Questions about becoming a foster parent

[sweetsteps]

Hoping someone can answer my questions:

a) What's the minimum you have to make to become one? (we're around the 50K a year between the two of us)

b) We currently have a 2 bedroom apt, would they accept us if we were planning to do a bedroom shared with our DSS who's with us every other weekend?

c) I know you get a day rate or something like that for being a foster parent, what is that rate (or range)?

d) How long does the entire process take?

e) Any other things I should know?

[Leslie]

a) there isn't necessarily a current minimum however you will be asked about your finances and expenses to ensure that you are able to support your own family. You also need to be able to incurr some costs on behalf of a foster child that you will later be reimbursed for.

b) a worker would come to your home to have a look around and they would better be able to tell you if you have adequate space. Generally speaking you would be allowed to have your child share a room with a foster child.

c) the daily board rate is around $30 per day to cover the expenses of your foster child. There is some additional funding available for extra's like clothing (limited), special activities or extraordinary expenses determined on an individual child basis.

d) the process can take 6 months to a year depending on when you call and when courses are available for you to take. I suggest calling for the initial meeting as soon as you think you might be interested to get things rolling. Meeting with the worker will give you a better idea of whether or not this is right for your family.

e) It's a very rewarding process and you will learn alot about your parenting styles and child development just going through the program. It really helps to prepare you for the experience of fostering and adoption.