What is foster care? Foster care is the opportunity to provide a temporary home to children who are under the custody of the county and cannot live with their birth parents. These children are in the care of the county because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Every child wants and deserves a permanent home and family. The goal of foster care is to reunify children with their birth families whenever possible but sometimes that cannot happen. When children cannot go home, an adoptive family is sought. Many foster families adopt the children for whom they have been caring.
What kind of services will you receive as a foster parent?
Personal Support — Private foster family agencies provide weekly in-home visits, foster parent support groups, after-hour emergency telephone support, advocacy within the system, i.e. monitoring birth family visits, newsletters and community resources.
Training — You will receive comprehensive pre-certification training before a child or children are placed into your home. Thereafter, ongoing training is required, sometimes being tailored specifically to the relevant needs of your family.
Financial Support — Foster parents receive a monthly stipend to reimburse them for the expenses in providing a child with food, shelter, clothing and personal allowance. The amount of the payment is based on the child’s age. DCFS and private agencies also provide additional payments for daycare services, after-school care, and extracurricular activities, i.e. music lessons, ballet, or scouting.
Medical Support — Each foster child receives a MediCal card that pays for most necessary medical care and prescriptions. Other medical support services may include physical therapy, counseling, and medical equipment.
For further information about becoming a foster or foster/adoptive parent, please contact Robin Monroe, M.A., Certification Coordinator, of Inner Circle Foster Care & Adoption Services, at 818-988-6300, ext 212 or email robinm@fosterfamily.org .