FAQ’S About Fostering
History and Facts about Fostering
- What is the typical length that one can expect to have a child in the foster home before they are either or adopted or returned to biological parent?
- Each case is different and there is no clear answer to this question. The first goal is always to return the child home to their birth parent(s). The timeline for reintegration or termination of rights is set by the court and based upon how the parents are progressing on their goals.
- Each case is different and there is no clear answer to this question. The first goal is always to return the child home to their birth parent(s). The timeline for reintegration or termination of rights is set by the court and based upon how the parents are progressing on their goals.
- What am I paid to be a foster parent? What are my financial obligations? Do they come with clothing? Would I be given an allowance to help them start school? If it’s a baby am I given more money to help out with formula or diapers, etc.?
- Resource parents are reimbursed a daily rate for the care they provide. The rates vary due to the needs of the children. There are different types of care that families provide. Some choose to do only short term emergency care or respite while other families provide a more structured and therapeutic environment. Each Child Placing agency has different reimbursement rates based upon the needs of the child.
- Your sponsoring agency will be able to answer these questions for you while you are completing the PS-MAPP or PS-Deciding Together program.
- Resource parents are reimbursed a daily rate for the care they provide. The rates vary due to the needs of the children. There are different types of care that families provide. Some choose to do only short term emergency care or respite while other families provide a more structured and therapeutic environment. Each Child Placing agency has different reimbursement rates based upon the needs of the child.
Qualifications
- Qualifications – who can be a foster parent?
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(a) You must be at least 21 years of age;
(b) You must successfully pass a KBI and Child Abuse registry background check. You will also be required to go through a fingerprint based background check from the national crime identification database.
(c) You must have sufficient income or resources to provide for the basic needs and financial obligations of the foster family and to maintain compliance with all regulations governing family foster homes.
(d) You must participate in an initial family assessment, a family assessment for each renewal, and any additional family assessments conducted by the sponsoring child-placing agency. Each family assessment shall include at least one individual interview with each household member at least seven years of age and at least one visit in the family foster home.
(e) You must successfully complete the PS-MAPP program.
(f) You must obtain and maintain ongoing sponsorship by a public or private child-placing agency, including a recommendation by the sponsoring child-placing agency that the home be used for placement of children in foster care.
- Qualifications – any special licenses? What kind of training do I need?
- You will be required to successfully complete the 10 week Partnering For Safety and Permanence – Model Approaches to Partnership in Parenting (PS-MAPP) or PS-Deciding Together Program. These programs are designed to help you make an informed decision about fostering or adopting children. Along with attending the weekly sessions, the PS-MAPP Leaders will conduct private consultation sessions with you and your family.
- The programs are free. Completing the program does not obligate you to continue the fostering/adopting process.
- Click HERE for a brochure that explains the program.
(Click here for Spanish version)
- Prior to licensure, you will also be required to complete a First Aid, Universal Precautions and Medication Administration trainings. First Aid must be at least 4 hours and in a face to face, instructor led format. The Universal Precautions and Medication Administration trainings can be done face to face or online. These online versions are free and available through Children’s Alliance of Kansas. www.childally.org/train/online-courses
- You will be required to successfully complete the 10 week Partnering For Safety and Permanence – Model Approaches to Partnership in Parenting (PS-MAPP) or PS-Deciding Together Program. These programs are designed to help you make an informed decision about fostering or adopting children. Along with attending the weekly sessions, the PS-MAPP Leaders will conduct private consultation sessions with you and your family.
- Standards – inspections & regulations
- The foster home must meet the "Kansas Laws and Regulations for Licensing Family Foster Homes for Children" monitored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
- During the PS-MAPP program process your MAPP Leaders or assigned Child Placement Agency (CPA) worker will do an initial inspection to help you identify any environmental changes needed to meet the regulations.
- Click here for the full set of regulations.
Training & Resources
- Ongoing Training
- Each resource parent in the house will have to obtain at least 8 clock hours of training each licensing year. Two of these hours must be in a group setting such as workshops, conferences or academic settings.
