[NoCaMomof3]

Hello My name is Dina, my husband Brandon and I are looking into Foster care but before we got started we wanted to get some more information from all of you with expierences and stories to tell.

To be perfectly honest we do not even know where to begin here in our small home town here in Northern California.

What are all the requirements? Do we have to own our own home and a large vehicle, how many children do they place in your home at a time?

I am very excited to begin the process but want to make sure we have all of our questions answered.

What classes and certificates do we need to have prior to starting the application process?

How long before we get excepted?

Sorry so long. Very exciting to be able to do this. I am also a surrogate mother fro a couple from Texas and own my own daycare center for the past 16 years in my home, children are our lives, my chilsdren are now 17girl and off to school, 17 boy in his sophmore year in HS and 9 in the 3rd grade.

Hope I didnt ask to many questions and talk you ear off. I look forward to getting to know you all better and begin the process.

xo Dina xo

[faithwingnut]

Hi Dina,
So glad that you found this website! I am from Placerville area in NorCal, where abouts are you from? I could give you a few agencies in the area if you are near here but also there is an agency called Environmental Alternatives that has an office in almost every NorCal county. That is the agency that we are going through and we really like them. Also, the county does foster care to and you could contact them to find out more. The thing about the county is that they don't pay as much and are "usually" much harder to work with and you don't get as much support. I would start contacting agencies in your area and getting any fliers they had about FC sent to you. And if I could help in any way let me know. All requirements are different depending on the agency/county you are in but basically they are all the same. You don't need to own a home or a big car but just be able to house a child in your home with no more than 2 per room and they must be the same sex to each room. You also will need to be current on CPR and first aid and also water safety. They say to expect the process to take 6 months but it depends on how quickly you can get your classes done and how quickly they certify you. We started the process in August and were certified in the beginning of November. We got our first placement on Nov. 24. Hope this helped and if you need anything else feel free to e-mail me and ask more questions. God Bless,
Faith

Wife to DH Jonah since 7-23-02
Mommy to Hula Girl (our Jack Russell Terrier) and
Foster Mommy to 2 beautiful sisters D (4) and A (6 mo.)

[NoCaMomof3]

Hello Faith I am so very pleased to meet you and to get a responce to my post .

I am from Yreka California near Mt Shasta, or 2 hrs north of Redding., which ever you prefer he he.

I already have my CPR, my health and my TB current for my daycare center in my home, will they have me get new ones even though those are still current until this summer that is?

I am calling on monday to find out how to begin in my area? Any ideas where I should go?

Thank you in advance for your responces.

xo Dina xo

[NoCaMomof3]

What are the guidelines when you travel with foster children? Or can you? I live in California.

Thanks in Advance.

xo Dina xo

[NoCaMomof3]

Thank you so much, I am calling around and going to try to get into an orientation asap. I will keep you all posted.
xo Dina xo

[faithwingnut]

Dina,
Hope everything works out! It sounds like you found some people to call and see what to do. The county is always a good place to start because they usually have a list of agancies that they know of in the area. About traveling, day trips are fine but you would need to contact your social worker for overnight trips and get a court order if you will be going out of the state. My husband and I travel ALOT and it hasn't hindered us at all. As long as the judge beleives that the opportunity is a good one for the child they will usually let them go. LEt me know if you have any more questions. God Bless,
Faith

[NoCaMomof3]

Thank you so much for your support. I called and left a messege at a couple of places, I am hoping to hear from them sometime today or tomorrow.

I will let you know how it goes.

xo Dina xo