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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSFOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
Q1: How long will the licensing process take? A: Actually, there is no set answer for this. On an average the process takes about 90-120 days to become a licensed foster parent. There are several requirements such as training classes (10 weeks), paperwork (all needs to be completed no later than the 3rd training class), criminal and background checks completed, a completed home study and becoming licensed.
Q2: What steps do I need to do to begin the process?
A: First, you will need to consider whether you may be ready to take abused and neglected children into your home. Second, you will need to attend an information meeting that is offered at the following locations and times:
At that one hour meeting you will learn about the history of MBCHCFM and about foster care and adoption. There will be a question and answer period at the meeting, so please save your questions until then. The person who conducts the information meeting will be available afterwards for further questions. Please be aware that additional information meetings may be scheduled from time to time. You can check our website for the current schedule: www.mbchcfm.org.
Next, you will receive a phone call from an MBCHCFM worker asking if you have any further questions after attending the information meeting and if you would like to start the next process. If you are still interested, an initial visit will be scheduled with you. Please note that this initial visit must take place before you can attend class. The visit will take approximately one to two hours. If a couple, both must be present at the meeting so the worker can begin to become familiar with you and who makes up your family. If you have children and the meeting is at a time when they can be present, please have them available. The worker will also need to take a tour of your home and have you bring out any pets you may have at that time. The worker will review with you and get you started on required paperwork. If you are still interested after this initial visit and the worker has no concerns, the worker will tell you the time and date of the PRIDE classes (see Q3). You will be left with some paperwork that must be completed as soon as possible. If there are concerns (e.g., health issues, concerns about the house, etc.) the worker will let you know what the concerns are and will then consult with his/her supervisor. The worker will call you to let you know if we think those concerns can be resolved. If they can, the worker at that time will let you know the time and date of the PRIDE classes.
Q3: Is there required training?
A: Yes. To be licensed as a foster or adoptive parent in the state of Missouri you must complete a 10 week training class called PRIDE that is held one day per week in the evening for three hours. This training is free of charge to you. Almost all our previous training participants rate this training as excellent. You will learn a great deal about abused and neglected children as well as yourself and will get to know other participants in the class whose friendships often endure even after the end of training. You will also create a huge support network that you will use during your class and during your foster /adoptive experience. The training will consist of lecture, activities, a panel of professionals that you can ask questions of and home work assignments that will be required of you. The homework is very minimal but required each week. We provide snacks and drinks but if you would like to bring in your own dinner that is perfectly fine.
At the end of the training class (either Class 9 or10) we will have a big celebration as well as class time. Often, participants bring in a dish to share (pot luck) and enjoy a time of fellowship together. This last class also includes the topic, “Spiritual Development in Children” which gives some helpful tips on how to share Christ in appropriate and meaningful ways with children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Licensed foster and/or adoptive parents are also required to take CPR, First Aid and Level One Medication training. Your worker will inform you how that training will take place. Adoptive parents who want to adopt children in state custody are required by the state of Missouri to take an additional 12 hours of adoption training called Spaulding before adoptive children can be placed in their home. As you are going through this training you will be completing a Life Book at home (see Q23 to learn about Life Books).
Q4: What is a home study and what is the process of completing it? How long does it take to get completed?
A: While you are going through the training, a worker will be assigned who will complete your home study. A home study is a required document that tells all about you and your family. A Foster/Adoptive worker will conduct an assessment of your past and current history, marriage, family life, motivation for wanting to foster and/or adopt, type of children you are willing to take in your home, and much more, but this assessment is not one-sided; it is a mutual process. You will be assessing yourself as well to determine if being a foster and/or adoptive parent is right for you and your family. We will need to decide together if caring for abused and neglected children is a good fit for you and your family. The questions that you answer will help your worker get familiar with you so she/he can write the home study. This document will tell a story that will help the professional team find children that will be a good fit for the child and your family.
Q5: Do I need to have a big house to become a licensed parent?
