| What is Foster Parenting |
Children
deserve to live in a safe home. |
Foster Parenting is......
 | An opportunity .... to make a difference in a child's life |
| Caring for a child.... who has been abused/neglected until his/her parent(s) can resume the reponsibility, or a permanent home can be found. |
| A commitment.... to help children and their families through a difficult period.
A foster parent must be able to provide love and guidance and then let go. |
| Learning and developing... The parenting skills needed to meet the unique needs of each child. |
|
| Who Can Be A Foster Parent? |
People from all walks of life, with various life experiences...
You Can
| Be single, married, divorced or in a partnership |
| Have children. |
| Rent or own your residence |
| Have a modest income |
| Be a working parent |
| Have a disability |
|
Foster Family Residence Requirements...... |
Your Residence Must Have:
| At least one flush toilet, one wash basin and one bath or shower with hot/cold running water |
| An operable heating system |
| An operable telephone |
| | Sleeping areas shall meet the following criteria... |
| No unsuitable area such as hall, stairway, unfinished basement or attic, garage, bathroom, eating area, closet, shed or detached building |
| Foster children of the opposite sex who are 5 years of age or older may not share the same bedroom |
| Each foster child shall be provided with a clean, comfortable mattress and clean linens, blankets and pillow |
|
| Foster Parent Requirements...... |
Other Things to Consider |
You Must
| Be at least (21) years of age. |
| Pass a medical appraisal by a licensed physician |
| Pass screening requirements related to child abuse and criminal history clearances |
|
| Be willing to work with social workers and other community professionals, advocate for the child's needs in school, counseling and medical community |
| Have energy and time enough to give foster children the attention they need. |
| Have family, friends or other support systems that you can call on for support. |
| Be able to ask for help and not be embarrassed. |
|
Who are the children
that need Foster Care?..... |
Safety Requirements...... |
| Foster children are often siblings, who need to be placed together. |
| Babies through teens, who are any race or religion. |
| Like other children, some may have medical needs. |
| Most have been physically or sexually abused or neglected |
As a result of difficult life experiences, some of the children's behaviors may be challenging and may require ongoing counseling/therapy! |
| Medication and containers of poisonous, caustic, toxic, flammable or other dangerous material shall be distinctly marked or labeled as hazardous and stored in area inaccessible to children under 5. |
| Emergency telephone numbers, including fire, police, poison control and ambulance, shall be conspicuously posted by all telephones. |
| Fireplaces, inserts, wood and coal burning stoves and free standing heaters shall be installed, equipped and operated according to manufacturer's specifications. |
| An operable smoke detector shall be placed on each level of the residence. |
| A portable fire extingguisher, suitable for Class B fires, shall be available in the kitchen and other cooking areas. The extinguisher shall be tested yearly. |
| Protective safety caps shall be place on electrical outlets accessible to children under the age of (5) |
| Exposed electrical wires are prohibited |
| Drinking water from an individual watersource shall be potable as determined by an annual microbiological test conducted by a laboratory certified by DER |
|
| Training..... |
| A foster parent shall participate annually in a minimum of six hours of approved training. Requirements may vary by agency and type of children. |
| A foster residence is inspected annually to assure compliance. |
|
| Assessment of Foster Parent Capability..... |
What is the Process?...... |
The Agency will consider the following when assessing the ability of applicants:
| The ability to provide care, nurturing and supervision to children. |
| A demonstrated stable mental and emotional adjustment. |
| Supportive community ties with family, friends and neighbors. |
|
Call a licensed agency to express your interest. Agencey listings can be found in the Yellow Pages section of your phonebook under Human Services. You may also contact us; Pennsylvania State Foster Parent Association (1 800-951-5151 in PA) for a listing of member agencies.
|
>