Our agency is constantly seeking good stable families to provide temporary care for children who must be placed in foster care as a result of abuse, neglect and/or dependency. Our most urgent need is for homes for minority children, children with special emotional needs and older children. In order to qualify to become a foster parent, a family must do the following:

• Submit an application for foster care;
• Complete 30 hours of training which will equip foster parents to be able to handle the emotional needs of children in care, to administer appropriate discipline, and to understand the types of children who are placed in foster care. This training is free of charge;
• Have a physical exam completed on every member of the family who lives in the home. The agency can help absorb some of the costs; 
• Have a TB skin test on all adult household members. Children in household only need a TB skin test if an adult household member’s test is positive;
• Have an inspection done by the fire marshal
• Have an environmental conditions checklist completed by the social worker; and
• Have a home assessment done by the social worker to be submitted for a license; and
• Be fingerprinted. Local court records are checked as well as fingerprinting to verify any criminal records that may exist outside this county.

Others requirements include:

• Installing a land line phone;
• Vaccinating pets against rabies;
• Fencing in bodies of water such as ponds, pools, etc.;
• Agreeing to meet ongoing training requirements, including but not limited to CPR, First Aide, Universal Precautions, and Shared Parenting; and
• Signing confidential and discipline agreements.