[blessedbybug]

DH and I have contacted our local foster agency about the possibility of renewing our license. We became licensed before our son came two years ago but never fostered because he came soon after we were licensed. We're just in the exploration process and I'm trying to get a list of questions to be answered in order to get a full view of how foster care is handled in our area. Do you have any suggestions to add to this list from your experience? If so, I'd love to hear them here, or on my blog (listed in my siggy).

TIA! I value very much the insight of those who are already foster parents.

Here's my list so far...

1) Since we've already been a licensed home, what steps must we do to become licensed again? Would our previous homestudy simply (as if it is simple!) be updated with an addendum or would we be required to complete all paperwork and training again?

2) What are the supports for foster parents in our community?

3) What are our responsibilities when it comes to contact with the child's family? Would we be responsible for supervision and/or travel to and from visitation? If so, what are the arrangements that can be made for care of our children during this time?

4) How much medical history will we receive for the child? With newborns, will it include full disclosure (or as much disclosure as you have received...) of the prenatal history, including extent of prenatal exposure to substances and/or prenatal care by the child's mother? How much information will we receive regarding the child's medical needs?

5) Is there respite care available? What are the requirements for another caregiver to provide babysitting for appointments?

6) What is the policy on travel with a foster child in our care? Will this affect our ability to travel to see Hubby's family? Or even cross-border travel to the US to see my family? What about extended time such as camping trips?

7) What is the supervision schedule by foster care workers with our family? Weekly? Monthly?

8) What are the requirements for seeking medical care on behalf of the child? Is there parental discretion for foster parents or is approval by caseworker/family required?

9) What are the requirements for sleeping arrangements for children? Would children of the same sex be able to share a room with our children? Would a newborn be allowed to "room in" with parents for the first months?

10) Is there a minimum income requirement for foster parents?

11) We are a parsonage family. What are the restrictions, if any, regarding child participating with family in church activities?

What other questions should I ask??? Anyone have ideas???

[MommyAlysia]

I don't have anything to add but thats a great list! I am going to save it in my files for when we are ready :-)

[alkm]

That is a great list! Mind if I borrow it?

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by alkm

That is a great list! Mind if I borrow it?

Not at all... I'm adding the question "what kinds of situations are most in need in our area?" to the list as well.

Anyone else have good questions for me to ask in order to make this decision?

[angel619]

I wish I had this list when I received the call for my first placement. Those are great questions to ask.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

That list looks comprehensive to me. Did you keep your license renewed for these two years or let it lapse? In our area, if you lapse, you have to repeat paperwork, homestudy, and classes just as if you had never done them. Hubby and I renew next month and all we had to have were our new TB tests, physicals, and 15 annual hours of training. The rest is updated and requested throughout the year as it becomes due--such as new car/home ins, fire drill documentation, quarterly reviews, etc.

Good Luck and you sound really prepared!

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by xxsurroundedbyxy

That list looks comprehensive to me. Did you keep your license renewed for these two years or let it lapse? In our area, if you lapse, you have to repeat paperwork, homestudy, and classes just as if you had never done them. Hubby and I renew next month and all we had to have were our new TB tests, physicals, and 15 annual hours of training. The rest is updated and requested throughout the year as it becomes due--such as new car/home ins, fire drill documentation, quarterly reviews, etc.

Good Luck and you sound really prepared!

Thank you. I guess technically we would have had to open our file up after a year, but when our son was placed with us through a private agency just weeks after we were licensed to foster, they said they would put us 'on hold'. But since then, we've moved TWICE so I am sure we'll have to redo some of the paperwork and I know all the background checks etc, but I hope NOT all the training that we've already taken. And I hope not all the paperwork either as alot of it hasn't changed about our histories and parenting styles, etc. So we'll see. We're just trying to get as much info to make the right decision for our family right now. We are parenting two very high-spirited children already and we just want to make sure we can handle it, well, be as sure as we possibly can be. I know we wouldn't know until we actually had a placement what it would be like for our family. But still... informed decisions are important... thanks for your input. Maybe I don't need to add more questions to my list!