FosterCare/TexasStateAdoption FrequentlyAskedQuestions Q:WhyshouldIbecomepartoftheInternationalFamilyServicesfamily? A:Therearealotofreallygreatagenciesthatyoucanworkwith.Wefeelthatourbestassetisthat whenyouworkwithus,wetreatyoulikefamily.weknowthatwhenyoubringachildintoyourhome thatyouwillneedafriend,aprofessional,acounselorandastrongagencythatcanstandbehindyou. AlthoughInternationalFamilyServicesisalargeagency,ourfosterprogramissmallallowingboththe resourcesandexperienceofthelargeagencyandthepersonalconnectionofasmallfamily.ourgoalis tomakesurethatyourfamilystayshealthyandgrowsstrongerthroughthefostercareexperience.we arealsoalotoffun! Q:AreyouapartofTexasDepartmentofFamily&ProtectiveServices(CPS)?Wheredoyour childrencomefrom? A:InternationalFamilyServicesisaprivate,non profitchild placingagency.wearenottexas DepartmentofFamily&ProtectiveServices.AllofourchildrenareplacedwithusbyTexasDepartment offamily&protectiveservices. Q:Iamsingle,canIbeafosterorTexasStateadoptiveparent? A:Absolutely! Q:Irentahome/apartment,canIstillbeafoster/adoptiveparent? A:Absolutely! Q:Doyouhaveanyrequirementstobeafoster/adoptiveparent? A:Applicantsmustmeetthefollowingrequirements: BeU.S.citizens, Beatleast21yearsold, SpeakfluentEnglishwithouttheassistanceofatranslator, Bearesponsible,matureandhealthyadultabletomeettheneedsofachild Wait12monthsafteryoumarry,divorceorhavebecomewidowed, Wait12monthsaftergivingbirthtoachildorexperiencingthedeathofanimmediatefamily memberlivinginyourhome, Haveacleancriminalrecordforthepast5yearswithnohistoryofabusingchildren, Page1of5 IFSFrequentlyAskedQuestions2/12/10
Haveadriver slicense,autoinsuranceanddependabletransportation, Notbedependentonthereimbursementfromfosteringtosupportyourselforyourfamily, Agreetoanon physicaldisciplinepolicyforfosterchildren, Haveabedroomavailableforyourfosterchild(canbesharedwithyourotherchildren), CompleteIFSPre ServiceTrainingRequirements, Homemustpassafireandhealthinspection, HaveCPRandFirstAidcertification(mustmaintainthecertificationwhileafosterparent), Participateincontinuingeducationrequirementseachyear(20hoursminimumforeach parentannuallyor30hoursifasingleparent), Ifyourhomeisonawellsystem,wewillneedawatertest, Providepetvaccinationinformation, ProvideTBtestresultsforallresidentsinyourhome, ProvideIFSwithvarioussignedformsasrequired, Completeaweaponsinventoryofyourhomeandkeepweaponsandammunitionsafelystored. HaveIFScompleteaHomeStudyforyourhome Q:WhatisaHomeStudy? A:Ahomestudyistheculminationofallofyourhardworkgatheringyourdocuments,attending trainingandpassingthefosterparentrequirements.asocialworkerwillcometoyourhomeafterallof therequirementsaremetandverifythattheinformationthatyouprovidediscompleteandaccurate. Youwillthenbeinterviewedbythesocialworkerasafamilyandindividually.Yoursocialworkerwill bekindandcompassionate.theprocessisnotmeanttobeascaryprocess!oncethevisitand interviewsaredone,yoursocialworkertypesupalongdocumentgivingthedetailsaboutyourfamily. Youwillbeabletocheckitforaccuracy.TheHomeStudywillalsoserveastherequiredHomeStudyif youdecidetoadopt(someupdatingmightbeneeded). Q:Itseemslikethereisalotofpaperworkinvolvedwithbeingafosterparent.OnceImeet therequirementsandhavemyhomecertified,willihavemorepaperworktodo? A:Thereisvitalpaperworkandreportsthatyouwillpreparewhileachildisinyourcareandminor