to live with their biological parents due to allegations of abuse or neglect.
Initial Contact
At the point of initial contact, individual/couples will be provided with the basic information regarding becoming a foster parent. Questions about fostering are strongly encouraged. It is important to think through the impact of fostering on one’s marriage and family. Individuals/couples will be asked basic questions about their family and home setting and will be invited to attend an orientation meeting.
Click here to receive additional information in the mail.
Basic Foster Parent requirements:
- HKI prefers that you are at least 21 years old. There is no maximum age limit.
- Be in good physical and mental health;
- Have adequate sleeping space;
- Agree to a nonphysical discipline policy;
- Permit health inspections of the home;
- Vaccinate all pets annually;
- Participate in 30 hours pre-service training and attend 12 hours or more of training each licensed year.
- Satisfactory criminal background checks for those individuals 18 years and older who live in the home will be needed. Clearances include abuse registry and local records checks. Children age 12 – 17 will also require satisfactory background clearances.
Click here to review important questions to find out if you are ready to be a foster parent.
Our Kids in Hillsborough County:
- Range in age from infancy to 18 years old;
- Have special medical, physical or emotional needs;
- Belong to any ethnicity or race;
- Are a part of a group of brothers and sisters who need to be placed together.
Orientation
The orientation process provides a more in-depth review of the program and the steps to becoming a foster parent. The training topics and home study process will be reviewed in addition to answering additional questions that you will have regarding Foster Care and licensing.
Click here for the 2009 - 2010 Foster Parent Orientation Schedule.
Foster families’ responsibilities include:
- Provide daily care and nurturing of children in foster care;
- Advocate for children in their schools and communities;
- Inform the children's caseworkers about adjustments to the home, school, and community, as well as any problems that may arise, including any serious illnesses, accidents, or serious occurrences involving the foster children or their own families;
- Make efforts as team members with children's caseworkers towards reunifying children with their birth families;
- Provide a positive role model to birth families, and
- Help children learn life skills.
Background Screening Forms (forms listed below can be completed and turned in at the orientation):
Child Screening Form (pdf)
Prospective Foster Parent (Adult) Screening Form (pdf)
Pre-Service Training
Each prospective foster individual/couple is required to participate in 30 hours of pre-service training. These classes are designed to assist in making a final decision about becoming foster parents. The purpose of the training is to help couples review and learn parenting skills necessary for living with foster children, as well as anticipating challenges. The rules and regulations of foster parenting are reviewed for licensure, in addition to the numerous rewards in making the difference in the lives of children.
- Prospective foster parents will complete self-study paperwork to explore background and motivations.
- Home health inspections will occur towards
the end of training.
- Families will understand the role of the foster parent as a child advocate and their role in assisting with reunification with birth family.
- Prospective families will view the foster care placement as short-term, except in cases where long-term care is determined best for therapeutic reasons, or when adoption becomes the plan.
- Families will demonstrate an ability to accept and integrate a child into the family.
- Foster applicants will be able to show, through their life choices, that they have resolved any past traumas and/or issues.
- A home study consisting of at least two home visits is conducted.
Click here for a list of forms that need to be completed during training (pdf)
(to view each form individually, click the form titles on the checklist)
Click here for the 2009-2010 Foster Parent Pre-Service Training Schedule (MAPP) (pdf)
The Home Study
The home study is an in-depth interview process that typically takes two months to complete. A Family Development Specialist will come to a prospective foster home to interview members of the family as well as other residents living in the home. The primary purpose of the home study is to determine that a couple meets the requirements and is suitable to provide care of foster children.
This is your opportunity to communicate the parenting strengths of your family and learn more about being a foster parent. You and the licensing representative will then discuss what type of child would best fit in your home. An initial walk-through will also be conducted to inform you of the licensing safety standards and regulations, and you will receive guidance on how to prepare your home to comply with the guidelines.
Benefits provided to the foster parents and foster child include:
- Monthly reimbursement to the foster parent
- Medical benefits for the child through the state Medicaid system
- Mental health services for the child, if necessary
- Reduced Child Care for working parents
- Transportation reimbursement in certain circumstances
- Special activities and camps throughout the year
- Support groups through two Foster Family Associations
- Mentoring for older youths
- School Guidance counselor for middle and high school students
Licensing/Certification
Upon completion of the home study, a recommendation is sent to the state for licensure of the foster home. In some cases, the Family Development Specialist may recommend you wait to become a foster family, and in very few cases, may decide to not continue processing your application for reasons that will be explained to you.
Upon acceptance, the foster home will be issued a license by the Department of Children and Families and the license will be valid for one year.
To make your home safe:
- Be free from hazards;
- Have all medications, vitamins, poisons, and knives locked-up;
- Secure all bodies of water on a family’s property, including pools, spas, fountains, and ponds. Families that reside in a home with a potential water hazard will be required to participate in a Water Safety Class.
- Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and on each floor of the home;
- Have operational smoke detectors on each level of the home;
- Have firearms/weapons locked separately from ammunition;
- Adjust water temperature to be between 105 and 120 degrees;
- Comply with all laws regulating the safe transport of children in vehicles, including car seats and booster seats.
On-going Training
Each foster parent is required to attend a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training every year. Foster parents are required to provide proof of attendance each year at relicensure.
Some successful traits in Foster Parents:
- Have a good sense of humor
- Have tolerance for negative feelings
- Don't have predetermined expectations
- Are flexible and able to cope with change
- Know how to use resources and ask for support
- Are able to provide structure
- Have the ability to meet personal needs
- Are comfortable with the fact that they may make mistakes
- Have guts, endurance, commitment, and faith and are full of affection
- Understand the needs of the child's parents, involving them in decisions about the child's life, and helping to maintain the parent-child relationship according to the family's case plan.
Support available to foster parents:
- Fostering is a volunteer service. To assist you in meeting a child’s needs, monthly financial assistance is provided.
- Medical assistance is available through age 18.
- Community-based parent support groups, as well as 24/7 on-call support, are also available to help meet the needs of both children and families.
Child Placement
After licensure, Placement will match foster parents with a young person. Except in cases of an emergency, each placement is carefully considered for the best match, considering the individual needs and challenges of each child and his/her family.
Post Placement
Foster parents are provided with information and guidance about the child’s individual needs and development states. A social worker will help you develop and implement effective behavioral strategies during regular visits to your home.
Learn more about the Family Stabilization Program (pdf)
Important Resource Numbers to know (pdf)
Read success stories:Sade's story
Click the links below for more information:
Medicaid Update-Latest on the Preferred Drug List (PDL)
Education and Training Voucher Program for Children (ETV)
Florida’s Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practices
Psychotropic Medication for Children (pdf)
For more information about becoming a foster parent, please contact us at (813) 643-KIDS.
Email: fostercareinfo@hillsboroughkids.org
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