Choosing to become a foster parent is not an easy decision. Fostering is definitely a new learning experience, it can be scary, impact your typical routine, and a difficult change for biological children if you have them; overall, fostering a child can be life-changing.
If you are considering becoming a foster parent, the team at CK Family Services is so excited to help guide you through the process. While there is a lot to learn, you won’t be alone in any of it. Here are the basic steps of becoming a foster parent.
Beginning Steps
When you work with CK Family Services, you’ll start by simply getting in touch with us. You can either give us a call or fill out an online inquiry form. This will provide us with some basic information to help us get started. To begin the process, we encourage you to attend an online informational meeting where we can go over the process more in-depth and answer any questions that you may have. You will also submit an application to become a foster parent.
Begin Your Training!
When you have successfully completed the application, a Family Development Specialist will help you and your family prepare for becoming a foster family. We have developed a series of classes that will provide you with the tools and education you need to provide a safe and nurturing environment for a child in need. Our team will also help you work through and submit a documentation packet.
Home Study
When training and paperwork have been completed, we’ll schedule a homestudy with one of our assessment professionals. We’ll interview your whole family together as well as everyone individually. The home study is an opportunity for us to learn more about your family, interests, hobbies, skills, and goals. We’ll use this information to make better decisions about which children are a good fit for your home.
Verification/Licensure
When all of your training, documentation, and homestudy have been completed, CK Family Services will assign you a Case Manager who will be your primary contact and help guide and support your family throughout your new role as a foster parent. When you have your license, we can begin matching you with a child who is in need of a caring family environment.
Becoming a foster parent can feel overwhelming, but CK Family Services is here for you from the very beginning. We provide you with all of the tools and resources you need so that you can properly care for a child placed in your home.
If you have any questions or want to get started, please feel free to contact us!