What is resource (foster) care?
Resource care, formally known as foster care, is a service designed to provide assistance to children who are removed from their natural home by placing them with resource families. These families have committed to a certification process and once certified, are able to provide care for children under the legal custody of the Agency. Resource Care includes Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care.
Who are resource parents?
The Agency recruits resource families from all different backgrounds, races, cultures, genders, ethnicities and lifestyles. The Agency appreciates that each resource parent has a unique history and outlook on life that enables them to be great resource parents. Resource families may be comprised of one parent, two parents, multiple biological children or no biological children. They may come from a one person income or multiple person income; they may own their home or rent their home; have many pets or have no pets.
What are the requirements to be a resource (foster) parent?
You must:
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Be free from communicable diseases or health problems that impair your ability to care for children.
- Be mentally and emotionally stable.
- Be able to meet your financial obligations and have a consistent source of income.
- Complete the required training hours
- Complete a home study with the Agency and receive a favorable recommendation
- Obtain three clearances: FBI Fingerprint, Child Abuse, and State Police and be cleared by these to care for children
We are currently recruiting resource parents!
- Do you have a strong support system of family and/or friends who are willing to support you through the process?
- Are you a patient person?
- Are you willing to work with the foster child’s biological family?
- Are you willing to provide care and love to children without expecting anything in return except the rewarding knowledge that you are helping a child and family in need?
- Are you willing and able to deal with children who may have been physically, mentally or sexually abused/neglected.
- Are you willing to have social workers in your home?
- What types of children can you handle at this time?
Consider the age, race and gender of a child. Your resource worker would sit down with you and talk about preferences that you have and what you feel you are able to commit to or otherwise. Be aware that the Agency is not always aware of each child’s behavior or needs at the time of placement.
- Do you have a big heart and a lot of love and attention to give?
If you are willing to be the one person to make a difference in the life of a child contact our office and speak with one of our resource care caseworkers about become a resource parent
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