Foster care parents provide an important service to children who can't live with their birth families because of neglect, physical abuse or sexual abuse. Teens might need foster parents because of emotional, mental or physical problems. Some kids need foster parents for a few days, while others for months. Foster parents in Alabama must be able to show they can provide a safe and caring home for those in need. Alabama has over 6,000 children in foster care.
Instructions
1. Meet the minimum age requirement, which is age 19. However, if the couple is related to the foster child, one spouse may be under age 19.
2. Undergo a thorough background check that includes criminal history and a state child abuse and neglect registry check. Three references are required to determine your character, community reputation, work history, and your suitability to care for children and to have contact with children.
3. Show your home is safe. The physical facilities check includes making sure you have electrical service, a waste disposal system and a play space that's free of hazardous materials.
4. Provide a detailed financial statement. While there is no minimum income requirement, you are expected to be able to support yourself and the child or children you take in.
5. Pass a physical examination to determine whether your current and future health will be suitable to care for a foster child. Your medical history is considered, and you're checked for any major abnormalities.
6. Complete training courses. Foster parents need 30 hours of preparation and training in areas such as behavior management, child development and the value of families. Once approved, you'll need 15 hours of in-service training annually. Topics include child safety like CPR, crisis intervention and significance of birth families.
Tags: birth families, foster child, need foster, need foster parents, need hours