You will need to figure out if you want to work with an agency or if you want to work directly with the state. The process afterword is very much the same, and there are pros and cons to either option. An agency offers you further legal protection and adds a layer of buffer between the state and your home. There is often more support built into an agency than the local Department of Children and Family Services, but that is not always the case. An agency means an extra caseworker and extra accountability. There is no right or wrong answer, and you will have to decide for yourself which is the better path. Some counties may require an agency which removes the choice entirely. You can find the information to help you by contacting the Foster Caregiver Policy and Support: Unit 744 P Street, MS 8-13-78, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-7465.

Once you have figured that part out, you will need to attend an orientation. The orientation helps inform you of policy and procedures and is your first introduction to the intricacies of foster care. You can ask questions, get more information, and receive your application to formally begin the necessary actions.

The next step after turning in your application (which is not unlike a job application but more detailed in some areas) will be a federal and state background check. You’ll be sent to get FBI fingerprinting, and your information will be sent for review.

Following your background check will be the Pre-Approval training. These training will give you the information to really decide if foster parenting is right for you. There will be intensive sessions with real-life scenarios on what to expect. Many families opt to not continue after this portion, and that is quite alright. There is no failure in recognizing when something is not a good fit for you and your family. However, if you make it through the training, a social worker will visit your home for the Home Environment Assessment to make sure your home is a safe environment for children. This will probably feel invasive. They will check to make sure your home is sanitary and safe. You will have been given a checklist to mark off before the worker comes; so as long as you are prepared, this part should be easy. 

Next up is a psycho-social assessment that will tell if you are ready to be a resource to kids in need. Again this may feel invasive, but the idea is to make sure the children are going to a safer, more healthy environment than they are being removed from.

If all of the above comes up okay then you will be approved and will be able to start fostering! Good luck!

The post What Are The Requirements To Be A Foster Parent In California? appeared first on adoptionincalifornia.com.

Your first step is to find an adoption agency. They will guide you through the steps you need to take. You need to have a framework of what you are looking to do before you even begin. Are you considering foster-to-adopt or private adoption? Would you like to adopt a waiting child? Do you have a religious affiliation that needs to be considered? Get out a notepad and write down things that are important to you. Order them from most to least important. Now you can search for your parameters. For instance, if you are looking for a Christian adoption agency for a domestic infant adoption you would need to search “Christian infant adoption agencies in (County) and surrounding areas.”

The next part of the process is more specific to the type of adoption you are pursuing. Domestic infant adoptions require less training overall but the same background checks and FBI fingerprinting that other types of adoption would. If you are going through a private agency there is a monetary cost to consider. It is not an inexpensive endeavor, so fundraising, applying for adoption grants, etc may be part of your process. You will also need a home study, which your agency may provide, but again, costs money. A potential birth mother will have to choose you so it can take years and there’s a possibility you may never be matched with an infant. This is something to consider before proceeding.

Waiting child adoption requires a background check and fingerprinting, training, a home study, etc. You will specify the parameters of a child or children you are looking to adopt. You will likely be sent to a photo database to look at potential matches. When you decide there is a child you would potentially like to adopt, then the agency will send your application and home study to the child’s caseworker and care team. They will decide if you are a good match and continue from there. These children have often come from a hard place. This is not the same as adopting a tiny baby (obviously) and can be more difficult emotionally. It is a less expensive (potentially free) process.  It can be time-consuming, and it can take months to years to be matched with a child. 

Foster to adopt means you would first foster a child, and then if they become available for adoption, you could then adopt. Simply being a foster-to-adopt family does not guarantee the children entering your home will be adoptable. Many children may come and go before one becomes adoptable. You need to complete all of the steps to become a foster parent, attend training, etc. This is the least expensive but possibly the most emotionally charged option. You may come to desperately love a child that may return to a less than ideal situation, and you have to come to terms with that idea before you begin.

Every choice has its pros and cons and you will have to decide what is right for your family.

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