Every year in Illinois, countless children need a safe and nurturing environment due to circumstances that require them to be temporarily placed outside their birth families’ homes. This crucial support system is provided by A Foster Care Program, where dedicated foster families open their hearts and homes to children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and local courts. The primary goal of DCFS is often reunification, and encouragingly, approximately half of these children return to their families within a year. However, when reunification is not in the child’s best interest, the foster care program offers another beautiful path: adoption by the very families who have provided them with care and stability.
Who Can Become Part of a Foster Care Program?
The strength of a foster care program lies in its diversity. Foster families come from all walks of life, representing the rich tapestry of Illinois communities. If you are at least 21 years old and seeking a meaningful way to contribute, you are eligible to apply. Your marital status—married, in a civil union, single, divorced, or separated—does not preclude you from becoming a foster parent. The key is your commitment to providing a safe and loving home.
To ensure the well-being of children and the success of foster families, prospective foster parents in a foster care program are required to meet certain criteria. These requirements are designed to prepare you for the rewarding yet challenging journey of foster care:
- Home Inspection and Social Assessment: A thorough home inspection ensures a safe living environment, and a social assessment helps to understand your motivations, lifestyle, and preparedness for foster parenting. This is a crucial step in ensuring a suitable match between families and children within the foster care program.
- Comprehensive Training: To equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge, a foster care program mandates 27 hours of training. This training focuses on understanding the foster care system, the unique needs of children who have experienced trauma and separation, and effective parenting techniques in a foster care context.
- Criminal Background Checks: The safety of children is paramount. Therefore, criminal background checks are conducted on all adult members of the household to ensure a secure environment.
- Financial Stability: While foster parents receive financial assistance to help cover the costs of caring for a child, financial stability is important to demonstrate your ability to manage your household and provide for the child’s needs in a foster care program.
- Health Screening and Immunizations: A health screening, including up-to-date immunizations, ensures the health and well-being of both the foster family and the children placed in their care.
For those interested in seeing the faces of children waiting for a loving family, DCFS provides an online Heart Gallery. Click here to explore profiles and learn more about these children.
Licensed vs. Relative Foster Care Programs: Understanding the Difference
Within the broader foster care program, there are different avenues to provide care. One important distinction is between licensed foster care and unlicensed relative foster care. When it is deemed to be in a child’s best interest, DCFS and the courts may place a child with a relative who is willing to provide care, even if that relative is not yet a licensed foster parent.
Relative foster care plays a vital role in providing immediate support and maintaining family connections during a challenging time. It offers children a sense of familiarity and continuity by placing them with kin. However, to fully support both the child and the caregiver, becoming a licensed foster parent within a foster care program is strongly encouraged.
Licensed foster parents receive a higher level of financial reimbursement to help cover the costs associated with caring for a foster child. Licensure also often comes with access to more comprehensive support services and ongoing training, enhancing the caregiver’s ability to provide the best possible care. While the licensing process can take time, transitioning from relative foster care to licensed foster care within a foster care program is beneficial in the long run.
For detailed information about becoming a relative caregiver, refer to the DCFS publication What You Need to know about Being a Relative Caregiver, available in English and Spanish. If you are interested in taking the first step toward becoming a foster or adoptive parent within a foster care program, you can fill out the online interest form. A foster/adoptive parent recruiter will then reach out to provide you with more information and guide you through the next steps.
The Foster Care Assessment and Rating at Exit (FARE) Interview
Illinois is committed to continuously improving its foster care program. To ensure the voices of youth in care are heard and their experiences are used to enhance the system, the Foster Care Assessment and Rating at Exit (FARE) interview was established. This initiative, mandated by Illinois House Bill 4304, requires all children aged 5 and older who are leaving a foster home to participate in an exit interview.
These interviews, conducted by qualified DCFS designees in a private setting, provide valuable feedback on the child’s experiences within the foster care program. This information is crucial for identifying areas of strength and areas needing improvement within the system, ultimately leading to better outcomes for children in foster care. Foster parents can learn more about this process by reading the FARE Overview for Foster Parents.
By understanding the multifaceted nature of a foster care program, and the vital roles of foster families, relatives, and DCFS, we can collectively work towards providing safe, stable, and loving homes for children in need, ensuring brighter futures for them all.