A: No specific size house is required. You do need to have at least a twin size bed for every child that you wish to accept in your home once you have been licensed. You need to have enough bedrooms to accept children into your home. Children aged two and above cannot sleep in the same room with you. All children no matter what age must have their own bed. You will need to review the physical and licensing standards with your Foster/Adoptive worker to make sure your home meets the required standards. Example: Your home needs to be clean and have no evidence of rodents, not under construction and other items that will be discussed with you. You will need to get a 5 pound fire extinguisher, a carbon monoxide detector (even if your home is not heated by gas or you don’t have a fire place, but you do have an attached garage) and working smoke detectors. Electrical outlets will need to be covered if you are going to accept young children.
Q6: I have biological children already. Can I be a foster/adoptive parent?
A: Yes, but the general rule is that you can have no more than a total of five children in your home including foster/adoptive and biological children. Siblings are treated as one child in foster care. So, for example, if you have four biological children you can accept one foster child if you have enough bed space and room. If you have four biological children you would be allowed to take in more than one foster child if it was a sibling group. The reason for this exception is that the state does everything it can to keep sibling groups together. Other exceptions for taking in more than five children can be made on a case-by-case basis by your worker and that worker’s supervisor.
Q7: If I am single, can I foster or adopt?
A: Yes. We have some wonderful foster/adoptive parents who are single. If by chance you choose to marry or begin dating, you MUST inform your Foster/Adoptive worker so that he/she can get a criminal check and an abuse and neglect background check completed on him/her. MBCH Children and Family Ministries believes that living together is not an appropriate arrangement and example for children/youth. Therefore, in order to be licensed as a foster/adoptive family through MBCHCFM you must either be married or single. If you are single you may not be living with someone. It is important that you communicate and are up front with your worker if you start dating and/or decide to become engaged to be married in order to prevent possible removal of children from your home. If you are married, you must both take the training and required paperwork. You must be married for at least one year before you can begin the process of becoming a foster/adoptive parent with MBCHCFM. If you become engaged to be married after you have become licensed, your fiancé must go through the training and be approved as a foster/adoptive parent.
Q8: Do you have to be a Christian and a member of a church to be considered a foster/adoptive parent through MBCH Children and Family Ministries?
A: Yes. MBCH Children and Family Ministries is not just Christian in name only. We believe that Christ makes a difference in our lives and can make a difference in the lives of the children and families to whom we provide services. For that reason, we license only families who are Christians and active in a Christian church. We require a church reference on all families that want to provide foster care or adoption.
If what is written above does not describe your situation, we can still do the training if you would like, but we would refer you to another agency that would complete your home study and license you.
Q9: Is there required paperwork?
A: Yes, there is a great deal of paperwork that is required of you because we have to ensure that children are being placed in safe and appropriate families. We ask you to get a physical on all members in the family, birth certificates, copies of auto insurance, driving records, pet vaccinations, marriage and divorce decrees, school references, employer references, questions about finances, W2’s from the last year or current pay check stubs and more. You will also have a questionnaire and application along with more required paperwork that you will need to submit in a timely manner. As you can see there is paperwork, paperwork, paperwork; however, your worker will provide any assistance you need if you have questions on how to complete the paperwork or gather the necessary documents.
Q10: When do children get placed in our home? What is the process of getting the children?
A: Once all of your training, home study and required paperwork is completed, your information will be sent to Jefferson City so they can provide MBCH Children and Family Ministries and YOU an official license. Once you are licensed you then get put on the list of families that can provide care to children. Your licensing worker will contact you when there is a child or children who your worker feels would be a good fit with your family. The wider the parameters of what you are willing to take (e.g., age, race, behavior, etc.) the more quickly a child can be placed with you.
Q11: When do we become officially licensed?
A: Once all your training, paperwork and home study is completed, you have been approved as a foster and/or adoptive parent through MBCHCFM, and your licensing vendor number is received.
Q12: What is a licensing worker and when are they assigned to me?
A: A licensing worker is assigned to you once you are licensed. Sometimes your licensing worker may be the same worker who completed your home study, but not always. This worker is there to provide you support and will also make sure that your home stays in licensing compliance.
Q13: How does it work when my licensing worker calls me and asks me if I want to accept a placement?
