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FOSTERING

Hundreds of children in
Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties need a place where they feel safe, protected, and loved.

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✺ Why Foster Parenting Matters

✺ Why Foster Parenting Matters

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Ask yourself if you feel called to open your heart and home. You can make a profound impact in a relatively short time.

To ensure the safety and well-being of each child, Foster Parent candidates must meet the following criteria:

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    Residency: Be a Florida resident aged 21 or older.

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    Financial Stability: Demonstrate financial stability and have adequate room in your home.

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    Background Checks: Consent to criminal and child abuse registry checks.

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    Training: Complete required training classes.

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    Home Study: Undergo an in-depth home study conducted by a licensing counselor.

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    Provide a child with a safe and supportive environment.

Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent

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STEP 1: CONTACT US

Reach out to Citrus Family Care Network to receive answers to your questions and discuss your unique situation.

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Step 2: ORIENTATION

Attend a Foster Parent Orientation to gain insights into the foster care system, understand the role of foster parents, and learn about the requirements and expectations for fostering children. These sessions offer comprehensive information to prospective foster parents.

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Step 3: TRAINING

Complete trainings designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for fostering children effectively. These training sessions are carefully crafted to provide you with comprehensive understanding and practical tools to navigate various aspects of foster care.

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Step 4: HOMESTUDY

Undergo a comprehensive home study conducted by a licensing counselor while undergoing training. This crucial step involves a thorough assessment of your home environment, family dynamics, and readiness to foster a child.

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Step 5: WELCOME

Welcome your first foster child into your home, providing them with a safe and supportive environment as they transition into your care. This pivotal step marks the beginning of your journey as a foster parent, where you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a child's life.

✺ MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY

✺ MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY

A group of six diverse young adults lying in a circle, smiling and laughing while looking down at the camera, with the sky in the background.

You don't need to be rich, married, or a homeowner to foster. Foster parents come from diverse backgrounds and faiths, united by one common factor: love.

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Testimonials

"The special moments I remember are the times when I’m recognized for helping and having a hand in my foster child’s changed behavior."

Danisha

"I wanted my home to be a safe place for kids to stay while their parents needed time to be ready for them again. It has been a great journey, and I'm surprised with how helpful I can be in the reunification process."

Anjelica

"We have reunified two beautiful boys that I will forever hold in my heart. Keeping in touch with them has been magical. But what truly has made an impact on me is the relationship and bond I have cultivated with their mother, Jennifer. She is now part of our family and attends many of our family events!"

Bianca

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✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Foster parents receive various forms of support to help them care for the children in their homes. This support may include financial assistance to cover the costs associated with caring for the child, access to training and resources to enhance parenting skills, ongoing guidance and supervision from social workers or case managers, respite care to allow for breaks when needed, and support groups where foster parents can connect with others facing similar challenges.

  • Foster care placements can vary based on the needs of the child and the preferences of the foster family. These placements may include emergency care, short-term care, long-term care, therapeutic foster care for children with special needs or behavioral challenges, kinship care where children are placed with relatives, and adoption foster care for children whose goal is permanent adoption.

  • Foster parents have the responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children placed in their care. This includes meeting the child's basic needs, ensuring access to education and healthcare, and promoting the child's emotional well-being. Foster parents also have the right to participate in decisions regarding the child's care, receive support from the child welfare system, and maintain contact with the child's biological family as appropriate.

  • Homes are typically inspected before becoming licensed as a foster home and then regularly thereafter, usually annually or biannually, to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.

  • When foster children turn 18 or age out of the foster care system, they may transition to independent living or receive support services to help them transition to adulthood. These services may include assistance with education, employment, housing, healthcare, and life skills development to promote their self-sufficiency and well-being.

  • Respite care provides temporary relief for foster parents by allowing another trained caregiver to take over the care of the foster child for a short period. This could be for a few hours, overnight, or for a weekend. Respite care is beneficial for foster parents to prevent burnout and provide them with a break from the demands of caregiving. It also offers the foster child an opportunity to spend time in a different environment and build relationships with other supportive adults.

  • The length of time a child stays in foster care varies depending on the circumstances of their case. Some children may stay in foster care for a short period, such as a few days or weeks, while others may remain in care for several months or even years. The goal of foster care is to provide a temporary, safe, and stable environment for children until they can be reunified with their biological family, placed with relatives, adopted, or achieve another permanent placement option.

  • Yes, foster parents can take the child to medical appointments and administer medication as needed. Typically, the costs of medical care for foster children are covered by the state or agency overseeing the child's placement.

  • Yes, in some cases, foster parents may have the opportunity to adopt the children placed in their care if reunification with the biological family is not possible and adoption becomes the goal for the child. Foster parents interested in adoption should discuss their intentions with their caseworker or agency to explore the adoption process.

  • There are many ways to support foster children and foster families in your community, including volunteering with foster care agencies, donating goods or funds to support foster families, advocating for policies that improve the foster care system, and providing respite care or other forms of assistance to foster families in need.