You can Make All the Difference in the Life of a Child
While the process may seem daunting, there has never been a more worthy use of your time
. There are more than 100,000 children in the foster care system awaiting love, nurturing, guidance, and stability. If you have these things to offer please consider being a foster parent or a foster to adoption parent. You dont have to be a perfect parent to be a foster or adoptive parent. Processes will differ from state to state though most of them share the same basic requirements. Their number one concern is the well being and protection of the child. So dont let the length and volume of processes discourage you. First and foremost no matter which state you are trying to adopt or foster, the state will require that you attend an orientation. This is to give you an overview and some insight into what it means to be a foster parent. While attending the orientation, you will probably hear about worst case scenarios. This is when you need to determine your level of commitment. The majority of the children in the foster care system are troubled or special needs. This will require a lot of time and patience. So, you must determine if you think you are up to the challenge. Generally, the second step is a pre-service training. This training usually consists of a national curriculum. The training will span over several days and require prospective parents to certify in life skills such as Non-Violent Intervention, Adult, Child, and Infant CPR, as well as First Aid. Each training session is mandatory and is designed to assist you in becoming the best foster parent possible. There will be a fair amount of paperwork to complete. This is where most people get discouraged. But do not let the paperwork deter you from making a difference and being the answer that these children long to have. The paperwork can take quite a bit of time so make sure you stay diligent. You can expect to provide some basic documentation to help the paperwork process move along smoothly. You will most likely be required to provide a Marriage Certificate if applicable, proof of income, and medical documentation showing your own well being. You can also expect a background check, criminal record and fingerprint check to ensure the safety of the child. A case worker will then be assigned to you to complete a home-study course. They will usually make a minimum of three visits to your home. This is time spent getting to know you and your family. It is also to inspect your home for compliance and cleanliness. The case worker will check for a working smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and non-skid footing in the bath tub. The case worker will make every effort to ensure the safety of the child. Plan ahead and consider and eliminate safety hazards before the case worker arrives. This will ensure the process moves quick and more smoothly. The final phase is the approval phase. Approval will be determined by all of the information gathered from your application paperwork, house visits, and home-study. During this phase it is important to interview the agency just as they are interviewing you. The foster parents will be involved with the agency for many years to come. The agency will be part of a professional team of resources to assist in the parenting of the children being fostered or adopted.You can Make All the Difference in the Life of a Child
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