Become a Foster Parent

• Call or email Beech Brook’s Recruiter, Don Smith (216.545.4398 or dsmith2@beechbrook.org), to learn more about the children who are waiting for families and the steps you’ll need to take to become a foster parent.
  
• Participate in an informational session where you’ll learn more about Beech Brook and the services we provide for foster families and children.
  
• After the informational session, you will complete a formal application and attend a comprehensive pre-service training program.

- You must be at least 21 years of age.
- You can be married or single.
- You may be a homeowner or may rent your house or apartment.
- You must provide proof of a stable income to meet household expenses.
- Your home must pass a fire safety inspection.
- You and everyone in your household must have a physical exam.
- You and everyone over the age of 18 must get fingerprinted (at the expense of Beech Brook).
- You must have reliable transportation.

These requirements and others will be discussed during the information session.

Many foster parents also have children of their own. It’s important that everyone in your household supports the decision to foster children since everyone is impacted by the addition of another family member. We will interview everyone over the age of four.

Foster children do not need to have their own room, but they must have their own bed. They can share a room with children of the same sex; however, an adult cannot share a bedroom with a child. It is required that every child in the family -- whether the child is your own, foster or adoptive -- must have his/her own bed. You should not change your own child’s sleeping arrangements to accommodate a foster child.

Most children in foster care are coming from families in crisis. The crisis may be the result of abuse or neglect, homelessness, parental illness or death. The children may come from their own homes, another foster home or a residential treatment setting. The children are typically referred by a public children’s services agency.

Many foster children will return to their own families once the crisis has been resolved. While the child is placed in your home, it’s important that their relationships with parents and siblings be maintained. A visitation plan is usually arranged early in the child’s placement. You will be required to transport the child to and from their visits.

Foster care is meant to be a temporary situation. The goal is to return every child to their own family or to a permanent home. The average length of stay is six months to one year, although the timeframe can be shorter or longer depending on the situation.

It’s understandable that some foster parents are concerned about separation and loss issues when the foster child must leave their home. In many instances, the foster parents remain connected to their foster child or children and continue to serve as a resource for many years.

If a child becomes available for adoption and there are no other relatives able or willing to adopt the child, then foster parents have the option to adopt. Beech Brook will help you through the adoption process.

Yes. Beech Brook matches the needs of the children to the strengths of your family. During the home study process, we’ll reach a mutual agreement about the types of children to be considered for your home, including the number, age range, gender and behaviors that you feel prepared to handle. When a referral is made, we will call you to present as much information as possible about the child based on the above criteria. You have the option of accepting or rejecting the placement at that time.

Many foster children are coming out of a crisis and need a home immediately, usually within 24 hours. In other instances, there may be time for pre-placement visits.

You will be reimbursed for the cost of caring for a foster child. This reimbursement, which is tax exempt, includes a difficulty-of-care and room-and-board per diem, as well as a personal expense allowance for the child.

Beech Brook offers a wide range of support to foster families including:

- Intensive initial training
- Ongoing monthly training
- Experienced foster parent mentors for guidance and support
- Respite services, in and out of the home
- Wraparound services
- 24-hour emergency support
- Case management
- Competitive pay
- Holiday parties and activities for families and children
- And more!

The children may also take part in:

- Individual, group and family therapy
- Psychiatric consultation
- Independent living skills for older teens

Your case manager will provide wrap around services to ensure that you and your youth have the care and support you both need to succeed.