Foster Care
|
Scott County foster families provide protection, care and nurturing to children ages 0-17 from Scott County who need temporary placement outside their family home. Children are placed with relatives or family friends whenever it is possible and in their best interest. Relatives or family friends may also be eligible to become licensed foster care providers for a specific child or children. |
|
WHY ARE CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER CARE?
Children enter the child welfare system for a variety of reasons. The majority of children are placed due to abuse or neglect, abandonment, parents’ incarceration, substance abuse, inability to cope, or the temporary absence of the parent. Some children are placed due to their own behavior or conditions, such as disabilities, while others may be placed due to family difficulties or financial hardship. Some children require placement only for scheduled short-term respite care which generally occurs on weekends. All children placed in foster care have special needs ranging from being part of a sibling group to having significant mental or physical disabilities.
WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN PLACED?
There are options available for placement of children in the Scott County Foster Care Program. When children must leave their home they may be placed in an Emergency Shelter Home for short-term care or in a foster home which offers placement for up to a year. The length of placement is determined by court action. Foster homes are selected for placement based on the child’s needs. Children are placed in their home school district if possible. Our goal is to keep the children close to their home community.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN?
Children who are in transition from one home to another setting depend on many people who are responsible for them, including their parents who are responsible for visiting their children and correcting conditions that led to their removal; police officers and court officials who may remove children from their homes and place them in foster care; county case managers who provide services to the children in foster care and their families; and foster parents and other providers who are responsible for protecting, nurturing and caring for the children placed with them.
FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE:
|
|
|
Currently, Scott County has 115 family foster homes licensed to provide care. Foster parents come from all walks of life. They may be married or single, with or without children, renters or homeowners. Some of the reasons people choose to become foster parents include helping children; giving back to the community; the possibility of adopting a child; and for the love of children. What they all share is a commitment to helping children through the tough times. |
|
|
Foster parents receive between $20 and $24 per day per child in care and may also receive an additional payment to care for a child’s special needs. Professional support and training is available for all foster care homes. |
BECOMING A FOSTER CARE PROVIDER:
Prospective foster care providers must:
- Live in Scott County
- Be at least 21 years old, financially stable and responsible adults
- Complete the application materials, including the background study for all household members age 13 and over; provide three references; submit a statement regarding the physical health of all household members and a chemical health statement for all adults in the household.
- Participate in a series of home visits to complete the homestudy
- Live in a home that meets fire-safety code
- Have adequate sleeping space
- Attend required training
FOSTER CARE TRAINING RESOURCES:
CURRENT NEEDS:
Teenagers
There is an on-going need for foster parents to open their homes to the teenagers from Scott County who are unable to live in their parental home for a variety of reasons. Parenting a teenager can be challenging, but very rewarding to know you made a difference in someone’s life at a crucial time. We also need a foster home for a teen mom and baby. Supervision before and after school is essential for the teens. You may express a preference to work with boys or girls.
Sibling Groups
Help us keep a sibling group together by providing foster care for sibling groups of two, three or more children. These children need an adult at home full time, or with a very flexible work schedule. Respite care providers for sibling groups are also needed primarily on weekends.
Resource Families:
The Resource Family Program provides foster care for children who will likely remain in out-of-home placement and may not have relatives available to provide care. The resource family must be willing to support reunification by working with the child’s parents until a permanent decision is made and be willing to adopt or accept a transfer of custody of the child, as determined by the court. About 25 percent of the children placed in foster care need resource families willing to adopt if reunification with the parents or relatives fail.
For more information:
For more information about foster care, call Scott County Foster Care at 952-496-8548, or e-mail gyoung@co.scott.mn.us to request an information packet.
