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 (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) 4.96 (Highly recommend) from 17 votes (123 Visits)

To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition

cazza by cazza Talking(July 2007) (rank 29th)
This questionnaire will help to determine if you are eligible to be a foster parent.

1. I have enough room in my home to temporarily house a child. (True or False) You must have enough bedroom space to foster a child. Also, you must be able to provide the child with his/her own bed. A child in care may share a bedroom with your child or another child in care. However, the child may not share a bedroom with any individual over age 18. Also, adults cannot move out of their bedroom and sleep on the couch to make room for the child. In some cases and its a emergency you can have the child sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag....

2. My home can pass a safety inspection. (True or False) It is important that children live in a safe and clean environment. During the homestudy process, a representative of the local health department will conduct a safety and fire inspection of your house or apartment. Your home must be free of danger and garbage. You must have working smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher. You must pass this inspection to be eligible to be a foster parent.
3. I am physically and emotionally capable of caring for children. (True or False) Being a foster parent can be demanding. You must be physically and emotionally healthy to care for a child(ren) in foster care. You will be interviewed by the counselor regarding your own childhood experiences and your family relationships.

4. I have no record of abuse or neglect. (True or False) If you have been investigated by the Department in the past, you may not be able to become a foster parent. This includes substantiated cases of abuse and neglect or if your own child had to be placed in foster care. When we receive your application, we will review your records. If you have any questions please call a licensing counselor in your area.

5. I have an adequate income to meet my own family's current needs . (True or False) While you don't have to be rich to be a foster parent, you must have enough income to meet your family's needs. During the homestudy, you will be asked to provide proof of income. In this case most of the time they will just ask you are you able to meet the needs of some children expenditure as some kids will come into care with their clothes on their back, and nothing else...So thats where the carer will purchase items and then retain receipts and pass them in for reinimbursement....

. No adult in my home has ever been convicted of a crime. (True or False) If you or any adult residing in your home has been convicted of certain criminal offenses, you cannot be a foster parent. Each adult member of your household will be fingerprinted, and a juvenile records check will be done on each child in your home 12 to 18 years of age... This is for safety reasons, and it did not happen for us when we became carers, so i think this one might occur if you take on long term care, i got this info from a anaother source so dont be to worried about finger prints as it may not be the case for some...

7. I am ready to begin the homestudy process now. (True or False) You are ready to begin if your life and home are stable. "Stable" means that you are not about to move and are not having financial, marital, or emotional difficulties. If you rent, you will need your landlord's approval. Also, your home must be in good repair.

thankyou..
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Snooty-Farkleboob
November 2007 | Snooty-Farkleboob
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
Thankyou for this great advice. My husband and I want to foster when things in our life settle down a little and I've been wondering where to find out what we'd have to do to be eligible. Now I have a good idea what to expect.


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ellamia
5.00 (Excellent) | October 2007 | ellamia
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
Great article Cazza, I might one day do this.

Love Kelly


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nell18-3
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | nell18-3
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
The timing is definitely not right for me now
But one day............
When and if the time ever does come along your articles will be the first place I will look for info
This is great Cazza
xxx


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August88
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | August88
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
Very good article. Of course I don't pass but knew that anyway. There is absolutely no spare room in my house and no toddlers have been in my house for a long time which is why I do in-home care. You would know whether you would be a candidate by the end of this series. Well done.


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georgiepar
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | georgiepar
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
very well done cazza. see i do read your advise lol


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janicepovey
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | janicepovey
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
Excellent article Cazza, very well done. My hat goes off,  to all those foster parents out there........ they do such a fantastic job. I don't know where some  children would be now, if it weren't for foster parents.


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hermy
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | hermy
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
I think it's great they do all these checks....it's very important that the children be safe.....great article cazza......well done.....regards Sandra xxx


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yummymummyof3
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | yummymummyof3
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
Great that its so strict.....  I knew a family who did foster care and they obviously slipped through the system as they were not fit to be parents to their own children let alone other children....  I could never understand how they had been accepted......  I did report my concerns and I hope something was done....  Mind you this was at least 12 years ago....   Great article x


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      cazza
5.00 (Excellent) | July 2007 | cazza
Re: To be eligible to be a foster parent-these determine if you are eligible..Part 6 Edition
yes as they have had many cases where the childs wellbeing  wasnt looked after..... So now you cant beat the system, and yes as u said it was shocking back then...

Thank you for your comment..


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