Frequently Asked Questions

Why are foster parents needed?
Foster parents are needed to provide temporary homes and care for children who are unable to live in their homes due to family problems. These children may be victims of abuse or neglect. Some need care because of their parents' problems such as substance abuse or anger management issues; others have physical, emotional, or behavioral problems of their own.

Are foster homes for children certified and subject to Ohio law?
Foster homes are certified by the Ohio Department of Human Services in cooperation with county children's services boards, juvenile court, and other child placing agencies, and must comply with the certification rules of ODHS and with Ohio law. Certification is based on an evaluation of a family's home to assure the home has adequate space and meets safety requirements.

What information will be used to determine if I would be a suitable foster parent?
A home study will be completed before a child is placed with you. In the course of the home study, the agency will work with you to assess your ability to become a foster parent. This assessment will focus on your ability and desire to accept the responsibility of foster parenting. Your parenting experience, if any, will be discussed. The agency will consider your motivation for wanting to become a foster parent, your maturity, and your understanding of child care and child development. The agency will need to know about your physical and mental health, your life-style, your occupation, and will require character references. Since children who enter foster care have been separated from their families and often feel insecure, they need foster families that can provide stability and individual attention.

Do I have to be married to be a foster parent?
No. People who are single, married, or persons with partners can be foster parents.

Are there age requirements for foster parents?
People interested in becoming foster parents must be at least 21 years old at the time of their initial application.

Will I receive financial support for taking care of a child?
Foster parents will receive a per diem for each child placed in the home to cover the cost of food, shelter, and clothing. The legal custodian of the child assumes medical expenses. You will not be responsible for any medical expenses. Foster parents must be able to show that they are financially stable prior to becoming licensed.

Can someone else care for a foster child while I work?
Yes. If one or both parents work outside of the home a foster parent can utilize outside childcare. The person providing childcare for a foster child must be approved by the agency. Foster parents are responsible for paying for outside childcare by using the provided per diem rate paid by CHOICES, Inc.

What information will I be given about a child before they are placed in my home?
The agency will give you all the available information you need about the child's background, development, and behavior to help you understand the child and the child's needs. You will be given the opportunity to decide if your family is capable of caring for the child in need of a foster placement.

How long can I expect a child to be with me?
The child could be in your home for a day, a week, a month, or longer. Although foster care is intended to be a temporary living arrangement, it is difficult to estimate exactly how long foster care services will be needed.

What if my circumstances change and I can no longer care for a foster child?
Foster parents are required to notify the agency promptly so another home can be found for the child. The child would benefit if there is time to prepare the child for a move.

What is expected of me as a foster parent?
You are expected to provide foster children with the guidance, structure, and safety you would give your own children and to work as a team member with the agency to address the children's special needs until the children can return to their own families, move to permanent adoptive homes, or live independently.

What are the responsibilities of the agency while a child is in my home?
The agency is responsible for providing all social services needed to help reunite the child with their family. Your home will be assigned a social worker who will provide support and assistance. The worker will see the child in your home at least once a week and is available 24 hours a day to assist foster parents in handling problems as they arise.

Can the child's parents visit while the child is in my home?
There is usually a plan for foster children to be reunited with their parents. Visits between the birth parent and child are a very important part of the reunification process. The agency can arrange for visits outside of your home.