- The training topics must provide the opportunity to develop competency in two or more of the following areas:
- attachment issues and disorders;
- behavior and guidance, including managing aggressive behavior and de-escalation methods, including the use of time-out;
- child development;
- communicating with the families of children in foster care;
- constructive problem solving;
- health;
- home safety;
- human sexuality;
- interactions with children;
- regulations governing family foster homes;
- medication administration;
- post-traumatic stress disorder;
- separation issues; and
- specific topics related to children with special needs.
- attachment issues and disorders;
- The ongoing trainings are provided free through the Child Placing Agencies and Children’s Alliance. Please visit the Children’s Alliance website for current offerings and to enroll. Children’s Alliance Training Information.
- Resources – What resources are available to me?
- The Kansas Foster and Adoptive Association (KFAPA) (Hyperlink www.kfapa.com) non-profit organization whose purpose is to support foster and adoptive families, relatives or caregivers who share parenting with the birth family while seeking to find permanence, safety, and stability for the child. These individuals are willing to provide a permanent connection for the child as the child reunifies with the birth family. They play an active role in linking the child to their past as well as guiding their future.
- KFAPA meets quarterly and are involved in legislative and community activities.
- Resources – Are there any support groups for foster parents or foster kids?
- The Child Placing Agencies have all developed support groups and provide many activities to network with other families. By becoming involved in the support groups and associations, you will connect with experienced resource parents who will also provide support to you.
- The Kansas Youth Advisory Council also provides support and advocacy for the youth in care.
- What kind of support would I have as a foster parent?
- All of the Child Placing Agencies provide 24/7 on call services. Most of the agencies also provided an assigned support worker or case manager to each resource home. Their role is to work with the resource parents to help them locate and access services for the children.
Quality of Life
- What can I expect? What’s it like?
- Taking in a child will make an impact on your family and lifestyle. The PS-MAPP program helps you to understand what to expect and help you make an informed decision about fostering/adopting.
- Click here for testimonials from resource parents and children.
- How do foster children integrate with my biological children?
- Most of the time, the children integrate well with the birth children. It is important that you work closely with your birth children to prepare them for the addition of a child into your home. During the PS-MAPP sessions, you will be given advice and ideas on how to involve your birth children in the decision making process and how to help them through the transition.
- Most of the time, the children integrate well with the birth children. It is important that you work closely with your birth children to prepare them for the addition of a child into your home. During the PS-MAPP sessions, you will be given advice and ideas on how to involve your birth children in the decision making process and how to help them through the transition.
- How often am I visited by the social worker?
- The social worker is required to visit with you and the child a minimum of once a month. Many child placing agencies also have case workers assigned to support the resource family home and they are also required to visit monthly.
- How does healthcare work? Extra costs of having this kid?
- The children will have a medical card to cover their medical expenses and prescription costs. You will need to locate medical providers who accept the medical card before making appointments.
- According to KDHE regulations the following essential and special items are the foster home responsibilities:
- Food and shelter
- Non prescription medical needs
- Clothing and shoes
- Toiletries and person hygiene products
- Birthday and holiday gifts
- Food and shelter
- You will want to visit with your sponsoring Child Placing Agency regarding resources and costs for other special item needs.
- What do I tell others? What do we tell others about mixed races?
- This is a question you will need to think about because you will have family, friends and acquaintances asking questions about fostering or the children. When you answer them, remember that the child’s information and history is confidential and you will need to be cautious about how much you tell others. People who are close to you will know that you are fostering children and therefore they will understand that you can not disclose information. The PS-MAPP program will assist you in coming up with answers to questions your neighbors and others might have in regards to fostering/adopting.
- This is a question you will need to think about because you will have family, friends and acquaintances asking questions about fostering or the children. When you answer them, remember that the child’s information and history is confidential and you will need to be cautious about how much you tell others. People who are close to you will know that you are fostering children and therefore they will understand that you can not disclose information. The PS-MAPP program will assist you in coming up with answers to questions your neighbors and others might have in regards to fostering/adopting.
