BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT

What is a Foster Parent?

A foster parent is a mother or father to a child in need of love and security. Foster parents provide what cannot be bought - love, concern, and understanding. The beauty of foster care is that children come into care with one parent and leave with two. This is why we call foster care a family to family helping service. Foster parents are married, single, separated or divorced. They are working parents and homemakers. If you are 21 or older and have enough room in your heart and home, fill out our on-line pre-qualification form.

You will participate in profiling the kind of child that would best fit into your home. Foster parents often adopt the children in their care. If this becomes an option we will assist you with the adoption process.

Will Foster Parents have Help?

Being a good parent is always a tough job. Being a good foster parent is even more of a challenge. We provide special help & support:

• 24-hour access to staff
• medical, dental, psychological and educational services for the foster child.
• monthly stipend & clothing allowance
• training
• family counseling & support services
• adoption assistance

SCO Family of Services's professionals will always be at your side.

Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent

1. Pre-qualification form is completed. If you pre-qualify we make an appointment for a home visit.
2. A Homefinder performs a home visit. The purpose of the home visit is to verify that your home complies with city and state regulations.
3. If your home complies with the regulations you fill out an application. In addition, a Clearance Form is sent to the New York State Central Registrar on child abuse and maltreatment.
4. Subsequently, you are invited to attend training. The training consist of ten 3 hour sessions once a week. The trainings are given in the daytime and evenings. The goal of the training is for us to help you decide whether or not being a foster parent is right for you. We call this the Mutual Selection Process.
5. During training, various documents from yourself and members of your family are obtained. These documents are required to certify you as a foster parent. Documents include, but are not limited to medical forms, birth certificates, and proof of income.
6. A fingerprint criminal record check is conducted by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
7. A certificate or approval is granted and you are ready to open your home to children and families in need.