A GE N CY PR OJECT FOSTER CARE

A GE N CY PR OJECT FOSTER CARE INFO BOOK FOR GUARDIAN AD LITEM INTERNSHIP

WHAT IS FOSTER CARE? • Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for abused, neglected, and dependent children who need a safe place to live when their parents or another relative cannot take care of them. Often their families face issues such as illness, alcohol or drug addiction, or homelessness. • When Moore County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) believes a child is not safe, and a judge agrees, MCDSS takes custody of that child and finds a foster home for him or her. Length of stay in foster care varies from a few days to much longer. • Foster families are recruited, trained, and licensed to care for abused and neglected children temporarily, while their parents work with social work professionals to resolve their family issues. Relatives may be licensed as foster parents. • The foster family, and the birth family work together to return children to their own homes as quickly as possible. In cases where the child becomes free for adoption, foster parents may be considered as adoptive parents.

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN? • Thousands of children in North Carolina enter the foster care system each year, and range in age from infants to 18 years old. All foster children have unique backgrounds, experiences, personalities, strengths and needs. • Some children in foster care require extensive care for physical or emotional handicaps and disabilities. • Some also require help with undisciplined and delinquent behaviors. Most foster children do not have a strong sense of belonging or self-worth. Many have been victims of physical or sexual abuse. All children who are in foster care require special care, support and nurturing.

WHO CAN BE A FOSTER PARENT? Foster parents must: • Be at least 21 years old • Have a stable home and income • Be willing to be fingerprinted and have a criminal records check • Maintain a drug-free environment • Complete all required training and be licensed by the state of North Carolina • To find out more on how to become a licensed foster parent, please contact our office at (910)947 -2436. MCDSS can offer information that will help you decide if foster parenting is right for you.

DO FOSTER PARENTS HAVE TO BE LICENSED? • Yes, North Carolina state law requires that all foster parents be licensed to care for children in their care. These licenses are issued by the N. C. Department of Health and Human Services. County Departments of Social Services and several private child caring agencies are authorized to work with potential foster parents to assist them with the licensing process and to provide supervision and support for the foster parents. • Potential foster parents receive 30 hours of training. The training covers topics such as child abuse and neglect, working with birth parents, and helping foster children deal with the issues they face. It also helps the potential foster parents think about how parenting another child may affect their family.

WHO PAYS FOR THE CHILD'S CARE? • Foster parents receive financial compensation from the placement agency for a child's room, board, and other living expenses. Sometimes there are supplemental payments for the care of children with special needs. • Although the amount of the financial compensation payments may vary from agency to agency and sometimes based on the individual needs of the foster child, the current state recommended rates are as follows: • $475 - children ages 0 - 5 • $581 - children ages 6 - 12 • $634 - children ages 13 and over

HOW DO I BECOME A FOSTER PARENT? • To find out more on how to become a licensed foster parent you can visit our licensing web page, click on this link to view an orientation video from the state State Foster Parent Orientation, call NC KIDS at 1 -877 -NCKIDS (1 -877 -625 -4371) can offer information that will help you decide if foster parenting is right for you.

FOSTER FAMILY INFO BOOK CONSISTING OF NAMES, FAMILY DETAILS, HOBBIES, PETS, PARENT STYLE, AND PICTURES.

TIM AND SUE TUCKER ADDRESS: 2426 LAURA INGALLS DRIVE TROY, NC PHONE: 910 -555 -1212 EMAIL: DANCINGPARENTS@GMAIL. COM • The tuckers have been foster parents for five years and do not have any biological children. They have been married for 9 years. Tim is a bank manager and Sue is a homemaker. They have provided homes at one time or another for 12 foster children. The tuckers prefer to foster children ages 10 and up but do not have a problem with any age. Their 4 bedroom home (pictured to the right) is located on a 10 acre secluded lot where they enjoy riding horses and playing with their 2 dogs max and Minnie.

PARENTING STYLE Tim and Sue have found that taking privileges and allowance away for misbehavior works best as a punishment. Even though their house can get hectic the tuckers try to remain calm. They know that if they are stressed then the children will be too. The tuckers say that children can never have too much love so expressing love and care to their kids is top priority. Pictured left is the Tucker doing on of their favorite things dancing!

KIDS HANGOUT AND BEDROOMS • The Fosters use their upstairs bonus room as a playroom for the kids. They can play games, watch movies and play pool. Three of the bedrooms in the home can be used for foster children. They allow the children to decorate their bedroom to their own liking.