Considering becoming foster parents UPDATE #7

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I think "just fostering" parents are a blessing for those of us approved to just "straight adopt" (child comes already free for adoption), where i live (MI)most kids are adopted by the foster parents, therefore there arent that many kids available to parents who don't foster first(which is one reason why i am now seeking a foster license)...if you truly don't want to adopt, thats fine. Although you may find that once you have a child in your home, and if they becomes free for adoption, you may not want to let them go! That being said, you asked:

Can we take the child/children on vacation out of state? Out of the country?

This will vary from place to place,and agency to agency....and all the answers should be discussed in-depth during your training. However, with my agency, you can take kids out of state with permission of the agency. Sometimes they will need to get a court order allowing you to do so, sometimes they will need permission from the child's parents. Just depends on the situation. And also where you live, if you live in a city that closely borders another state, and people routinely go from one to the other just to shop or whatever, it will likely be easier to have a "standing order" than if you want to take the child cross-country. But i dont think for most FPs that its a huge issue. Out of the country is a little trickier, but i would imagine its something you'd need to discuss w/ your worker well ahead of time to see if its doable.

What about leaving them with a babysitter for a weekend or a week?

Well, again, depends on the regs in your state and your agency, however w/ my agency before i even get approved to foster i need someone to be a "substitute caregiver", someone who is able to care for the child and who has signed off on the discipline agreement (on how you can and cannot discipline a foster child), and who has gotten a local background check done (simple process at the city hall, costs $8.) No one else is technically allowed to care for the child for any length of time w/o meeting those requirements. I don't think it matters how long that person cares for the child, as long as it doesnt interfere with any visitation, medical appts, etc the child may have. I also assume that licensed daycares are automatically ok as care providers, but you'd need to ask.

What do we do during the summer when they are out of school, put them in daycare?

Again, you'd need to ask your agency, but i assume that foster kids generally qualify for programs like YMCA after-school and summer daycare programs and other similar programs.

Have you picked an agency yet? If so, go to their orientation w/ your list of questions, because much of this can vary widely from place to place.

Good luck! I just turned in my paperwork and am waiting to hear from the agency to set up a homestudy. Shouldnt be long now!

Katherine

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Where I live (Maine) you have to get written permission to take a foster child out of state. I'm sure it would be the same if not more stringent for out of the country. Generally, if you want time away (aside from an evening out) without the foster children, you use respite. This way the children are with licensed caregivers. Yes, you would use childcare of some sort when they are out of school.

I am a foster parent and I also worked for a treatment foster care agency so I know quite a bit about the system (here at least!).

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Again, i can only speak of my own experience, but i've taken foster/adoption training four times, in two different states, and none of the agencies have required a credit check.

As far as what i've had to submit for financial purposes: the last homestudy i did, last year---for adoption---i only had to have my employer fill out an employment verification form that listed my annual income. This new homestudy, there was a similar form, and now for foster care they didnt have an actual form, but wanted some proof of income, whether pay stubs, income tax forms, whatever. I would imagine a letter from an employer would be ok too (i work for my mom, taking care of her, my sister is power of attorney, so i dont have "pay stubs" per se, but do have a W-2 from last year that i can use, and my sister can also write up a statement on my mom's behalf confirming my employment.)

In both cases there was a form that i needed to fill out, listing my monthly debts (like rent, utilities, any regular monthly bills like a car loan, etc), as well as all my monthly income (from employment, child support, etc...whatever is applicable)----they really just want to make sure you have enough income to cover your own expenses and would not be relying on foster care payments to pay your own bills.

Katherine