Become A Foster Parent
Become A Foster Parent

Thinking about Becoming a Foster Parent?

It is our belief that every child deserves to live in a safe, loving, and stable home that provides the child with basic physical amenities, nurturing, and emotional support. They deserve to have parents who will care for them with dignity in a kind and respectful manner and who will provide them direction to enhance their future success.

In addition, we believe that those who choose to be a parent to foster children deserve to receive training to meet the specific needs of all children in their care and to receive the support needed to parent a child(ren).

Although foster parenting can be demanding, you will not be alone. Our staff of social workers, medical professionals, and placement coordinators will work with you to meet the needs of the individual child or children in your care.

The first step in becoming a HUGS Certified Foster Parent is understand all the necessary requirements and costs. Becoming a foster parent is a huge decision, one that affects you and your entire family. Make sure you include your entire family in any discussions related to becoming foster parents to help everyone understand how bringing a child(ren) into your home can have an emotional, financial or quality time impact on your family. Of course, you will also be blessed.

Helping you to understand everything you need to do to make your family and home foster friendly is part of the first step. Enclosed is information regarding all the requirements and potential costs of becoming a foster parent. Once you and your family have made the decision to go forward, contact me office and I will send you the next step in the process; filling out the application and starting to complete the requirements.

If you have any questions regarding the process or requirements, please do not hesitate to contact Jeanne Faught, MA -Program Manager at (951) 695-0888, ext 408.

Foster children placed with HUGS FFA may only be placed in homes certified by HUGS. The process of becoming a foster parent usually takes two to three months.

HUGS FFA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF AGE, SEX, RELIGION, COLOR, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, MARITAL STATUS, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR DISABILITIES. All potential foster parents are recruited, screened, trained and evaluated on an equal basis.

CERTIFICATION

Foster parents must meet certain requirements before being certified:

  • • Successfully Completing 20 hours of Precertification Training
  • • Fingerprinting and Background Check
  • • CPR and 1st Aid Certifications
  • • Health Screening and TB Test
  • • Reference Screening
  • • Vehicles are Registered (Copy of Registrations & Safety Inspections)
  • • DMV Printout of Driving Record
  • • Babysitters Information
  • • Home Inspection
  • Review and Signing Various Policies and Procedures

Upon certification, the home will be provided with a Certificate of Certification. The certification must be available to State or County workers who wish to view the certificate.

Once a home is certified by a foster family agency, it is a state regulation that the home cannot accept children from another foster family agency or county.

Certified homes must re-certify each year and must complete a new application and all requirements. All requirements must be completed prior to the certification date.

DECERTIFICATION

Homes may be decertified for a variety of reasons, but most often because both HUGS and the foster parents have agreed to the decertification.

If a certified parent decides to voluntarily decertify, they must meet certain conditions to ensure the well being of the child. HUGS must be notified in writing at least two weeks prior to the removal of the child. This will allow for a suitable home to be located and readied for the child. It is imperative that the transition from one home to another be as smooth as possible.

Occasionally, HUGS must decertify a home for failure to ensure the safety of children or for the violation of HUGS or State regulations. Once again, it is important that the transition be as smooth as possible for the welfare of the child.

Whether a family voluntarily decertifies or is required to decertify, all of the children’s belongings and records must be provided to the HUGS FCSW when the children are removed.

CAPACITIES IN CERTIFIED HOMES

Homes certified by HUGS FFA are able to care for one to six children. Families must have the necessary bed space, seats in their vehicle and be able to demonstrate the ability to care for the number of children they wish to be certified for. Any foster family certified for more than three children must demonstrate that they have the ability and resources to care for the children. New foster families are generally certified for two children.

Families caring for children with special health care needs are only able to have two children placed in their home.

PREPARING A SAFE HOME

Title XXII and HUGS policies require certain conditions in each home that a foster child is placed. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that the home is safe and able to meet emergency situations. Foster homes and yards must be maintained in an attractive and nurturing condition that is in keeping with other homes in the neighborhood. There are specific regulations for each room in the home.

KITCHEN

  • • All trash cans must be covered or stored under the sink.
  • • All knives and sharp objects must be locked with a Tot Lock or key lock. Tot Locks must be the magnetic type. All keys and magnets used to open any locks must be kept separately from the lock and only the foster parents should have access to the keys or magnets.
  • • All counters, appliances, floors, etc. must be clean and pest free.
  • • All food in the refrigerator and freezer must be in covered containers to prevent contamination. Aluminum foil cannot be used to cover food.
  • • All toxins must be locked by a Tot Lock or a key lock.
  • • There must be a Type 2A10Bc fire extinguisher in the kitchen area.
  • • A lock box is needed for any medications that must be refrigerated.

    • BATHROOMS

  • • All toilets and drains must be functioning properly.
  • • All Toxins must be locked by a Tot Lock or a key lock.
  • • Shampoos, hair care products, etc. must be inaccessible to children (If in doubt, look at the container. Does it read, “Keep out of reach of children?”)
  • • Medications must be locked by a Tot Lock or a key lock and stored separately from toxins.

    • BEDROOMS

    • • There must be at least three feet between beds and only two children can be placed in each room (This is also true for biological children).
    • • Operable light in each room.
    • • Window that opens and has a screen.
    • • Smoke alarms outside bedroom doors.
    • • Bunk beds must have a safety rail and a ladder (only children over the age of five are permitted on the top bunk)
    • • Rooms for foster children should be decorated to the same standard as the other bedrooms in the home and should be age and gender appropriate. Children should be able to add their own personalized items and decorations to the room.

      FOSTER PARENT REQUIREMENTS AND ESTIMATED COSTS

      ITEM Approx
      Cost
      CPR $25 to $50
      First Aid $25 to $50
         
      Bathroom Scale $15 and up
      Fingerprints $10 to $25 per person and up
      DMV Copy (www.dmv.ca.org) $2 per driver in the home (on line)
      Vehicle Inspection $0-40 per car, use
      your local mechanic
      Fire Extinguisher (Type 2A10BC) $25 per, at least 1per home
      First Aid Kit –
      To include first aid dressings, bandages or roller bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, thermometer and first aid manual.      		 $25 per, at least 1
      per home, should have one for the car
      Smoke Detectors $10 each, at least 1per bedroom, at least one for each floor level
      Baby Gates $25 each, as many as needed; at least 1 for top of stairs and 1 for bottom of stairs
      2nd Story Emergency Fire Escape Ladder (if applicable) $40 on up
      Fencing (if needed) According to CCL ?
      Jacuzzi Cover and Locks According to CCL – codes-cost varies
      Pets – Immunizations-license, rabies Varies
      Garbage Can with lid (kitchen) or stored under sink cabinet Varies
      Locking cabinets or pad locks on cabinets (garage) Varies
      Tot Locks or Key locks or Lock Boxes may be used for sharps, medications, toxins Varies
      Clothing Minimum of 30$ a month per child
      Physical and TB Test HUGS has a contract with Central Occupational Medicine Providers for $50
      Refrigerator Medication Lock Box Simple lock on zippered bag
      Car Seats-infant,
      child, booster      		 Price varies be type
      of car seat. Can possibly get car seat through local CHP.
      Guns, Ammunition.
      Gun Safe is best choice. Ammunition needs to be locked in separate
      cabinet.      		 Varies

      Shop around to get the best prices. Use free services when
      available (such as CPR and First Aid). Do not start buying any of the
      items on this list until you have reached the point where a staff
      member has come to your home and completed a home inspection. You may
      have some of the requirements already in place.

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