Foster Care FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the children like that I/we will be working with?

• What is expected of myself, my home, and/or my family?

• What qualifications do I/we need in order to become licensed?

• What is the licensing process like?

• What kind of training and support are provided?

• How often can I take vacation?

• What can I/we expect for financial support for the children in my/our care?

• What if the foster child damages my furniture and/or property?

• What if I/we change our minds and no longer want the child to live in the home?

• What is the difference between Foster Care and Treatment Foster Care?

What are the children like that I/we will be working with?

Most of our referrals are adolescents (ages 12-18) experiencing one or more of the following challenges: delinquency, mental illness, behavioral disorders, family issues, alcohol and other drug abuse issues, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, or other challenges.  The majority of the youth have not had healthy environments for many years, and struggle to adapt to a home that has different rules and expectations.  Younger children referred to our agency generally have significant mental health and/or behavioral struggles that require more intensive care than regular foster parents are able to provide.  Sibling groups are also often referred to our agency, as regular foster homes are often not equipped to take on two to four placements at one time.

Back to top

What is expected of myself, my home, and/or my family?

As a treatment foster parent, you are expected to act as a positive role model to youth in care, in addition to providing structure and supporting the youth emotionally, educationally, and socially.  You are responsible for providing that youth with a sense of family while they are distanced from their own.  As a result, one of our expectations for a treatment foster home is that there will be a parent at home at all times (occasionally exceptions can be made).  Again, this is to ensure that the youth being placed will receive the highest level of support and structure possible while in care.

As a treatment foster parent, you will serve as a member of the treatment team, which typically includes the child's social worker, therapist(s), school personnel, and birth family.  In most cases, we are striving to reunite the child with his/her family; therefore, the natural parents must be involved. When they are involved, they will have a lot of contact with you and with us (LSS).  Your relationship with the birth family is to be supportive and professional; you are not expected to be their friends.  You should set boundaries and enforce them, in order to maintain a professional relationship with them.

Back to top

What qualifications do I/we need in order to become licensed?

You must pass all background checks, have a positive home study, and meet two of the following criteria:  a) high school graduate, b) 5 years parenting experience, c) previous experience with foster care and/or respite, or d) have a substantial relationship with the child to be placed.

Back to top

What is the licensing process like?

The entire process takes approximately three months. Following the phone screen, a packet of information will be sent to you, which includes background checks to be completed by all family members over the age of 10.

Once the background checks are completed, the first visit by an assigned worker will occur at your home.  This visit is an opportunity to review the information in the licensing packet, in addition to meeting yourself, your family, and to do a walk through your home.

State statutes require ongoing training and education while in the program. You will be required to complete 30 hours of pre-service training before a child is placed in your home, and 24 hours of training annually thereafter. Education and training will target both your needs and the needs of the child placed in your home.

While you are completing the training, an assigned worker will be verifying information with you, and completing a Foster Family Assessment (FFA ), which involves the worker coming to the home to interview you, your significant other, and in most instances, your children.  The FFA is required and can be somewhat time consuming and intrusive.  

You will also be responsible for completing several forms (which are part of the licensing packet reviewed with you at the first meeting), and gathering numerous documents needed for the record maintained at the LSS office.

Back to top

What kind of training and support are provided?

The 30 hours of pre-service training required is paid for, provided that you attend the training recommended by LSS.  Thereafter, you will be supplied with information on upcoming training opportunities and each foster home will have a $400/year allowance to put towards the cost of conferences/workshops.  Eight hours of training must come from attending conferences/workshops.  Eight hours of media training is allowed each year, and is generally provided by the agency free of charge.  An additional eight hours of training is provided each year through foster parent gatherings coordinated by LSS.  Education and training will target both your needs and the needs of the child placed in your home.

Your family is assigned a worker, from whom you will receive a great deal of support through home visits (no less than every other week), telephone contact, email, and treatment team meetings.  The worker will assist you in identifying respite options, in addition to assisting you with training.  LSS also offers a 24-hour crisis line to support you.

Back to top

How often can I take vacation?

In the world of foster care we call vacation "respite", and our policy is that you can take respite as needed.  LSS pays for two days of respite per child, per month.  The days do not accumulate; therefore, if you do not use them, you lose them.  Respite days cannot be transferred from one child to another.  The foster parents are paid directly for the days that the child was in respite, and then it is the foster parents responsibility to pay the respite provider.  If you choose to have a child in respite for more than two days each month, you are responsible for paying the respite provider the agreed upon rate (negotiated between you and/or the agency and the provider).  The assigned worker will assist you with locating respite options.  

Back to top

What can I/we expect for financial support for the children in my/our care?

Your income is expected to be sufficient enough for you and your family; the monthly monetary compensation is to be used to cover any expenses that may be incurred for the child.  Foster parents are paid directly from the agency that issued their license. The rate of pay varies depending on the needs of the child; however, the minimum payment to expect is approximately $1500/month.

Back to top

What if the foster child damages my furniture and/or property?

During the licensing process you will be asked to have your homeowner's insurance changed so that it includes an "umbrella" liability policy.  Part of your compensation is intended to cover replacement/repair costs, as well as the additional costs associated with the umbrella policy.  All claims for property damage should be submitted to your insurance company.  Contact your insurance agent for rates and information.

Back to top

What if I/we change our minds and no longer want the child to live in the home?

A 30-day written notice must be given if a child needs to be removed from your home.  (This is required per state statute.)

We work very hard not to "bounce" children around, and need adequate time to find an appropriate alternative.  A crisis plan is developed for every child in case of emergency.

Back to top

What is the difference between Foster Care and Treatment Foster Care?

Treatment Foster Care is considered a specialized form of Foster Care due to the additional training that our foster parents receive and the intensity of services provided to the child.  The child placed in Treatment Foster Care might need counseling (both individual and family), psychiatric services, special school meetings, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc., whereas a child in Foster Care might only need basic day to day care.  Treatment Foster Care is referred to as a "higher level of care".  Parents licensed at the treatment level receive additional support and financial reimbursement.

Back to top