What is Foster Care?

Foster care involves families willing to take one or more children into their homes. These families are licensed and supervised by Foster’s Home for Children. Several types of foster care are necessary. Some families provide care to children too young for our campus program while other families provide care for older children, who could benefit from a more family-like relationship. Foster families may provide care for infants prior to adoption, short-term emergency placement, or care for an unwed mother. The ages, situations, and personalities of children who can be served through foster care are as varied as your own talents and personalities.

Who assumes financial responsibility for the child?
Financial responsibility for the child is assumed by the Sherwood & Myrtie Foster’s Home for Children. Foster’s Home reimburses licensed foster families for expenses incurred by and for the child by the payment of a monthly board rate, which also includes activities and clothing allowances for each foster child. Foster’s Home Foster Care also pays, in addition to this, all medical and dental expenses for the care of the foster child.

What do we have to do to become licensed?

An application must be completed and returned to Foster’s Home for Children. Positive responses from five references must be received. Each member of the family must have tests made for communicable diseases, including the TB Tine Test. The home must pass fire and health inspections. The social worker will make two to four personal visits in each home, talk with the family concerning foster care and complete a home study. The family will be asked to sign a criminal offenses form and the state will make a legal criminal check of it’s own. If there are no apparent reasons for denying certification of the home, a license will be issued.

Do we have any input into the type of child we get?

When a family is being considered for placement of a child, the foster parents will be contacted and asked to be a part of the staffing process in which a decision is made to place the child. In the event the placement is an emergency, the family will be consulted before actual placement.

Must we be members of the Church of Christ?

Foster’s Home for Children is primarily supported by the Churches of Christ; therefore, it is the decision of our board that our Foster Families be members of the Church. The foster parents should be able to bear a strong Christian influence through the love in their home.

What kind of support do we get once placement is made?

A social worker will make scheduled monthly visits to each foster family. The purpose of these visits will be to discuss how the foster family and the foster child are functioning, to discuss short and long-term plans, and to work on any problem areas involving the child and the foster family. The social worker serves s a resource for the child and the foster parents.

Do the natural parents remain involved with their child in placement?

The social worker is also a link between the foster child and his own natural parents. She may be involved in helping the parents to work toward the return of the child to their home, or in some instances, toward a permanent placement away from the natural family. When visits between the child and his natural family are desirable, the social worker arranges these visits with the foster parents.