Becoming a foster parent is a great way to help a child in need.
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is in need of hundreds of foster parents. There are many children in the permanent custody of the county who are awaiting placement in permanent homes. Although temporary, a foster family provides full-time care for a child and acts in place of the child's birth parents. If you are interested in providing a home for a child in Cuyahoga County, it is not difficult to begin the process of becoming a foster parent.
Instructions
1. Confirm that you meet all of the requirements necessary to become a foster parent. Cuyahoga County requires that a foster parent be at least 21 years old. There is no marriage requirement; however, if you are in a relationship it must be at least one year in length. A potential foster parent must have enough income to support their basic needs, and must be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy.
2. Complete the required 36 hours of training. Training is provided by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. Training is divided into 12 three hour classes, and must be attended by your spouse or live-in partner, as well. Your training certificate is valid for 12 months after completion of the course.
3. Complete and submit your foster parent application. The application will be provided to you in your first training class and can be submitted at any time throughout your training classes. When you submit your application, you will complete a short interview with the training staff. You will be required to have the application notarized and you must show proper ID. You and any other household members over the age of 18 must also be fingerprinted. The support staff at the Department of Children and Family Services can assist you with the notarization and fingerprint requirements.
4. Complete the required home study. The home study can take between 4 and 6 months to complete. During this time, a social worker will visit your home numerous times. She will interview all of your family members and inspect your home to ensure that it meets all safety requirements. The social worker will inform you of any additional paperwork or documentation that you must submit.
5. Once the home study is successfully completed, your home can be approved for foster care placement. When a child needing placement is located, you will be contacted by the Department of Children and Family Services.
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