What is foster care?
Foster care offers children a temporary home setting with a foster family until they can be reunited with their parents. Children who are placed in foster care have been removed by Children's Protective Services because of abuse or neglect.
What is the average length of time a child is in the foster home?
Children stay in foster homes until their parents are able to take care of them again, until a suitable relative placement can be found, or until they are adopted. This can be anywhere from a few days to several years. However, the average length of stay is about one year.
Do I get paid for having a foster child?
Foster parents receive financial reimbursement to cover the expenses of caring for the foster child. Additional financial support may be available when the child has special needs. Foster children have insurance coverage and clothing allowances.
Can I request to have only girls or only boys?
There are many children who are placed in foster care, so your request for children of a certain age and gender will be easily accommmodated. Foster parents are especially needed for sibling groups and teenagers.
How many children will I have at one time?
You may choose to have one or more children at a time, depending on your circumstances.
Do I have to become certified or licensed in foster parenting? If so, what is the process?
Yes, you will receive a license when you complete all requirements. Prospective foster parents participate in orientation and training, as well as have home visits from an LCFS of Michigan staff member. Foster parents are provided with ongoing training and receive assistance and support from other foster parents and staff from LCFS of Michigan.
How long does it take to become a foster parent?
Prospective foster parents can be licensed as soon as they have completed and turned in all of their paperwork, as well as completed training and the home visits. Staff at LCFS of Michigan then have to write the licensing report and submit this to the State of Michigan, who actually licenses the foster parents. The licensing process takes approximately six months.
Can a single adult be a foster parent?
Yes. Anyone who is at least 21 years old, with good moral character, good temperament and an income that meets their own family's needs can be a foster parent. Foster parents can be married, single, divorced or widowed.
Can a foster parent adopt?
The goal of foster care is to have the children return home to their biological families. When this is not possible, the foster parent may be eligible to adopt the children.
How do I handle problems with the child? Am I allowed to discipline?
Appropriate training and discipline are crucial to every child's development. Foster parents are provided with on-going opportunities to learn effective non-physical discipline techniques.
What kinds of problems do foster children have?
Foster children may have academic or emotional problems. They may be experiencing sadness or anger as a result of past abuse. For many of these children, the parents are simply unable or unwilling to follow through with their responsibilities as caregivers.
Do I have to take every child you offer our family?
No, you will work with staff at LCFS of Michigan to decide if a particular child or sibling group would be an appropriate match for your family.
