 |  |  What Is Foster Care? Foster care is a protective service for families. Foster care usually means families helping families. Children who have been physically abused, sexually abused, neglected or emotionally maltreated are given a family life experience in an agency-approved, certified or licensed home for a planned, temporary period of time. The primary goals of foster care is to reunite children with their families. Foster parents are often in a position to help children and their families reunify. Foster parents are also often in a position to emotionally support parents who cannot do the job of parenting and must make a plan for adoption or another permanent plan for their children. Who Are Foster Children? Foster Children are minors who have been removed from their biological home by the corresponding County Protection Services Agency due to allegations of abuse. Such abuse can be perpetrated in the form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or negligence. It is likely that after such abuse has occurred the child may experience internal conflict, confusion and anger. This is why it is important to address these issues and refer these children to treatment. This includes therapy, educational services, medical and dental exams and psychological evaluations. After a period of time, and through the guidance of a social worker, the children are stabilized with trained foster parents who are monitored and guided by the social worker. What do Foster Parents Do?
The most important aspect of foster parents is to provide a safe and stable environment that is conducive to the children's healing process. A stable environment is one where a child is able to thrive. Such an environment should be one where a child is provided with proper supervision, recreation, housing and transportation to needed services such as medical or dental visits. Foster parents also need to be aware and sensitive to cultural and religious beliefs of the children. Foster parents become role models for children who may have never had the opportunity to have proper guidance by good parents. It is therefore important for parents to understand that foster children need to be treated as if they were their own biological children. What is the Role of There Is Hope Foster Family Agency?
There Is Hope is a private, non-profit, state licensed agency founded to protect and provide loving and nurturing homes to children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The foster familyh provides the home environment where a child can safely grow physically, emotionally, spiritually and not lose their cultural identify. This is a home where a child will learn to become good citizens and a responsible member of society. There Is Hope also provides support services to foster parents and children. Support consists of therapeutic interventions during those periods when foster children experience difficulty adjusting to a new home environment. What is the Role of There Is Hope Foster Family Agency?
There Is Hope is a private, non-profit, state licensed agency founded to protect and provide loving and nurturing homes to children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The foster family provides the home environment where a child can safely grow physically, emotionally, spiritually and not lose their cultural identify. This is a home where a child will learn to become good citizens and a responsible member of society. Can I Pick the Age of the Child that I would Like To Work With?
Yes, you have that option. In fact we encourage you to select a child that may work best in your family based upon the ages of other natural children in your family. It is also important that you feel comfortable with the ages of the children you select. For example, some parents may feel comfortable working with teenagers. Other parents may select to work with younger children. What Do I Do If the Child Gets Sick or Hurt?
Foster children are covered by Medi-Cal. This state insurance covers all their medical as well as dental needs. It also pays for psychological evaluations. Will I receive financial assistance?
The children's financial needs are covered through a monthly stipend, which ranges from $685.00 to $885.00 per month, depending on the age of the child. Can a single parent be a foster parent?
We feel that single parents are able to provide high quality care to a foster child. However, more emphasis and planning may be needed to build a solid structured childcare plan. Can I adopt the foster chldren in my home?
This has occurred in many instances. This most likely can occur when biological parents decide to sever their rights as parents. Usually, the children have been in the system for a number of months and are no longer reunifying with their parents and become available for adoption. Is foster parenting for everyone?
It takes a special person who is willing to invest their time and effort into the life of a child. Some parents may not have the patience that is required of foster parents to be positive role models in the life of a child. This does not mean that they are bad parents, but that foster parenting may not be their calling at this time. How do I know if foster parenting is right for me and my family?
Ask Yourself:
If you answer "yes" to the mahjority of these questions, then there are children who need you! What qualifications do I need to become a foster parent?
How do I find out more information on becoming a foster parent?
Call There Is Hope Team at either tool free (888) 673-4673 or (909) 482-4446 or send an email to find out when the next foster parent training is offered.
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