This questionnaire will help to determine if you are eligible to be a foster parent.

1. I have enough room in my home to temporarily house a child. (True or False) You must have enough bedroom space to foster a child. Also, you must be able to provide the child with his/her own bed. A child in care may share a bedroom with your child or another child in care. However, the child may not share a bedroom with any individual over age 18. Also, adults cannot move out of their bedroom and sleep on the couch to make room for the child.

2. My home can pass a safety inspection. (True or False) It is important that children live in a safe and clean environment. During the homestudy process, a representative of the local health department will conduct a safety and fire inspection of your house or apartment. Your home must be free of danger and garbage. You must have working smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher. You must pass this inspection to be eligible to be a foster parent.

3. I am physically and emotionally capable of caring for children. (True or False) Being a foster parent can be demanding. You must be physically and emotionally healthy to care for a child(ren) in foster care. You will be interviewed by the counselor regarding your own childhood experiences and your family relationships.

4. I have no record of abuse or neglect. (True or False) If you have been investigated by the Department in the past, you may not be able to become a foster parent. This includes substantiated cases of abuse and neglect or if your own child had to be placed in foster care. When we receive your application, we will review your records. If you have any questions please call a licensing counselor in your area.

5. I have an adequate income to meet my own family's current needs . (True or False) While you don't have to be rich to be a foster parent, you must have enough income to meet your family's needs. During the homestudy, you will be asked to provide proof of income.

6. No adult in my home has ever been convicted of a crime. (True or False) If you or any adult residing in your home has been convicted of certain criminal offenses, you cannot be a foster parent. Each adult member of your household will be fingerprinted, and a juvenile records check will be done on each child in your home 12 to 18 years of age.

7. I am ready to begin the homestudy process now. (True or False) You are ready to begin if your life and home are stable. "Stable" means that you are not about to move and are not having financial, marital, or emotional difficulties. If you rent, you will need your landlord's approval. Also, your home must be in good repair.

Overall, you must have given serious thought to the decision to become a foster parent. If you answered 'True" to all of the statements, you are READY to begin the process of becoming a foster parent! If you answered false to any statement and are still interested in becoming a foster parent, please call 1-888-60-ADOPT and talk with one of our counselors.

I'm ready. Now what?

First, call us to ensure that you don't have any questions. Next, you will be invited to an open house where you will be given a detailed overview of the foster care and adoption program, the application and licensing process.

After that, you will begin at least 25 hours of foster parent training. The kinds of topics you will discuss include: -Reasons you want to foster a child -Your childhood -Your marriage (if applicable) -Your lifestyle and whether it could accommodate a child -Your finances -Your parenting philosophy -Your support system: during this time, a study of your home will be conducted. A background check of law enforcement records will be made of your and your family.

Your friends, relatives and employers will be contacted to give character references for you and your family. When you have successfully completed the preparation sessions and the homestudy has been completed with a recommendation for you to become a foster parent, you will receive a license to be a foster parent. You've made it!

The entire licensing process should be completed in about four months from the start date you attend the open house. Once you are licensed as a foster parent, you will need to attend training sessions on issues such as child development, attachment disorder, and how to support relationships between children and families. You will also have to renew your foster parent license annually.

The length of time a child in foster care will live with you will vary from child to child. During the time a child resides with you, the state will reimburse you for at least part of the cost of caring for the child. The reimbursement rate is determined by the age of the child. In addition, health cost for children in foster care are covered by Medicaid. A foster care counselor will meet with you and the child(ren) in your home at least once a month and will be available to assist with concerns and questions.

A Home for Every Child

Whether you stay at home or work, whether you have kids or not, whether you are single or married, you can become a Foster Parent Just call 1-888-60-ADOPT to talk to a licensing counselor who will take as much time as you need to answer your questions. You will then be invited to an open house where you will be given a detailed overview of the foster care and adoption program and the licensing and application process. Next comes the training where you will have an opportunity to interact with other prospective foster parents. You will even get to talk to experienced foster parents and ask them the kind of questions that only they can answer.

You will find that it was time well spent in preparation for a challenging but very rewarding role as a foster parent. Remember, every step of the way the choice remains yours. You may decide to foster just long enough to help one child until he can return home, or you may want to stay with the program for a longer period of time. You might even decide that you want to become adoptive parents. Whatever you decide, your contribution will have a tremendous impact on a child's life.