{"id":17,"date":"2019-05-07T18:26:58","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T18:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kimberlyshollwebdesign.com\/foster\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2019-05-13T14:35:31","modified_gmt":"2019-05-13T14:35:31","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kimberlyshollwebdesign.com\/foster\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

FAQs<\/h2>\n

This page includes questions and answers that were not covered on other pages in the Foster Care section. If you have questions about fostering after reviewing this information, please contact the Director\u2019s Action Line<\/a> by email<\/a> or by phone at 1-800-862-6783. Our specialists are available to help.<\/p>\n

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General<\/h3>\n
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How does foster care work?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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The county may only place a child or teen into foster care pursuant to an order of the Court of Common Pleas. Once a judge has entered a placement order, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) worker attempts to identify a relative who could provide kinship care, or contacts Allegheny County\u2019s network of family foster care providers to search for a foster family who can care for the youth. Most youth are ultimately reunified with their family of origin or other relatives, so out-of-home care is temporary. But in some cases, safe reunification is not possible and in those situations, adoption becomes the goal.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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What is the need for foster care in Allegheny County?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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At any one time, there are approximately 1,300 children and teens placed out-of-home in Allegheny County. About half of those youth are cared for by relatives who are licensed as foster parents (kinship foster parents). Foster families are always needed to care for any youth who cannot be placed with a kinship foster parent.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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What\u2019s the difference between foster care and adoption?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Foster care is temporary and the family of origin retains parental rights. Adoption is permanent, and occurs after the family of origin has relinquished parental rights or parental rights have been terminated. Sometimes a child placed in foster care is not able to return to their birth family safely and the child may need an adoptive family.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

For Families<\/h3>\n
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What\u2019s involved in being a foster parent?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Foster parents take care of the day-to-day needs of the child or teen in their care, including providing a nurturing home environment as well as food, clothing, transportation, etc. Foster parents are expected to welcome the child as full members of the family. Foster parents receive a stipend to pay for basic necessities.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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What is meant by a \u201cnurturing home environment?\u201d<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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A nurturing home environment provides:<\/p>\n

Nurturing care<\/strong> \u2013 Youth entering a stranger\u2019s home need to be welcomed as full members of the family. They need caregivers to go out of their way to learn about them, their interests, motivations and fears, and to work hard to integrate them into the family routine and structure.<\/p>\n

Emotional and physical safety<\/strong> \u2013Youth need to be safe, and they need to feel safe. They need foster parents to attend to actions small and large that increase their sense of physical and emotional safety.<\/p>\n

Attention to day-to-day needs<\/strong> \u2013 Foster parents need to provide daily care in the same way they care for their own children, providing meals and clothes, transportation to activities and appointments, etc. in a way that does not stigmatize the foster youth.<\/p>\n

Help navigating feelings<\/strong> \u2013 Youth in foster care already have families, but those families cannot care for them right now. It is sometimes difficult for a youth to manage feelings of divided loyalty between a foster family and their family of origin. They need help from a caring foster parent who does not \u201ctake sides\u201d but rather supports them through a process of coming to terms with what happened to them and how to make sense of their new relationships.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Will I communicate with the child\u2019s family of origin?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Probably. Each family of origin approaches their interaction with the child welfare system and the foster family differently. We expect foster families to be open to communicating with families of origin when they\u2019re ready, and to ask for and use support navigating that communication if it becomes difficult.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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What about child care for working parents?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Assistance covering the cost of child care is available for foster parents who work.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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How long does it take to become a foster parent?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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If you and the adult members of your household are able to provide all information, complete screenings and attend trainings in a timely fashion, the process of becoming a licensed foster parent should take approximately 60 to 90 days.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
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Are foster parents paid?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Foster parents are provided with a stipend to cover the costs of caring for the youth (food, clothing, activities fees, additional transportation costs, etc.).<\/p>\n

In addition, all children and teens in foster care are provided with medical insurance. Foster parents do not need to include foster youth on their own medical insurance plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Can I talk with a person who has been a foster parent?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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To speak with someone who has experience fostering, there are several options:<\/p>\n