documentupdatesalongtheway,butnothinglikewhatyouhavetocollectinitially! Q:IheardthatIFShasagreatInternationalAdoptionprogram,canIdecidetomovetothat programafterbecomingafosterparent? A:Youcertainlycan!Foreigncountrieshavedifferentrequirementsforadoptingsowewillmakesure youmeettherequirementsofforeignadoptiontogether.yourifshomestudyforyourfosterhome Certificationmeetsall(ormostdependingonthecountry)oftherequirementsofanInternational HomeStudy.IFStrainsallfamiliesonlossandculturalissuesthatapplytoInternationalAdoptions. AlthoughthereisnocosttohaveaHomeStudyforfostercare,ifyoudecidetoadoptinternationally, youwillbesubjecttothefeesassociatedwithaninternationalhomestudy(pleaseseeourinternational AdoptionPacketformoreinformation). Q:WhataretheagesofthechildrenthatIFSservesthroughFosterCare? A:IFSserveschildrenundertheageof18andteensthathavechildren.Themajorityofthechildrenare schoolage.thereisahugeneedforfosterhomesforchildrenovertheageof12. Q:OnceIhavemyFosterHomeCertification,howlongdoesittaketogetachild? Page2of5 IFSFrequentlyAskedQuestions2/12/10
A:Itdependsonhowopenyouaretochildrenofolderagegroups,ethnicityandsiblinggroups.Ifyou arewantingtofostertwoteenageboys,youwillprobablyhaveaveryquickplacement.ifyouare wantingatoddlerorbabyofaspecificrace,itmighttakelonger.wewanttomakesurethatyouare fosteringachildthatisagoodmatchforyourfamily.bydoingthis,thereisamuchgreaterchancethat youandthechildwillhaveapositiveexperience!wearecommittedtoworkingwithyoutomakesure thatyouhaveagoodmatch! Q:Whatistheaveragelengthoftimethatachildwillbeinmyhome? A:Therearealotoffactorsthatcontributetothelengthoftimeachildwillbeinyourhome.Someare onlyincareforafewdays(usuallyemergencysituations)andsomechildrencanstaywiththeirfoster familyforseveralyearsiftheyarelookingforanadoptivehome.theaveragelengthoftimeisbetween 8 18monthswhileapermanenthomeisestablishedforthechild. Q:WhatisthelikelihoodthatthechildIfosterwillbecomeavailableforadoption? A:Eachchildhasadifferentstory.Themajorityofthechildrenhavebeenplacedinthefostercare systembecauseofneglectand/orabusebytheirprimarycaregiver.thefirstgoalofthestateisto reunifythechildrenwiththeirparents.theygivetheparentsspecificrequirementsandtimelinesthat needtobemetinordertokeeptheirchildren.ifreunificationisnotpossible,thestatewilllookatthe fosterchild srelatives(calledkinshipadoption).ifthereisnoonewilling/abletoadoptfromthe Kinshipprogram,thefosterfamilyisusuallyconsiderednext.Ifyourdesireistoadopt,IFSwillwork closelywithyoutohelpthisdreambecomeareality,however,familiesneedtobepreparedthatthe processcantakepatienceandperseverance. Q:HowdoIpayforthecostsassociatedwithcaringforafosterchild? A:InternationalFamilyServiceshascontractedwiththestatetobeabletoreimburseyouforexpenses associatedwiththecareofthechild.theseexpensesincludefood,clothing,householdnecessities,the addedcostsofhavinganextrapersonasitrelatestoyourutilitiesbills,transportationneeds,etc.the exactrateisdeterminedonthelevelofcareyourchildneedsandthenumberofcalendardaysthechild isinyourhome. Q:Ifafosterchildisplacedinmyhome,whopaysfortheirmedical/dental/vision/hearing, prescriptionsandtherapy? A:ChildreninthecustodyofTexasDepartmentofFamilyandProtectiveServicesreceivestateprovided insurance.thisstateprovidedinsurancecoversmedical/dental/vision/hearing,prescriptionsand therapy. Q:CanIfostermorethanonechild? A:Absolutely!Aslongasyourhomemeetstherequirementsandweallfeelthatyoucantakecareof multiplechildren,youmaydoso.oneofthegreatestneedsisforfamiliesthatcanfostersiblinggroups. Q:WillyouchargemeanyfeesifIadoptaTexaschildthroughyouragency? A:No,InternationalFamilyServicesdoesnotchargefamiliesafeeforadoptionsthroughtheStateof Texasprogram.Thereareattorneyfeesforthefinalizationofyouradoption. Q:Approximatelyhowmuchwillmyattorneychargeforhis/herroleintheadoption? Page3of5 IFSFrequentlyAskedQuestions2/12/10
