The process to becoming a licensed foster home up to receiving that first call for your first placement can seem like forever.
We started the process in January of 2010, classes ended in Feb. But it would be until July of 2011 that we would be officially a licensed foster home.
First call a foster care navigator in your area, you will recieve tons of information from them. Then interview some agencies in your area, so you can best choose who will be a good fit for your family. Attend an orientation and sign up for GROW classes. After you attend a GROW class, you can then decide if Foatering is truly what is best for your family.
After GROW classes the work begins.
There is so much paper work. And a lot of it seemed repetitive. You will have to disclose your bills, your pay stubs, your pet vaccinations and licenses. You will have to make an emergency plan and post it in your home along with an emergency contact list. You will also have to have your fingerprints done, and have a physical for anyone living in the home. There will be a background checks also.
Amoung all this paperwork, you will also have to write an autobiography. You will recieve questions that they want answered included. This by far was the hardest thing that I had ever done. This brought up a lot of past trauma that I had neatly tucked behind a wall that I built so carefully to keep people away from it. You will answer stuff such as, favorite holiday, how was discipline done in your house as a child, what’s your strengths/weaknesses, religious background, what were the roles of your parents in the house growing up, amough a slew of other questions.
Along with paperwork comes the home study, this consists of measurements in all bedrooms, who sleeps were, what beds and furniture are in each broom, checking water temperature, checking your fire alarms/carbon monoxide detectors, If you have a second floor you will need a fire escape ladder, having a safety plan for if you have a pool or water on your property, checking alarms on your doors leading to said water, describing the layout of your home, checking to make sure your home phone works, I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things, but this is the just of it.
After all this is done….. You wait….. And wait……
When we finally got news we were licensed, I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to be help for a little human. We waited…. And waited…
Finally a year later almost to the date we received our first call for our first placement…… What a rollercoaster of a ride and learning experience that was….
Fostering.... The Life 