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FAQS
What are the highlights of the Caring Family Network Foster Care Program?
Program Coordinators who provide professional support to the foster parent, the child and the child's family
24/7 Crisis Support Services from qualified, on-call staff
Monthly support and supervision in your home
FREE in-service training
On-site clinical services provided by licensed therapists and clinical professionals
Competitive reimbursement rates
What is Foster Care?
The dictionary offers the following definition of "foster": "To help to grow or develop; stimulate; promote, and to afford, receive, or share nourishment, or sustenance, although not related by blood." A foster parent is "one who performs the duties of a parent to the child of another".
In many ways a foster parent resembles any other parent who works to understand and love a child. Foster parenting is not a lifetime commitment to a child, but a commitment to make a meaningful difference during a child's lifetime.
What is Therapeutic Foster Care?
Therapeutic foster care is a more intensive level of care. Trained foster parents provide a time to help children re-learn good habits in a nurturing but structured environment. All of the children who need therapeutic foster care services currently have a mental health diagnosis and are exhibiting challenging behaviors. Sometimes the need for therapeutic placement will occur after a child is discharged from a higher level of care, such as a group home. Sometimes the family has tried other services, but has not been able to make enough progress on their own. The goal of therapeutic foster care is to facilitate the transition of the child back to his or her family whenever possible and appropriate. Children in therapeutic foster care are supported by child and family teams that assist in providing coordination and support for all of the team members.
What Makes a Good Foster Parent?
Foster parenting is not for everyone. CFN has found that successful foster parents often have the following characteristics in common:
Realistic expectations for the child's behavior and understanding of where the behaviors come from: Children who come into care have experienced losses and life circumstances that have led to specific perceptions of how the world works. These perceptions led to behaviors that may have been useful at some point, but are not helpful to the child anymore. Effective foster parents do not take the children's behaviors personally, but see them as coming from somewhere and needing time to change.
Flexibility and creative problem solving
Being a good listener: Many foster children have not had the opportunity to have an adult really listen to them or to talk openly about issues that affect them.
Humor and Self-Care
Ability to recognize when you need help, and ask for it
Commitment to the child placed in the home and the child's family: Effective foster parents have the ability to work with the biological parent or legal guardian in a 'shared-parenting' context to provide the child and family with the best chance for successful re-unification
Willingness to involve the child in all of your day-to-day activities
What Should You Expect From CFN?
As an agency, we try to provide the best possible quality of life for foster children and the best possible support services to the foster parent(s) responsible for their care.
Monthly opportunities for support and training in your home
Specialized training based upon the special needs of children placed with you and areas of interest to you and your family
24 hour availability to assist with challenging or crisis situations
Opportunities for your family to use respite services
What Are The Responsibilities Of CFN Foster Parents?
First and foremost, we ask that each parent actively participate in the lives of the children placed in their homes. Other responsibilities include:
Providing for all of the child's daily living needs including nutrition, clothing, shelter and physical care
Focusing on the safety and health of the child
Nurturing and accepting the child as part of the family
Providing supervision for the child
Providing routine transportation for the child
Keeping all insurance, registrations and inspections up to date for both home and car
Providing structured daily routines and introduce skills for independent living
Maintaining the child's confidentiality and rights
Assisting the child in understanding the his or her rights and responsibilities if there are questions
Complying with federal and state laws and CFN policy and procedure as it pertains to foster parents.
Providing opportunities for religious observance in the faith of child's choice
Making every effort to meet the cultural needs of the child placed in your home.
Understanding the CFN grievance procedure for foster children and ensuring that the child has access to that information if needed
Keeping accurate records for yourself and the child
Completing at least 10 hours of continuing education for each year you are licensed
And last, but not least, Using Common Sense!
What are the initial training requirements of a foster parent?
Pre-Service Orientation: 40 hours of training on topics specific to fostering parenting (an additional 10 hours will be required starting in January 2008)
Medication Administration Training
Blood Borne Pathogens Training
CPR and First Aid Training
Safe Crisis Management Training
How Many Hours of Training Does a Foster Parent Need to Complete Every Year After Becoming Licensed?
Each foster parent is required to complete at least 10 hours of on-going training every 12 months beginning with the date of the parent's foster care license. This training can be obtained in a variety of ways set out in a plan created with your Program Coordinator.
What Services Will I Receive From CFN Once A Foster Child Is Placed In My Home?
CFN provides weekly contact with foster parents, at least monthly in-home visits to foster parents and children, 24-hour on-call crisis assistance, assistance with obtaining individual services for children, regular training opportunities and other support as needed.
What Information Can I Share with Others Regarding the Foster Child in My Home?
All information you receive or hear about a child is considered confidential. This means that you cannot discuss anything (the child's background, previous placements, health or mental health information, educational information or any other personal information) with any other person (including family members) outside of CFN unless you have received written permission from the child's state worker.
How Do I Proceed In Medical Or Other Emergencies?
CFN believes that we can assist families most effectively by planning for emergency or crisis situations of all types. This is done in writing when a child comes to your home. The plan will include names and phone numbers of those you may need to contact if there is an emergency. These instructions will include responding to medical and behavioral crises.