A:Attorneyfeestypicallystartatapproximately$1200. Q:Howlongdoesittaketobecomeacertifiedfosterhomewithyouragency? A:Whilethereareavarietyoffactorsthataffecthowlongthelicensing/certificationprocesscantake, mostapplicantscancompletetheprocessin1 3months. Q:Whatisthefirststepinthelicensing/certificationprocess? A:ThefirststepistoattendourOrientation.Pleasecontactourofficeforaclassschedule Q:DoIhavetoturninanypaperworkbeforeIcanattendOrientation? A:No.However,wedoaskthatyouRSVPandprovideuswithacontactnumberincaseaclassisever cancelledorrescheduled. Q:WhatpaperworkorformsarerequiredandhowsooncanIstarttoturninmypaperwork? A:Weinviteyoutostartturninginpaperworkassoonasyouarereadyto.Wewillstartprocessingeach pieceofyourpaperworkassoonaswereceiveit. Q:IfIamseekingtobelicensedwithyouragency,doIhavetopaytoattendyourclasses? A:No,parentsseekingtobelicensedwithouragencyarenotchargedafeefortraining.However, CPR/FirstAidcertificationisrequiredandfamilieswillneedtofactorinthatcost. Q:MayIbringmychild(ren)totrainingwithme? A:Allclassesareforadultsonly,howeverwemaybeabletoprovidechildcareatsomeofourlocations. Pleasecontactusformoredetails. Q:Ihavealreadybeencertified/licensedwithanotherfostercareagency,doIstillneedto attendyourtrainingandcompleteyourforms? A:Wewilllookateachsituationindividuallyandgiveyouadetailedevaluationofwhatyouneedtodo beforeyoucanbecertifiedbyifs.mostofthetimemostifnotallofyourtrainingwilltransfer! Q:I'mhavingtroublefindingaCPR/FirstAidinstructor.WhomcanIcall? A:Austin/RoundRock/Georgetownarea:AwonderfullowcostoptionforfamiliesisC.P.R.Resources. Youcanreachthemat(512)292 3130,websiteiswww.cpr resources.com.thecostforcertificationis $25andtheclassesareabout2.5hoursinlength.Theyhaveseverallocationsandclasseseachmonth. MakesurethatyoutellthemthatyouneedCPRandFirstAidandneedtohavechildandinfanttraining. Q:MayItakeorrenewCPR/FirstAidonline? A:No,TDFPSMinimumStandardsprohibitsthetakingorrenewingofCPR/FirstAidonline.Itmustbe instructorledandincludethepracticeofcproncprmannequins. Q:WheredoIfindtheMedicalConsenttrainingontheTDFPSwebsite? Page4of5 IFSFrequentlyAskedQuestions2/12/10
A:Visitwww.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/About_Child_Protective_Services/medicalconsent Q:Ineedalittlehelpgettingmyhousereadyformyfosterchild,knowanyonegoodwitha hammer? A:OnethingthatInternationalFamilyServicesstrivestodoishelpyouovercomeobstaclesonyourway tobeingafosterparent.wehaveafewgentlementhatarehappytohelpyougetyourhouseinto compliance.ifsmayalsobeabletoreimburseyouforpartoftheexpensesassociatedwithgettingyour homeintocompliance. Q:AmIallowedtotravelwithchildrenplacedinmyhome? A:Yes,travelispermittedbutyoumustnotifyInternationalFamilyServicesofalltripsandcourt approvalisneededforanyoutofstatetravel.forthisreasonweneedatleast2weeksnoticebeforeany outofstatetravel. Page5of5 IFSFrequentlyAskedQuestions2/12/10