Foster Care

Traditional Foster Care is a temporary living arrangement for children who have been abused or neglected and need a safe place to live. With the approval of a judge, the local Department of Social Services can take custody of the child and place them in a foster home.

Thereapeutic Foster Care serves children who have a mental health diagnosis, placing them in private licensed homes with structure, care and interventions. They also receive community resources to help them be able to maintain a stable environment and grow successfully in the home and community. The goal is they stay in a home based setting, not a group setting. The program is person centered around the child, meeting their needs through a team approach.

Special Needs Foster Care serves children who have a Mental Health diagnosis and Individual Developmental Disablity (dual diagnosed). They also receive community resources to help them be able to maintain a stable environment and grow successfully in the home and community. The goal is they stay in a home based setting, not a group setting. The program is person centered around the child, meeting their needs through a team approach.

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No, but this is preferred. If they share a room with another foster child or biological child it must be approved by their guardians.

30 hours PS MAPP, 10 additional hours if you want to provide therapeutic care, orientation, NCI, CPR/FA, BBP, medication administration (these hours vary, depending on how many are in attendance) You may have more training to complete, depending on each agency policy.

You cannot foster if you have been involved in a violent crime such as domestic abuse or assault. (State rule) Most agencies have their own policy about criminal history. If you have a criminal record, you should mention this up front to the worker.

Many children have been neglected and abused, you may see the following behaviors: rebellion toward authority figures, depression, defiance, possible sexual acting out, isolation, verbal and physically aggression.