Foster parents can light a child’s path toward becoming a successful adult. One Hope United (OHU) recruits and trains foster parents, providing supportive services to children and families. We work to strengthen families, relationships, and communication to help children overcome adversity and look forward to a prosperous future. Are you thinking of becoming a foster parent? Read on to discover if this path would be right for you.
step one: reflect on this decision and your capacity.
Foster parenting is very rewarding, but you must be someone who:
- Has the ability to offer strength and love to a child who may have special needs and challenges.
- Possess effective parenting skills.
- Open to collaboration with the OHU team.
- Will encourage the child to achieve their potential.
- Will work with the child’s biological parents to ensure their best interests are top priority.
We’re looking for compassionate and sensitive individuals for this very important work. If you enjoy helping others, love children, and appreciate challenges, please consider becoming a foster parent with OHU today!
step two: understand children's needs and financial responsibility.
Foster children range in age from infancy to 21 years old and are from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. They have often experienced lifelong impoverishment, family stress, and violence. Foster children may need counseling, special education, and medical care.
Those in need of foster care have been adversely affected in many ways: emotionally, developmentally, physically, and educationally. They may be traumatized by the separation from their parents and their siblings. The most impactful foster parents seek to understand each child’s individual needs and are instrumental in helping shape the child’s future.
Foster parents receive monthly financial support for each child in their home. The amount varies with the child’s age and level of need. Medical and dental care is covered by the state medical insurance plan.
step three: understand the basic requirements.
Foster parents are individuals over 21, married or single, and come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. They may have biological children, adopted children, or may never have children.
Foster parents must also:
- Be in good physical and mental health.
- Meet state and local requirements for housing safety, have adequate space, and pass a background check.
- Demonstrate a level of acceptance towards the birth parents of children in care.
- Work cooperatively with OHU staff.
- Be willing to participate in training to provide the best care.
- Help a child move back to their biological home or a more permanent situation, if the permanency plan for the child is to return home.
step four: get certified or licensed.
Each state has its own rules for becoming a foster parent. These rules are set by your state’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or a similar agency.
The first step is to contact your state agency to get started. Once you know what the rules are in your state, you can begin the process of applying to become a foster parent.
Here are some of the websites you can learn more about becoming a foster parent in the states OHU serves:
While the certification process varies from state to state and even agency to agency you should expect to follow the elements:
- Training (usually 30 or more hours)
- Background checks
- Home study and/ or interviews
step five: get certified or licensed.
Once you have completed your license certification, you are able to apply for foster parent openings at One Hope United. You are now on the first step in your journey to making meaningful connections with youth and children in your community.
If you have ever considered fostering but not sure when a good time would be now is the time! There is a large need for foster parents and you can be a part of the solution for these children.