A: Many children come into care on a daily basis from abuse and neglect. In most areas, the Foster/Adoptive Supervisor gets calls from agencies that provide care for children entering the system. They need placements for the children and they need foster homes fast; fast means within that day. They call the supervisor and the supervisor contacts each licensing worker to see if they have any homes that will be a good fit for the children. Once the licensing worker feels that there is a good fit he/she will call you and tell you as much as is known about the children needing placements. You then have to listen to the information and decide in that call if you would like the placement. Hopefully your licensing worker knows you well enough to think it is a good fit before you get the call. If you say yes then the children’s caseworker will call you and set up a meeting place. In some areas the case managers call the families directly to discuss possible placement and then call us for permission to place in your home. The licensing worker must get a call from you once the children are placed in your home so he/she can keep track of the placement. If you say no to the placement opportunity, then the next person on the list is called until a placement is found. If no foster home placement is found then the children are often placed in residential facilities which is generally not ideal.
Q14: How long do I have to decide if the placement will work for me?
A: If the placement is needed right away, not long; most times you have a total of 15 minutes to decide. The workers calling for these types of placements usually need to find one by the end of the day. Often there is not much information to go on. If the placement is not needed immediately, you may have a day or two to decide, but most of the placements are needed immediately.
Please note that for therapeutic foster placements (TFFC) the placement process is longer and includes pre-placement visits.
Q15: For adoption, how do we get our home study out for agencies to view so we can expedite the process of becoming a family to a child in need?
A: Your licensing worker and the Foster/Adoptive supervisor have many resources. They will let several agencies know that you are licensed and you are looking for an adoptive placement. You can also help with this process by looking at adoptive websites (your worker will give you some website addresses) to view profiles and then letting your licensing worker know about the profile and the caseworker’s name and number that is assigned to the children that you are interested in. We will then talk to the caseworker and find out more information. If you are still interested, we will send your home study to be considered for that particular child. Once the caseworker has accepted the home study, they will schedule a staffing, which is a meeting that will be conducted by a professional team to determine the needs and strengths of the children. They will then determine what family will be the best fit for the children. After careful consideration they will all make a decision. Sometimes this decision takes months to decide, so this will be a time that you will need to have strong faith and a great deal of patience. Your licensing worker will keep you informed. Please note that you must have a life book prepared if you want to be considered for adoptive children.
Q16: I heard that I MUST accept at least one placement per year to keep my license open. Is that true? What if I don’t?
A: MBCH Children and Family Ministries is looking for families who will care for children on a regular basis, so it is true that you must accept at least one placement per year to keep your license open. There are always exceptions to this rule. For example, if your family is going through a difficult time, your worker and the worker’s supervisor can make an exception. Many times, however, the reason families don’t take in children is because they are looking for that “perfect” placement. You will learn in training that there is no perfect placement. Please realize that the children we work with have been through a tremendous amount of pain and suffering and it is unlikely that they won’t experience any negative behaviors; however, even children who are not in state custody have problems and difficulties to overcome. We are looking for foster/adoptive parents who want to teach and guide these children to help them turn into fine young adults. Sometime foster/adoptive families pass up the opportunity to mentor children who really need them. Please don’t be that family that passes up a placement because you are looking for that ideal situation.
If you start the training process and have to drop out for some reason, you have one year to complete the process. If you do not finish within that one year you will be required to repeat the entire PRIDE training classes. If you do not take a placement within one year of your license date your license will be closed (unless there are extenuating circumstances). Please keep in mind that the situations described here are on a case-by-case basis in consultation with you, the worker and the worker’s supervisor with the supervisor making the final decision.
Q17: What can I expect from my licensing worker?
A: Your licensing worker will make a supportive call to you each month. If your licensing worker leaves a message for you PLEASE call him/her back within 24 hours. He/she will need to know how many children are in your home and when they leave. Your licensing worker also needs to know right away if anyone moves into your home such as a family member, friend or anyone else in order to update your home study and to get background checks on anyone moving into your home. Your licensing worker will make sure that your home is safe, clean and continues to meet all licensing requirements. To do this, it is a requirement that he/she make a quarterly visit to your home.
Your licensing worker will call you when there may be a placement for you and your family to consider. Your licensing worker is not the case manager for the children placed in your home. Your licensing worker will support you and give you guidance if needed regarding the children you are caring for, but there is a case manager who is the legal guardian representative that is responsible for the children placed in your home. Your licensing worker is there to make sure you are supported and that you and your home are meeting licensing standards. The legal guardian who places the children in your home is there to ensure that the children are getting what they need and that the permanency plan for them is in place.
