BECOME A FOSTER PARENT FOR TEENS

Information on becoming a foster parent for children....>

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TEENS IN NEED OF FOSTER CARE

who would love to put up with you...

Will you put up with them ?

Kids Crossing’s Wraparound Adolescent program works to place teenagers, ages 13-18, in short term foster care until reunification with their biological parents can take place.  These teenagers may be coming out of a residential treatment center or be at risk of placement into a higher level of care.  What these teens needs is a home environment, a committed foster family and structure. 

Is this program for you?

Do you love the challenge of working with teenagers?  Are you flexible?  Do you have a sense of humor?  Are you willing to commit for the duration?  Our teens may be struggling with substance abuse issues, may be on probation for criminal behavior, may be runaways, may be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and may not be motivated to attend school…  These teens need temporary caregivers to show unconditional commitment.  They need guidance as they work to either reunify with their biological parents, guardians and/or emancipate. 

 “I work WITH teens, not AGAINST them.”  Jackie Brochu, foster parent of teens for Kids Crossing

You will not be alone…

This is a tough job.  Not everyone is up for the challenge.  If you are ready to commit, you are not alone.  Kids Crossing will provide you with initial training in order to help you feel prepared to work with the types of issues our teens are struggling with.  Our placement workers will work with you to carefully match a teenager to your family and arrange meetings and/or visits before the actual placement into your home.  In most cases, the teenager’s family will also be apart of this process and will also work hand in hand with you to ensure the teenager stays on track.  A team of professionals will also meet frequently to ensure you receive the support you need.  Emergency assistance, 24-hours a day, is also available to you at anytime.  Breaks from being a foster parent, otherwise known as respite care, will be encouraged and provided.  Furthermore, ongoing training will also be available including Love and Logic from our in-house certified trainer.

How is this different from regular “foster care?”

The level of intervention needed for these types of teenagers is a higher level than “regular” foster care.  Thus, you will be reimbursed at a higher rate, dependent on the issues and needs of the teenager.  Additionally, the support that you receive from the agency will also be more intensive than a “regular” foster parent.  With this being said, expectations from you as a foster parent for these teens will also be greater than our expectations of “regular” foster parents.  For example, Kids Crossing recommends that providing foster care for these types of teenagers becomes your “full-time” job!  You may access a full job description by clicking here.

About Kids Crossing…

Kids Crossing, founded in 1992 by foster parents, is a Child Placement Agency that recruits, licenses and supervises foster families for children and teenagers.  Specifically in our teen program, Kids Crossing works to keep teenagers out of institutions.  We believe that teenagers do best in family, home-like environments, with 1:1 attention from committed, experienced and well-trained caregivers. 

Kids Crossing provides safe and nurturing homes to teenagers, while at the same time, encouraging biological family involvement.  Our wraparound services effectively and efficiently facilitate reunification whenever possible, and Kids Crossing is the only foster care agency in the state that provides these services. 

At times our teenagers do not have a family to return to.  In these cases, efforts are directed towards emancipation preparation and establishing permanent connections with “adoptive” families.  Many times our teenagers have been successful in finding their own placement resources, whether it is a coach, former teacher, neighbor, et cetera. 

Kids Crossing has grown to become the largest Child Placement Agency in Colorado because of the passion and commitment of our foster parents.  Although we have many licensed foster homes from urban, suburban or rural settings, and spanning the ethnic, cultural, and racial spectrum, there are still many teenagers needing temporary homes and would love to put up with you.  Will YOU put up with them?   

What are my next steps?

If you think you may be interested, please emailAmy at aharder@kidscrossing.com or call 719.244. 3984 to begin the screening process.   We would also welcome you to one of our open houses.   For information on the application process, please see below:

THE APPLICATION PROCESS...

Click here to print the Colorado Department of Human Services Foster Care Application

Once the application is completed, our staff will assist you with obtaining the following information:

• Fingerprint checks through the FBI check will need to be run for anyone living in the home over the age of 18.  These background checks can take anywhere from 2-3 months.  Check here if you have questions about your criminal background and whether it may be a problem. 

• The Central Registry for Child Protection is a list of everyone who has been reported for child abuse or neglect. In the application process, we will ensure that applicants' names are not on the Registry. Click here to download a copy of the Central Registry Form.

• A background check through the County Department of Human Services where you reside is also required, in addition to any county DHS agencies of past residences.

• Three (3) SAFE Reference forms from people who are un-related to you. (We will request these directly).

• Annual physical exams for everyone in your home indicating that individuals are "free of communicable diseases." 

• Proof of vaccination for your pets must be submitted.

• Primary caregiver must have a valid Colorado Drivers License, automobile insurance and have access to reliable transportation. 

• Current CPR/First Aid certification.  Click here for information on becoming CPR/First Aid certified.

• A SAFE home study will be completed by agency staff which begins with the completion of the Questionnaire I.

• Your home must pass a safey inspection.

• You must attend the basic foster parent 12-hour CORE training which we provide. Please click here for our CORE training schedule.  Also, you must earn an additional 15 credit hours of training after being licensed--So, 27 hours inital training is required.  We offer many, free trainings to help you reach these requirements.  Click here for details. 

• Please note, you must be financially stable without the income of foster care to be considered.
• The entire licensing process, if you are very motivated, takes a minimum of 4 months.

  
  *Kids Crossing covers the costs of all background checks, except for the small fee (ie. $10) associated with the actual fingerprinting which MUST take place at a law enforcement agency.

WHAT ABOUT BECOMING A GROUP HOME?

*Click here to print our brochure on the Wraparound Adolescent Program Side 1/Side2

Foster a teen today.