CFN also provides foster families with access to assistance 24 hours a day. During normal business hours, Program Coordinators and foster care team members are available at each office. After hours there is a crisis pager or phone number to call. Every foster parent receives our crisis pager number
The following instances are examples of incidents that warrant calling the crisis pager:
Child not returning as planned from a home visit
Runaways
Suicide attempts or threats
Involvement with law enforcement or criminal activity
Dangerous or highly unusual behaviors or tantrums
Serious injuries or medical condition
Support care is available to families who need to take a break from providing care or who are experiencing a family situation that makes it difficult for them to effectively care for a foster child for a brief period of time. Support care is provided by other CFN foster families and can be arranged by your Program Coordinator. Support Care can last a matter of hours or a number of days, depending on the situation.
Can Foster Children have Overnight Visits with their Biological Parent(s) or with Others?
Some children are permitted to have overnight visits with biological family members. Visitation rules differ with each child's individual case plan. It is the foster parent's responsibility to know what the child's service plan says about visits. During each monthly team meeting, home visitations will be discussed. Foster children are not allowed to stay outside of the foster home overnight without prior permission from the Program Coordinator.
What Is The Nature of My Relationship With a CFN Program Coordinator?
Foster parents and Program Coordinators work together to provide services and support to children. You should have contact at least weekly with your Program Coordinator and work hard to keep the lines of communication open. Always contact your Program Coordinator when you have an issue, question, or concern about a child in your care. Foster Care Managers and Program Directors will be available for questions, concerns or comments about all CFN services.
Foster parents are not considered employees of CFN, therefore are not entitled to employee benefits. Monies received for caring for foster children are reimbursement and not compensation.
What Is The Process For Placing Foster Children In My Home?
CFN receives information about each child placed in our care. This information comes in the form of a referral. The referral includes information about the child's age, developmental needs, education needs, sibling relationships and social and legal history. When deciding where to place a child, we try to ensure the child will have a successful experience by matching each child with a foster family who can best meet the child's needs. When the CFN staff identifies a potential match for your home, you will be contacted and provided with all available information about the child. At that point you and your family will be able to make a decision about meeting the child and moving towards placement in your home.
Who Pays for Clothing and Personal Items for Foster Children?
When children initially come into care, some of them will have adequate clothing and others will not. Some agencies placing children for foster care provide an initial clothing allowance while others do not. A portion of the foster parent(s)' daily rate serves to reimburse foster parent(s) for clothing and personal items purchased for a child at the time of placement in the home and throughout the time the child spends with the foster family. An initial clothing inventory is completed to identify clothing the child comes into care or into your home with. Any new clothing purchased for a child should be added to the clothing inventory periodically.
What Responsibility Do I have For a Foster Child's Medical Needs?
As a foster parent, you are not financially responsible for medical care for your foster children. The legal guardian of the child is responsible for payment. While most children in foster care have medical insurance very few children have private insurance. If a child does not have health insurance, the Program Coordinator will work with the custodial agency to obtain insurance for the child.
Health and Mental Health Screenings
Health Screenings are required with 72 hours of a child's placement in foster care. Physical and dental examinations also need to be current or scheduled upon the child entering care. In addition, each child will be assessed by the Program Coordinator for other needs within 30 days of entering care.
What if a Foster Child in My Home Takes Medication?
Prescription Medications: It is a foster parent's responsibility to ensure that a child receives his or her medication according to prescribed directions. All medication must be kept secured and only removed when administered. Medications must be returned to the locked compartment after they have been taken. Medications may be stored in a locked box or locked cabinet or drawer. Foster parent(s) are given medication logs for children in their care. It is the responsibility of the foster parent to keep the individual medication log current.
Non-prescription Medications: An over-the-counter medication form signed by the parent and possibly a physician will provide guidance on appropriate over-the-counter medications. Approved over-the-counter medications should be given as directed on the packaging and noted on the child's medication log. Over-the-counter medications must be stored in the same secure manner as prescription medication.
Should I Have An Emergency Medical Plan and First Aid Supplies in My Home?
Each foster home must be equipped with a basic first aid kit. In case of an emergency, call 911 or take the child to the emergency room. Then contact the Program Coordinator or the crisis hotline for additional support. Keep an updated list of emergency phone numbers located by the telephone. Your list should include:
Police, 911
EMS
Fire Department
Physician
Hospital
Poison Control Center
CFN Office Number
CFN Pager & Crisis Number
During initial training, you will complete an evacuation plan for your home. This document needs to be posted in a visible place in your home. State regulations do require documentation of the completion of fire drills.
What is My Responsibility for Children Who Receive Therapy?
It is very important to make sure that each foster child attends every therapy session scheduled for him or her. It is your responsibility to get children to all therapy appointments. If you have questions or concerns about the appointments or transportation, you will be able to discuss them with your Program Coordinator or child and family team.
What My Responsibilities for Transportation Arrangements?
Foster parent(s) are not reimbursed for routine transportation. Routine transportation includes transportation that a biological parent would be expected to provide for the child. If transportation issues arise, please contact your Program Coordinator, who will assist you in identifying options for transportation.
How Often Am I Reimbursed?
Foster parent reimbursements are issued on a bi-monthly basis. In order to be reimbursed, foster parent(s) must complete payment vouchers and documentation of progress for each child in their home. If this paperwork is not completed and submitted on time, you will not be reimbursed according to the standard schedule.
Please remember that foster parent reimbursement checks are not paychecks or taxable income. Foster Parents are on contract with CFN, not CFN employees therefore this reimbursement is not counted as income for tax filing purposes.
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