Agency Goals and Objectives
• To recruit and train foster parents who will provide safe and nurturing homes
• To help reunite children with their families
• To help facilitate legal permanency through guardianship or adoption when appropriate
• To prepare youth to emancipate successfully into independent living
6 Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
Step 1: Attend an Orientation
Anyone wishing to become a certified foster parent with United Care Foster Family Agency must attend an orientation conducted by the agency. The purpose of the orientation is to inform prospective foster parents about foster care and how the foster care system works, the role of United Care Foster Family Agency, and expectations of foster parents. An initial application is distributed and an interview is conducted to determine if applicants are suitable to start training. Orientation sessions are held on weekday evenings and last two hours.
Step 2: Attend a UCI Foster Parent Training
United Care's training program to prepare foster parents is a total of 20 hours of training in three six-hour sessions and one 2-hour session. Training is held on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and weekdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. When completed, UCI training foster parents receive a certificate of completion.
Step 3: Screening Process
Foster parent regulations require that all prospective foster parents obtain a State and Federal fingerprint investigation clearance, and a clear check from the Child Abuse Index, prior to having children placed in their home. We refer prospective foster parents to the appropriate agencies to obtain required clearances and provide information needed to complete the process.
Step 4: Complete Required Documentation
To become a certified foster parent you will be required to fill out several documents. These documents are required by State regulations, or by the agency. Foster parenting requires that parents document the behavior of their foster children, and share this information with the child's social worker. We evaluate your documents for completeness, and timeliness for submittal back to our office, as part of our screening process. This ensures that you have the required organizational skills to be a United Care certified foster parent.
Step 5: Pass a Home Inspection
Once a prospective foster parent has completed Foster Parent Training, passed the training examination, received a certificate of completion, and submitted all required documentation, a home inspection will be scheduled and conducted. The home inspection ensures your home is kid-safe, meets all State licensing requirements, and is ready to receive children. It also allows us the opportunity to visit your home to evaluate your homemaking skills, and determine the exact number of children your home will be certified to supervise. Once approved, a Home-study Report will be issued with a recommendation for certification.
Step 6: Certification
Upon successful completion of the home inspection you will be issued a Certificate of Approval. This completes the certification process and qualifies your home to receive children. Your home will be added to the agency vacancy control list and be considered for placements when we determine that the placement matches your home capabilities.
Foster Parent Qualifications
• Willing to attend 20 hours of specialized Foster Parent Training
• Capable of providing a safe and nurturing home environment
• Willing to support reunification of children with birth families
• Open to possible guardianship or adoption if appropriate
• Willing to support emancipation goals of teenage foster youth
• Meet a minimal financial capability standard
• Able to clear Child Abuse Index Check (CAI) and Criminal Investigation (CII)
• Pass a basic health screening
• Be 21 years of age or older with a valid CA driver's license
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications for foster parenting?
You must be 21 years or older, have a car, car insurance, proof of a reliable source of income, and live in Los Angeles County. Your home should have adequate space, which means an extra furnished bedroom.
How long will a foster child stay in my home?
There is no set length for foster placement. Depending on the circumstances of the child coming into care, it can range from short term to long term.
What about medical coverage for foster children?
All of the children placed have medical, dental, and vision coverage through Medical.
Are foster parents ever able to adopt their foster children?
Yes. Many foster children have as a case goal outcome, permanency planning. The permanency planning case goal outcome usually means that the courts have determined that the best outcome for these children would be adoption or guardianship in a permanent family setting.
What is guardianship?
Guardianship is a permanency planning outcome that establishes a “permanent guardianship” relationship between the foster child and the guardian. Like adoption, foster parents are usually considered first to provide guardianship to foster children placed in their care, especially when a bond has been established between the foster child and the foster parent.
How long does the process take to have children placed in my home?
It all depends on how soon you can complete all of the requirements. A reasonable time expectation would be about 60 days after attending a foster parent orientation.
Do you have to own a home to be a foster parent?
No. Foster parents can live in an apartment or home rental as long as they have the required living space.
Do I have to be married?
No. You can be single, married, divorced, or legally separated.
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