Interested adults must successfully complete required screening, a formal home study, a training program, and a pre-service course. CHS places children only in licensed, approved foster homes.
Among the Requirements:
- Medical exam to ensure parent has no condition that impairs the ability to care for children
- Fingerprint, abuse registry and local records check clearances
- Personal and employment references
- Home fire and health inspections
- Self-study paperwork to explore background and motivations
- A warm heart, a loving home, and the desire to make a difference
CHS Support for Foster Parents:
CHS recognizes the significant commitment made by foster parents and works hard to support those willing to help these hurting children. Trained staff provide foster parents with:
- Introductory and on-going training
- Assistance with paperwork
- Access to other foster parents
- Foster family activities
- On-going support
- Respect and appreciation
Trainings Help Foster Parents to:
- Understand their role as a child advocate
- Provide for the day-to-day needs of the children placed in their home
- Understand CHS' role, providing support and guidance to the child, the foster parents and the birth parents
- Understand the needs of the child's parents, involving them in decisions about the child's life, and helping to maintain the parent-child relationship according to the family's case plan
- View the foster care placement as short-term, except in cases where long-term care is determined best for therapeutic reasons, or when adoption becomes the plan
Therapeutic Foster Care
A special attitude of caring is needed by foster parents willing to care for severely emotionally disturbed children. Those parents will find that same attitude in the CHS counseling team that supports them in their unique and challenging role. CHS provides special training and a team of counselors, therapists and case managers, who link families to appropriate community resources for the troubled child. CHS Parent Trainers are experts able to assess the child's needs in order to improve their lives. These professionals work closely with foster parents throughout the placement.
