| 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 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 need 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 a part 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 and/or Beyond Consequences from our in-house certified trainers.
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!
How about teen siblings groups...
Imagine being separated from your brother and/or sister and not knowing when you are going to see them again! It is reality that sometimes siblings cannot stay together in foster care as there are not enough families who can take more than 1-2 children at a time. We are in need families who are have at least 2 extra bedrooms in their home, room in their vehicle and above all, the ability to provide quality, nurturing foster care to more than one child at a time! We know this is a tough job and not for everyone. If you think this is an opportunity that you may be qualified for, please click here for more information! If so, we need families, like yours, to help us keep siblings together!
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. 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.
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 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 303.330.5083 in the Denver Metro area or in Colorado Springs call 719.244. 3984 for Melissa or email her at mparkowski@kidscrossing.com to begin the screening process. In Pueblo, please call 719.545.3882 or email dwilliams@kidscrossing.com. We would also welcome you to one of our open houses. Or, if you know this is what you are ready to do, call for an application to be sent to you today! 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. We will send you a hard copy of this application in our packet so if easier, just call us at the numbers listed below and we will send you an entire packet today! Click here for some FAQ's regarding foster care in general.
The application is only a part of the process! Here are the other requirements. All of the copies needed for you to complete will be provided in the application packet.
Length of process: The entire process takes approximately 4 months if you are highly motivated. For example, 60 days for background checks then after these are returned, the home study begins...which takes up to 45 additional days to be completed. We do not rush the process as we want to make the best possible decision in determining appropriateness of families-but do commit to the above time frames (unless outside circumstances). We feel that the best decisions for children are made carefully, over this 4 month time frame!
Cost: Kids Crossing is committed to keeping the cost of foster care licensing to a minimum. The only items you are required to pay for included the fingerprinting at a police station (usually between $5-$15) and CPR/First Aid certification (usually around $40). We cover everything else!
Background Checks: Fingerprint checks through the CBI/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 1-2 months. Check here if you have questions about your criminal background and whether it may be a problem. If you know if anything that may come up (this includes ANY arrests ANYWHERE in the US-not just convictions), please tell us up front.
Background Investigation Unit Form: The Colorado Department of Human Services has a database that includes everyone who has been founded for abuse and neglect. In the application process, we will ensure that applicants' names are not in this database. Click here to download a copy of the Background Investigation Unit Facility Inquiry Form for Colorado. This check takes about 60 days. We also check other state's registries as well, if you have not lived in only Colorado for the past 5 years.
County Check: 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. This will indicate if there were any allegations of abuse/neglect, if there was an open child welfare case on your family or if you received food stamps, Medicaid and so on.
References: Three (3) letters of reference from people who are un-related to you. We will directly request these references using the SAFE Reference_form.
Physicals: Annual physical exams for everyone in your home indicating that individuals are "free of communicable diseases." Please use our medical form when asking your doctor to complete a form.
Pets: Proof of vaccination for your pets must be submitted. Exotic pets are not permitted.
Transportation: Primary caregiver must have a valid Colorado Drivers License, and current car insurance and have access to reliable transportation. You are responsible for all of the transportation for children which can be 3-4 times a week and typically you will not receive additional reimbursement for mileage.
CPR/First Aid Certification: Click here for information on becoming CPR/First Aid certified. There is a cost on your behalf for this training. Your certification must include infant/child and adult.
Required Training: You, and anyone listed on your license with 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 initial training is required. We offer many free trainings to help you reach these requirements. Click here for details.
Other items: House Rules, Evacuation Plan for the home (floor plan drawing with exits indicated), Family Picture.
Finances: Pleases note that in order to be licensed to provide foster care, you must be financially stable without foster care reimbursement. If you have prior bankruptcies, received financial assistance, have children on Medicaid, etc - please be prepared to discuss this in length.
Assessment of your Family: A SAFE home study will be completed by agency staff. The SAFE home study is a requirement of all foster and adoptive parents in the State of Colorado and is facilitated in a consistent, uniform manner as it can only be completed by individuals who have completed the SAFE training. The SAFE home study process is our way of getting to know you and your family over an extended period of time, with at least 3 home visits in your home. The first step in this home study process is Questionnaire I. To get a better idea of what some of the home study discussion will be about, please read through this Questionnaire. The home study process is the last step in becoming licensed and can take up to 45 days for completion. We wait for all of your background checks to be back prior to starting this process.
Physical Space: Your home must pass a safety inspection. This is also one of the last steps...so you have a lot of time to ensure your home is ready for children! We will ensure the bedrooms have adequate square footage, emergency numbers are posted, you have fire extinguishers/smoke detectors, have baby-proofed-if appropriate, and so on.
WHAT IF I WANT TO SWITCH AGENCIES?
If you have been licensed with another agency and feel that you want to switch, we advise you to try to work things out with your current agency. Please communicate your concerns with your agency's director and give the agency a chance to respond. If you do not feel as though you are getting the response you would like, here are your options:
If you have foster children currently placed in your home, you can notify your current agency of your intent to change agencies. Once we have a copy of this notification, we can file an appeal for the transfer of license to occur. It will require documentation of the support of the caseworkers of the children placed in your home. After the appeal is granted, we can give you an application, start your FBI checks, etc... Only after everything is completed for your license, does the transfer occur. We will make this process as quick and painless as possible!
*Note: This appeal process was developed in order to support continuity of care for foster children. We will work closely with you and the caseworkers involved, ensuring your foster children remain in your home throughout this process.
If you do not have foster children currently placed in your home, you can resign from your current agency and fax, email or bring in proof of this resignation to our licensing department and we can immediately provide you with a Kids Crossing application. Make sure you provide us with copies of the items you have already completed: Ie. your physicals, pet records, CORE training certificate, et cetera. We will need to re-run your background checks. Once again, we will make this re-licensing process as quick as we can for you!
Foster a teen today.
WHAT ABOUT BECOMING A GROUP HOME?
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