Family First
The goal of the Chaffee County Department of Human Services is to reunite children with their families. If a child cannot be returned to their primary caregiver, every effort will be made to place that child with appropriate relatives or other caring adults in their life. If after all relative options have been exhausted then we place children with a foster or foster-adopt family. Non
-Relative or Foster Care/Fost-Adopt
Today, Chaffee County Department of Human Services has few certified foster homes (non-relative) to care for children and youth of our community. Often times our foster homes are full, which requires that children who come into care must be placed outside of our community/county away from their schools, friends, neighbors and extended families. It is traumatic enough to tell a child we have to place them with people they don’t know, but if the only foster family available is in another community/county, it only adds to the child’s anxiety and fear. Should you become a Kinship/Foster/Adoptive Parent? Some things to consider:
What are your beliefs and attitudes about the Chaffee County Department of Human Services? What are you beliefs and attitudes about Child Welfare or Child Protective Services? What are your beliefs and attitudes about foster care? What are your beliefs and attitudes about adopting from the child welfare system? What are your reasons for becoming a foster or foster/adopt parent? Are you ready emotionally and is your home ready? What impact might fostering have on your own family? What if you end up adopting a child? What age and behaviors of children vs. your own children would be the best match? Have you talked to your own children and/or family about fostering? Is it realistic for you to become a foster parent? Is it realistic for you to become an adoptive parent? What is Foster Care? Foster care means the placement of a child into the legal custody or legal authority of a county department of human/social services for physical placement of a child in a certified or licensed facility. Foster care is intended to provide a substitute family for children for a temporary period of time, during which the family can work towards the goal of reunification. Foster care is not a punishment for behavior and children in foster care are not bad. Children in foster care may have a variety of behaviors as a result being abused and/or neglected; such as differed appearance due to physical abuse (bruises/cuts, low weight), parent-like behavior, hoarding food, shy and reserved, very talkative, etc. Children and Youth may need foster care placements for a variety of reasons which can be discussed further on a case to case basis. Basic Requirements
The following are basic requirements for the certification process:
Are at least 21 years of age
Are single, married, divorced, widowed, or in a stable domestic partnership
Own or rent your home
Have a valid driver’s license and car insurance
Willing to transport the children to and from appointments to include school, visitation, and medical/dental appointments
Willing to get your CPR/First Aid Certification and maintain it through the life of certification
Willing to participate in the Family to Family Model (FEM’s, Icebreakers, keeping kids in their home communities and schools, etc.) Have adequate financial resources to sustain your household independently
Demonstrate an adequate level of physical fitness and stamina to care for active children. Demonstrate personal characteristics/strengths needed to meet the challenges of parenting children with varying emotional and behavioral needs associated with trauma, grief and loss
Are open to learn
Can work in partnership with our county agency and are open to consult with others on a child’s professional team
Can remain open to and maintain safe and appropriate connections with a child’s extended family of origin. The Role of a Foster Parent:
Foster parents are caring, and committed individuals who open their hearts and home to meet the needs of children who must be placed in out-of-home care in order to be safe. A foster family provides the child with an emergency or temporary home and a supportive, stable family environment while the birth family addresses the concerns or situation that prevents them from parenting their child. Typically, foster parents care for the child until reunification with the birth family occurs, there is an adoption or guardianship with kin, or the child is legally available for adoption. Sometimes foster parents become the permanent home for the child through adoption.
