Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why do we need foster parents?
 
There are 60,000 children in foster care in California. These children have been removed from their families due to neglect and/or abuse. Some children have no one to care for them. These children need a home where the adults are trained to deal with their specific needs. The problem of finding these children a home is at a crisis level. There just aren't enough families stepping forward to provide this foster family experience. Our agency continually has to turn children away because we do not have foster family homes available. We need to find homes where children can find direction in their lives.

 
Q: Who can be a foster parent?

A: Someone who has a love and desire to help a child including:

• Singles or Married couples can be foster parents.
• People with or without children of their own.
• Adults, 21 and over. (The average age range of a foster parent is 50 to 60.)

 
Q: What requirements to foster parents have to have?

A: Complete the Foster Family Certification Process.

 
Q: What are the steps to becoming a certified family home?

A: Generally, the process is divided into the following categories:

• Telephone interview
• Document preparation and gathering
• Finger printing and background check of residents over 18
• Health screening
• Home visit and orientation
• PRIDE pre-certification training
• Home study and inspection

 
Q: What types of families can do foster care?

A: Families that meet these criteria:

• Single parent households and married couples.
• Must be 21 or older.
• Must have sufficient income to sustain their family without the foster family reimbursement and at least one adult must be employed or have a source of income (AFDC not included).
• A couple must be legally married with proof of marital status.

 
Q: Must I own a home?

A: No.

• Foster families can be certified while living in single family or multiple family dwelling and can rent or own.
• There is a limit of two children per bedroom, but the foster parents can keep an infant less than 2 years old in their bedroom.

Q: What is the time commitment for pre-service training?

A: 12 hours of "PRIDE" training and a First Aid/CPR class (must include infant, child and adult).

• Even if you have raised children already, caring for foster children can be different. The training is comprehensive and interactive, stressing the tools that will help you understand how to meet the needs of children in foster care.
• If you have a body of water on your property, you will also need a water safety class.

 
Q: What documents will I need to provide to the Agency?

A: Our staff will ask you to provide a variety of copies of personal, employment and medical information. Once you begin the process of becoming certified, we will instruct you on the exact forms needed, and will give you a packet of information to complete and return to our office.

 
Q: How can I prepare for the home inspection?

A: It is not difficult to prepare for your home inspection. The Agape staff will help you understand the specific requirements of the home inspection, and will be available to answer any questions you may have about your home's compliance with the State of California's regulations. The purpose of the home inspection is to verify compliance with the law in terms of health and safety issues such as:

• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Proper storage of toxic substances, medications and weapons.
• Hot water temperature coming from the tap at no more than 120˚.
• Pool/spa/pond requirements-5 ft. fence with a gate surrounding or cover that will support an adult.
• Basic standards of cleanliness (we do not give a "white glove" test!)
• Readiness of a bed and dresser for a foster child.  

 
Q: What are the guidelines for children sharing a room?

A: There is a limit of two children to a room. Children of the opposite sex may share a room until the older child reaches five years of age, then they must be separated. Children of the same sex may share a room with no age limit as long as the situation seems to work well for both children. Bunk beds are permissible for children five and older, if the child is capable of climbing in and out without assistance. A guardrail must always be in place and no three-tiered beds are permitted.

 
Q: What are the stipulations about transporting children?

A: Foster parents are responsible for the transporting of the children just as they are for their own children. All vehicles must be in good running order. There must be enough seats, seatbelts, car seats and infant car seats compliant with current legal requirements available for the family.

 
Q: What out-of-pocket costs will there be during the certification process?

A: CPR/First Aid classes ($40 to $65 per person), TB clearance (approximately $15 per person), health screen (varies), DMV printout ($5 per person), and fingerprinting and background checks ($60 to $125 per person).

 
Q: How long will this process take?

A: That depends on several things. The criminal history clearances are done by agencies other than ours and the time varies. Sometimes the references given take some time to come back. You will be working with Agape staff during the training sessions and that person will follow through the whole process with you, keeping you posted on what still needs to be done. The process usually takes six to ten weeks. We are just as anxious as you are to keep the process moving as we want to place children in loving, happy homes.

 
Q: After we are certified, what support can we expect from the agency?

A: When a child is placed in your home, your family will be assigned an Agape Social Worker who will be available to offer support and guidance. You will be offered free training through Agape's Foster Parent Support Program where you will meet other foster families. Your Social Worker will visit your home each week (or every other week, depending on the need) and will be available should you need assistance; and, in case of emergency, he/she is available 24 hours a day.

 
Q. Where are we located?

A: Currently we have offices in Manteca and San Ramon. Training sessions are scheduled at convenient locations.

Q. How to get started and become a foster parent?

A: Call (800) 566-2225 and one of our staff members will give you a telephone interview and answer any questions you may have.