Q18: What is respite? How can I do this?
A: Respite is a wonderful help and we don’t have as many respite providers as we would like. Respite providers are used to give foster parents a break from caring for the children placed in their home. As a respite provider, you will care for these children on a temporary basis. The foster family would call you and ask you if you can provide respite for their children for the weekend or if they choose to go on vacation. You would be the children’s “ home away from home” for a short time. You would not have these children permanently in your home but on an as-needed basis. You do get paid for this and you also develop quite a special bond with the children and families you will serve. You will be a positive role model who will be able to offer guidance and support for the children.
Q19: I heard that MBCH Children and Family Ministries only serves specific areas for foster/adoptive services. What counties do you serve?
A: We are a Christian agency that can serve virtually any place in Missouri depending on what service is needed. We belong to a private consortium called Missouri Alliance for Children and Families that is contracted with Children’s Division to provide care for children in state custody. It is true that out of that program we serve certain counties. Our main office is in St. Louis. We recruit and train families to serve in several areas of the state including St. Louis, Southwest Missouri, Central Missouri, and the Kansas City area. In Kansas City we belong to a consortium called Cornerstones of Care. Our workers will let you know the specific counties we can serve.
Q20: How is my file kept up to date and how do I know my information is kept confidential?
A: In order to maintain your license we had to organize a way to keep all of the necessary documents and due dates in an efficient order so we developed a ‘file check” to make sure that we and you know what is due and when. On your file check we have auto insurance, FBI checks, Abuse and Neglect checks, training, driving record checks, physicals, pet vaccinations, progress notes for each month, quarterly visits, your home study date and re-licensure dates. All of this information keeps the staff at MBCHCFM and you on top of things so we don’t become deficient and we always stay within the boundaries of the licensing standards within the state of Missouri as well as standards we must meet for accreditation by Council on Accreditation. Your licensing worker and the records department will help you to remember when your items are due. It is crucial that you partner with us to ensure your file is up to date so that there are no delays on receiving children into your home or a risk that they may have to be removed because you are not in compliance. In order to keep better track of this, please remember that when you get a new auto insurance card, fax a copy over to us, when you get your pets’ vaccinations remember to fax over a copy of this to us, etc. We cannot stress enough how important it is for your file to be current.
Your confidential information is kept locked in our file rooms and only reviewed by staff on a need-to-know basis such as your licensing worker and records staff who file documents. We do not send out your home study without your knowledge.
Q21: Is there a referral fee for foster and adoptive parents. How does that work?
A: MBCH Children and Family Ministries offers referral fees for you referring other great foster and adoptive parents to us. If you refer a new family please make sure that they mention that you referred them. Once they complete the training class, we have accepted them as a family and are licensed, we will send you a $250.00 referral fee for therapeutic family foster parents and $125 referral fee for traditional foster parents. We love referrals and love that you enjoy the agency as much as we do to refer new families.
Q22: Is there any ongoing training?
A: Yes, all foster and adoptive families must complete in-service training after becoming licensed: 30 hours for family foster parents and 48 hours for therapeutic family foster parents. Included in the 30 hrs is a refresher class for CPR every two years, Medication Training every year, and First Aid every three years. Included in the 48 hours is a refresher class for CPR every two years, Medication Training every year, Crisis Intervention every year and First Aid every three years. Your worker will let you know of other resources for taking additional training to keep you up to date on how to effectively care for children placed in your home.
Q23: What is a life book? Do I have to complete one?
A: A life book is a photo album with about 20 pictures in it that tells the professional team about you and your family. This book is required if you plan to adopt. You cannot be considered for adoptive children until it has been submitted. The Life Book tells your family’s story so the professional team can get to know you without you being there. This book is designed for adoptive parents to share with the professional team once a staffing is scheduled for adoption. As you are going through the Spaulding classes you will be completing your Life Book at home.