Life With a Foster Child
- How many kids can I have? What ages can I have?
- This depends upon the size of your house and bedrooms space. The licensing worker or your PS-MAPP Leader will walk through your home and tell you how many children you can accommodate. Please refer to the KDHE regulations for more information on bedroom sizes. (Click here)
- During the PS-MAPP program, you will be asked to assess what ages of children you feel comfortable parenting.
- Will I get the history/background of the child?
- The Child Placing Agency will provide you with information regarding the child’s history and needs prior to you accepting the child into your home. When the child moves in, you will be given the necessary paperwork and consents to provide care.
- The Child Placing Agency will provide you with information regarding the child’s history and needs prior to you accepting the child into your home. When the child moves in, you will be given the necessary paperwork and consents to provide care.
- Will I work with the bio parents at all?
- This is highly likely. The first goal is to have the child return to their birth parents. You will play a key role in helping the children return home. You might be asked to mentor a family or even assist with visitation. It will depend on what the case plan goals are for the parents and child. PS-MAPP will assist you in working with the birth parents.
- This is highly likely. The first goal is to have the child return to their birth parents. You will play a key role in helping the children return home. You might be asked to mentor a family or even assist with visitation. It will depend on what the case plan goals are for the parents and child. PS-MAPP will assist you in working with the birth parents.
- What if the kid is too much to handle for me?
- You will be given techniques and strategies to address negative behaviors. It will be important that you keep daily logs and document incidents so that the child’s social worker can assist you in addressing the child’s needs. You need to maintain open communication with the Child Placing Agency workers so that they can find resources and support for you and the child.
- You will be given techniques and strategies to address negative behaviors. It will be important that you keep daily logs and document incidents so that the child’s social worker can assist you in addressing the child’s needs. You need to maintain open communication with the Child Placing Agency workers so that they can find resources and support for you and the child.
- What happens if it just doesn’t work out? What if the child or I don’t adjust? What is my commitment? What am I bound into legally?
- This is called a "disruption". It is best to prevent disruptions as much as possible, but sometimes they do occur. It will be very important that you maintain open communication and contact with your Child Placing Agency worker to help you through unplanned or crisis situations. They will be able to provide you with support and resources to help and the child through the adjustment period. It will be important to ask the Child Placing Agency what their policy is on disruptions.
- This is called a "disruption". It is best to prevent disruptions as much as possible, but sometimes they do occur. It will be very important that you maintain open communication and contact with your Child Placing Agency worker to help you through unplanned or crisis situations. They will be able to provide you with support and resources to help and the child through the adjustment period. It will be important to ask the Child Placing Agency what their policy is on disruptions.
- Do I have my choice to saying yes or no once I sign up? Am I obligated to take whatever child they send my way?
- During the PS-MAPP program, you will be identifying your strengths and needs in terms of fostering. Your Leaders will help you identify the type of needs in the children that you will feel comfortable parenting. When they call you to take a placement, you will be able to ask them questions and make a decision on whether or not you think you can meet the child’s needs. You are not obligated to take every child they refer to your home.
- During the PS-MAPP program, you will be identifying your strengths and needs in terms of fostering. Your Leaders will help you identify the type of needs in the children that you will feel comfortable parenting. When they call you to take a placement, you will be able to ask them questions and make a decision on whether or not you think you can meet the child’s needs. You are not obligated to take every child they refer to your home.
- What if I’m religious? Is it okay to take my child to my church?
- You can take the children to your church; however you cannot force them to attend your church. If the child has a specific faith they practice, then you will be responsible for ensuring they attend the church of their choice. It will be important to let your PS-MAPP Leader’s know that you are religious and that your church is a large part of your life. This will help them when they begin matching the children’s needs with your strengths.
- You can take the children to your church; however you cannot force them to attend your church. If the child has a specific faith they practice, then you will be responsible for ensuring they attend the church of their choice. It will be important to let your PS-MAPP Leader’s know that you are religious and that your church is a large part of your life. This will help them when they begin matching the children’s needs with your strengths.
