Dear Friend:

Thank you for your interest in foster parenting. Foster parenting is a challenging task. You’ll be asked to meet the needs of children who have been neglected and abused - children who have grown up in families very different from your own.

There are two kinds of foster care. General Foster Care is for children from infancy through age 18 who have been removed from their home, usually for the first time, while Parent Therapists care for children ages 8 to 18 who have been in a foster home or institution before.

In the initial inquiry stage, you will have many questions. I have enclosed information on foster parenting for you to review. We also invite you to join us at our next information session which is scheduled the second Monday of each month here at DA Blodgett from 7 to 8:30 pm. At the meeting, you will receive additional materials on foster parenting, as well as have the opportunity to have your questions answered. If you can’t make this meeting, another session will be held the second Monday of each month.

When you apply to be a licensed foster parent, there is an assessment period that generally takes eight to twelve weeks, if all the forms are returned in a timely manner. Our agency will seek full disclosure about you, your home, and the people who live there. This means we will obtain information about criminal histories, substance abuse, sexual or physical abuse, and mental health. These questions are asked of all applicants and your cooperation is requested in advance. Together, we will work for the best interests of foster children.

State licensing regulations also require 12 hours of training before a child is placed in your home. Training covers developmental needs, birth parents, behavioral challenges and fostering the sexually abused child, as well as agency services. In two-parent families, both of you must complete the training. All training is free of charge.

Right now, there are over 700 children in Kent County who are in foster care. The need for foster families is great! Your continued interest could mean a home and stability in a broken world for one or more of these children.

We thank you for your interest and hope you continue to consider foster parenting. If I can help further, please don’t hesitate to call me at 451-2021.

Sincerely,

Mary Lou Bomgaars, MSW
Foster Home Licensing Supervisor