Comments on: Foster parenting requirements?

By: pinnlady@sbcglobal.net

pinnlady@sbcglobal.net — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:53:13 +0000

Here in Illinois you must pass a background check, your home will be checked for safety. Training lasts 9 weeks with 2 weeks of educational advocacy. Your home doesn’t need to be spotless, nor do you need to be a perfect parent. You can be single, gay, any race or nationality as long as you have a big heart and lots of patience. My husband & I have been doing this for 5 1/2 years. We have adopted 2 baby boys and have guardianship of a great 16 year old girl.

By: Looney Tunes

Looney Tunes — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:02:41 +0000

In the US, you have to take classes (usually like 2 months), have a background check for you and EVERYONE in your home, medical evaluation, and a homestudy.

You must realize that:
50-60% of children are reunited with their bio-parents
10-20% go into kinship care
20-30% become “legally free” for adoption (bio-parents rights are terminated)

Also, children can share rooms, BUT the rooms have to be shared with the same gender child. (boy with boys, girls with girls)
Each child must have his/her own bed.

By: ryleah2005

ryleah2005 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:38:47 +0000

I don’t know where you live, but in Canada all we did was agree to a complete criminal record check, a medical check (they contacted our doctor, see if we had any mental illness, or anything that would render us unable to properly care for the child), and a home visit. That was it.

BTW- With the criminal record check, they unsealed our youth records.

EDITED:

I am sorry you cannot have children. That is the most awful thing. I think you are awesome for wanting to foster, the world needs more people to do that.