Q24: What is TFFC (Therapeutic Family Foster Care)
A: TFFC is a program designed for moderate to severe behavioral children who live in foster homes. This program is designed for families who want to be a full-time therapeutic family. You will be expected to be there for children 24 hours a day. If they are expelled from school, we expect that you will be home with them. If they come home from school at 3:00, we expect you to be there so they are not alone and they are not left with anyone else but you. We expect you to attend all staff meetings, court hearings, support groups, doctors appointments etc., with them. You can work a part-time job while fostering TFFC children but this job has to be extremely flexible. You are paid a per diem amount for each child in your home and you can have up to two therapeutic children at a time (you may take in more than two children if it is a sibling group). This is a great opportunity to use your gifts and skills in caring for children. We must stress that though this is a job your heart has to be in it or it will never work. It cannot be “just a job.”
Q25: If I am already licensed, can I get licensed with MBCHCFM Children and Family Ministries to get placements of children?
A: MBCH Children and Family Ministries and Children’s Division all have similar children that have been abused and neglected. So you will not get more placements by contracting with several agencies. The only way that we would consider you with MBCHCFM is if you want to consider TFFC (Therapeutic) placements and become a TFFC family. If you want to be considered you must attend the monthly information meeting (see Q2). After that meeting a worker will call to schedule an initial visit where we will ask you to provide us with an authorization of release and your licensing worker’s name and phone number. We will request from the licensing worker a copy of your home study and license. We will also ask them if they have any concerns regarding the service you have provided while licensed by them. We will then take all of the information that has been given to us including a discussion with you and make a decision as to whether we will contract with you to provide services.
Q26: What types of adoptions do you facilitate at your agency?
A: We can help facilitate agency adoptions, independent adoptions, intercountry adoptions, and state custody adoptions. Listed below is a further description of the different types of adoptions available:
Agency Adoption: The child is placed through our agency by his/her parents for adoption. The birth parent is provided non-identifying profiles of waiting adoptive families approved by our agency and chooses the family he/she wants for the child. We provide services to all involved: the child, birth parents and adoptive parents. Fees are involved for the adoptive parents for the home study, placement and post-placement support at 15% of the adoptive parent’s annual income with a cap of $15,000. Adoptive parents pay up front for the home study which is then credited to them if they receive an adoptive placement. Our agency pays 25% of any hospital bills with a cap of $2,500. Adoptive parents are responsible for any other charges beyond this. Adoptive parents are also responsible for all attorney/legal fees. If you are going to be involved in an agency adoption you should be sure the agency is licensed and does not expect you to pay for services provided until that particular service is completed.
Independent Adoption: The birth parent identifies an adoptive family with whom she/he wants to place the child. Our agency may or may not be providing services to the birth parent. An attorney facilitates the adoption rather than an adoption agency. The adoptive parents use our agency to do the home study and post-placement supervision/support required by the state. We charge fees for these services. If you are going to be involved in an independent adoption you should be sure that the attorney you are using is experienced in adoption law and that he/she is representing only you, not also the birth parent.
Inter-country Adoption: We are not an inter-country adoption agency. We do not place children from other countries. We can, however, prepare the necessary home study and paperwork for this type of adoption. We can also provide the required post-placement supervision/support. We charge fees for each of these services.
State-Custody Adoption: These occur because the child has been removed from his/her parents due to abuse and/or neglect. There are three types of situations:
State- custody adoptions involve little to no cost to the adoptive parent. Adoption subsidy is available (but not guaranteed) to help with the costs of the adoption. The parent must successfully complete PRIDE training and Spaulding training (see Q3) at no cost. The majority of state-custody adoptions involve school-age children, although younger children are sometimes available.
Q27: What is open adoption?
Open adoption means that the birth parents and adoptive parents are known to each other to some degree. Openness can mean that placing parents may choose a couple or person they feel would give their baby a good home. They may never meet the adoptive parents, and this may be their only contact with them. At the other end of the openness spectrum, placing parents may meet the adoptive parents, visit their home, and have ongoing contact throughout the child's life. The degree of openness usually depends on the comfort level of both the birthparents and adoptive parents.
When it is determined to be in the best interest of the child, our agency strongly supports open adoption.
Q28: Are there any requirements for private adoptive parents?
A: Yes, there are for private adoptive parents who want to be considered for an agency adoption. For our agency the requirements are the following: · One of the couple must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of the placement. · They must have a stable marriage of at least two years · They must be physically and emotionally healthy · They must be professing Christians and active members of an evangelical church
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