Q: What are the basic criteria to be a foster parent?
A: Must be 25 years old, have a valid driver’s license and working vehicle, be financially able to provide for a child and not receive any form of public assistance (including Section 8 housing, food stamps, and welfare), have a criminal record free from barrier crimes, pass a DMV check, pass a Child Protective Services check, pass a national FBI fingerprint database check, and have adequate space in your home to accommodate one or more foster children.

Q: What is a barrier crime?
A: Download List of Barrier Crimes

Q: I’m single. Can I be a foster parent?
A: Yes! We encourage both couples and single men and women to apply to become foster parents.

Q: What training is required?
A: There are three types of training required: CPR/First Aid, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, and Pre-Service PRIDE training. PRIDE is a curriculum-based program used across the nation to help prepare foster parents. PRIDE training at The Up Center is offered at different times to accommodate different schedules. The number of sessions depends on whether a parent attends the weekend, weekday or evening sessions. Foster parents typically attend five full days of PRIDE training or 10 evenings of training. CPR/First Aid and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention trainings are two additional days of training and typically are on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. We train all of our parents to be therapeutic foster parents.

Q: What’s the difference between Regular, Therapeutic, and Individualized children?
A: A “Regular” child will typically require less supervision and therapeutic intervention. A “Therapeutic” child may exhibit certain behaviors, attend regular therapy, be medicated, and will generally require more patience, attentiveness, and supervision than a “Regular” child. An “Individualized” child requires at least one stay-at-home parent and will need constant supervision. Behaviors may be severe and include acting out physically, verbally, and sexually.

Q: I am/was approved as a foster parent for another agency. Do I have to attend these trainings again?
A: Yes. If your CPR/First Aid or Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is still current, that will transfer, but the general Pre-Service training will need to be taken with our agency. Information changes year-to-year and some agencies use different curriculums. It is also important to attend our Pre-Service training so you can become familiar with our agency’s policies and procedures. However, if you were trained in the PRIDE curriculum, that may transfer depending on how long ago you were trained.

Q: How long will it take before I’m approved to be a foster parent?
A: Once you have completed your PRIDE training, CPR/First Aid training, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training, and all of your paperwork, we can begin your home study. At a minimum, the entire process from training to approval will take two months. The speed with which your family is approved is often directly related to how quickly we receive your paperwork.

Q: What ages of kids do you get?
A: Children from birth to 21 years of all ethnic backgrounds. We generally do not receive referrals for infants, though it does occasionally occur.

Q: Do I get to pick what kind of child I want?
A: Yes. We want each placement to be successful. We understand that families have preferences and expectations as to what type of child will best match their lifestyles. You can select boys, girls, ages, and even the behaviors with which you are willing to work. You can always decline a child prior to placement if you don’t think the timing is right, or the child just doesn’t seem like a good fit to your family.

Q: Do you ever get teenage mothers with their own children?
A: Yes. In these situations, the teenage mother typically retains custody of her children. She will be responsible for parenting and meeting the developmental needs of the children. As her foster parent, you will be reimbursed the normal rate for her (the teenage mother) and will also receive a room and board rate for each of her children.

Q: What kind of financial compensation is there?
A: Foster parents receive a monthly stipend that varies based on the needs of the child residing in their home. Your foster child will also qualify for programs such as free lunch at school, WIC (if applicable), and annual clothing vouchers.

Q: Who pays the foster children’s medical, dental, and psychiatric bills?
A: Medicaid covers most foster children unless they are coming from a biological family that is military. In this case, the child remains covered under Champus health insurance. You should pay no out-of-pocket expenses.

Q: What are the responsibilities of a foster parent?
A: Download the list of foster parent responsibilities.

Q: How long are children usually in foster care?
A: It depends. Most kids enter foster care with the goal of “return to biological parent.” This is not always possible as sometimes the biological home is unsafe, the parents are unwilling to change or accept responsibility for their children, or the parents are deceased or incarcerated. If no other family is located, the child’s goal will usually be adoption, independent living, or continued foster care. Depending on the child’s age and adoptability, he or she could be in care for months to years.