5 Easy Steps to Becoming a Professional Treatment Foster Parent
Step 1: Complete Required Documentation
To become a licensed foster parent you will be required to fill out several documents including the initial application. These documents are required by State regulations, or by the agency. Foster parenting requires that parents document the behavior of their foster children, and share this information with the child's social worker. We evaluate your documents for completeness and timeliness for submittal back to our office, as part of our screening process. This ensures that you have the required organizational skills to be a Fresh Start United Care certified foster parent.
Step 2: Screening Process
Foster parent regulations require that all prospective foster parents obtain a State and Federal fingerprint investigation clearance, and a clear check from the Child Abuse Index, prior to having children placed in their home. We refer prospective foster parents to the appropriate agencies to obtain required clearances and provide information needed to complete the process.
Step 3: Attend Foster Parent Training's
Fresh Start’s training program to prepare foster parents is a total of 18 hours of training. Training's are held on some weeknights from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and weekends from 10:00 am to noon. Shortly thereafter, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Please note that training hours will be given on individual basis; couples can not share initial or on-going hours.
Step 4: Attend an Orientation
Anyone wishing to become a licensed foster parent with Fresh Start must attend an orientation conducted by the agency. The purpose of the orientation is to inform prospective foster parents about foster care and how the foster care system works, the role Fresh Start agency, and expectations of foster parents. Orientation sessions are held on weekday evenings and last approximately 2.5 hours depending on the number of participants.
Step 5: Pass a Home Inspection/Home Study
Once a prospective foster parent has completed foster parent training, passed the training examination, received a certificate of completion, and submitted all required documentation, a home inspection will be scheduled and conducted. The home inspection ensures your home is kid-safe, meets all State licensing requirements, and is ready to receive children. It also allows us the opportunity to visit your home to evaluate your homemaking skills, and determine the exact number of children your home will be allowed to supervise. Once approved, a Home-study Report will be issued with a recommendation for licensure or denial.
