 |
|
Victorville Location:
15433 West Sand St. Suite 102
Victorville, CA 92395
Phone: (760) 243-3999
Fax: (760) 243-0449
Lic#: 366423671
Barstow Location:
231 East Main Street
Barstow, CA 92311
Phone: (760) 256-0432
Toll Free: 1-866-644-4332
Fax: (760) 256-3024
Lic# 366409018
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 544
Barstow, CA 92312
E-mail: info@greaterhopefoundation.com |
|
|
You must meet the following requirements to become a foster parent:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older.
- You and everyone living in the home, 18 years of age and over, must be live-scanned (fingerprinted) and checked with a child abuse index cleared by the Department of Social Services. This takes approximately 14 days. For further information on live-scanning, please see www.ccld.ca.gov.
- You must complete a 15-hour foster parent certification training class, which we provide at no expense to you. The certification covers topics such as: foster parent responsibilities, child abuse reporting, Children’s Protective Services, and Agency policies and procedures.
- You must be CPR and First Aid certified. We have a trainer on site prepared to offer classes for those needing certification.
- You must have a health screening so that a doctor can verify that there are no physical conditions preventing you from becoming a foster parent. A negative TB test is also required.
- You must have adequate rooms in your house or apartment. Only 2 children can be placed in a bedroom.
1. What is foster care?
Foster care provides a temporary, safe home for children in crisis. Foster parents are part of the child’s support, treatment, and care programs. They are partners with the child’s social worker, teachers, and doctors. Being a foster parent is not a passive act of opening one’s home and providing food, clothing and shelter. Foster care is a proactive statement of nurturing, advocacy, and love.
2. What does Greater Hope Foundation look for when assessing families who want to become foster parents?
We are looking for families who are committed to helping children and who can love and nurture children without hesitation. We are also looking for families who are flexible, patient, understanding and able to work as team members in the best interest of children.
3. What are the characteristics of a successful foster family?
Commitment, patience, understanding, flexibility, good communication, open to feedback and direction, ability to ask for help when needed, ability to set clear boundaries and limits, ability not to personalize a child’s behavior, and sense of humor.
4. How long does it take to get certified?
The certification process depends on how quickly you complete and return your paperwork, and how quickly the live-scan/child abuse index clearances come back. Please note that it takes on average 2-3 months to become a certified foster parent.
5. Will I receive financial assistance to care for the child?
Yes. You will receive a monthly stipend for each foster child that is placed in your home. The amount of that stipend varies depending on the age of the child.
6. Who pays for the child’s medical care?
Each child has IEHP, funded by the state, for all medical and dental needs.
7. Where do foster children come from?
The foster children are placed through Child Protective Services, which collaborates with the County of San Bernardino.
8. If I’m a single parent, does this mean I cannot be a foster parent?
Not necessarily. The Agency recognizes that single parents can give high quality care to an abused child. However, more emphasis and planning is invested to solidify a structured child care plan including after-school care and daycare for school vacations and holidays.
9. Can I adopt the foster child?
Possibly. The goal of foster care is to reunify foster children with their biological families. If this is not possible, the county will begin looking for an adoptive home. If there are no biological family members interested in adopting the child, the county usually begins the search by asking the current foster family if they are interested in adopting the child.
10. How can I find out more information on becoming a foster parent?
Please contact Greater Hope Foundation, and we would be happy to answer your questions. |
 |
|
