Columns
Friday, February 23, 2007
common sense on foster care
What do foster parents do? Foster parents make a wonderful difference by providing a safe and caring home for kids who cannot live with their families. There are over half a million children in some form of foster care in the United States, and we need foster parents to open their hearts and homes for children in need of temporary care. Children remain in foster care until the courts decide whether they should be reunited with the parents, immediate relatives, or be adopted. How do I become a foster parent? The most important qualification for a foster parent is the ability to provide a safe and supportive home. KidSake, a division of the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, estimates that a person can qualify to become a foster parent in Iowa in about six to nine months. Applicants must be 18 years or older and be physically, financially, and emotionally fit to care for children. The Iowa Department of Human Services also requires all prospective foster parents to apply for a foster family home license and undergo background checks, home study, and training. Foster care coordinators will work with families throughout the foster licensing process. For more details on the process, visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website at http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/navigation/FindingServices/AdoptionFosterCare.html. What support is available to foster parents? Providing a nurturing home and shaping the future of a child is challenging and rewarding. In addition to training, foster care parents receive the support of a foster care coordinator or case worker. Foster parents also receive a monthly stipend to help cover the costs of foster care. All children in foster care are eligible for medical coverage, but foster families may qualify for additional financial assistance. The Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association also provides trainings, support groups and liaisons who can help people access information and assistance regarding the Iowa Department of Human Services' policies.
