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Foster Care
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Who are the children who need a foster family?
Families are needed for all children but especially children who belong to a sibling group and children with special medical needs.
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Is a single person able to be a foster parent?
Yes. Foster parents can be married or single. The important thing is their willingness and ability to parent.
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Is a foster parent able to hold a job?
Yes, foster parents are able to be employed outside the home. In fact, DYFS may provide child care for your foster children while you are at work.
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How many foster children may I have?
This is determined for each family during the licensing process. However, foster homes are not approved for more than four foster children.
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What does the licensing process consist of?
The licensing process includes nine weekly training sessions, each of which is three hours; a home evaluation; reference checks (medical, employment, personal); criminal history checks (including fingerprinting and local police checks); and a life safety home inspection. The licensing process usually is completed within five months.
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Once a child is placed with me, how long will he/she stay?
Foster care is considered temporary and short term. A foster child may stay only a few days or several months, depending on the child's family situation.
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What happens when the child returns home?
A foster child’s return home is generally a planned activity, allowing the foster parent the opportunity to participate in the planning and to say good-bye to the foster child. This can be a difficult time, but the child’s return home represents a success. Returning home is the goal for most children in foster care.
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Are there board rates for foster care?
Yes. Monthly board rates are $553 to $667, depending on the age of the child.
These rates may be $50 to $150 higher if you are expected to spend additional time caring for the child as a result of extraordinary emotional or physical needs.
The foster child’s caseworker will evaluate this with you and determine whether you are eligible for higher board rates.
The board payment is made to assist a foster family in providing food, shelter, transportation and entertainment for a foster child. A clothing allowance is added to the board rate.
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When will I receive a board check?
Board payments are made on a monthly basis, no later than ten working days after the end of the month, i.e., the board check for January would be issued no later than the tenth working day of February.
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How are the costs of the child's health care paid?
Foster children are covered by Medicaid, which covers all necessary care and treatment.
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