fostercarecoloradosiblings

When children are placed in foster care, they are taken away from the families they know. Whether these family experiences were positive or detrimental, those families belong to them. No matter what foster parents or professionals do for children entering foster care, this move is traumatic and devastating. Children, in most cases, end up living with people they don't know, without the majority of their belongings. Children entering foster care are often forced to change schools and, in doing so, cutting ties with friends and teachers. Visitation with biological parents or relatives can take time to be arranged and/or depending on a parent's situation, may not be able to occur. All of these changes for children shouldn't have to mean losing touch with siblings as approximately 70% of children in foster care in the United States have another sibling also in care (Shlonsky, Elkins, Bellamy, & Ashare, 2005). Depending on the roles the children have taken in the family, older children may have been caretakers of younger ones and worry about their welfare. For younger kids, an older sibling may be the only nurturing figure they have ever known.

Being placed with a sibling can enhance a child's sense of safety and well-being. With this continuity, children in foster care do not need to wonder where their siblings are and whether or not they are safe. When placed together, siblings will provide natural support to each other, which helps create a stronger sense of stability and belonging. Maintaining sibling relationships will assist children in maintaining a positive sense of identity and knowledge of their cultural, personal, and family histories.

The first foster care placement is even more critical to keep sibling groups together. Often these first placements for children happen as an "emergency," meaning county department of human services do not have the luxury of time to search all available placement resources. Additionally, caseworkers may also not know as much information about the children as the family may be new to the system. The availability of a foster parent, with the space, desire and ability to care for a large group of children is available is rare. Additionally, there may be a decreased likelihood that the foster parent will accept these children, without much information, in the middle of the night, for example. We need foster families who are able to accept sibling groups, without a lot of information, in a split second, and be able to commit to providing short-term care.

Another consequence of placing sibling groups in separate homes can occur later. Siblings separated at the initial placement are more likely to continue to be separated months and years later, possibly in an adoptive home. For example, the foster parents who have one or two of the siblings are often willing to adopt the children they have had in placement, but not the siblings who are unfamiliar to them. Plus, the family who had the other siblings, would want to adopt their foster children, as well. Depending on a foster family's openness to maintaining sibling contact, these children may or may not keep ties with their siblings after adoption.

Foster care is difficult enough for children. They shouldn't have to wonder what happened to their brothers and sisters.

Kids Crossing is seeking highly committed and loving people to work with siblings groups of children, ages 0-18, for short-term care until reunification can occur with parents or relatives. Care for sibling groups may only last for a few weeks or months, or in some instances for longer periods of time. During this time period, a planned move for all of the children to a permanent home, parents or relatives can occur.

Having past experience within the health or human service profession is helpful, but not necessary. Having grown up in a large family or currently have more than one child of your own is also helpful, but not required. Since our children often experience distress and confusion about being removed from their homes, you must be patient, caring and understanding. Most of all you must be a good role model of what a healthy and happy family can be.

-If caring for siblings of different genders, the children may share bedrooms if one of the siblings is under the age of 4.

-How many children can your vehicle transport? Most vehicles can safety transport only 3 children under the age of 12 as research indicates that children are not the safest in the front seat.

-Reimbursement is provided to foster parents for caring for foster children and is tax exempt. You will receive reimbursement for each child which is dependent on the child's individualized needs. Reimbursement rates vary by county department of human services, for example rates are approximately $500-$850 a month per child. The sibling groups' lodging, food and clothing costs are covered in this payment to the foster parent.

-What kind of support do you have as a parent? Taking care of children, especially more than one child at a time, can be very stressful! We are looking for parents who are self aware, have excellent coping skills and good support systems.

-Are you flexible, organized, structured, have a sense of humor and enjoy a healthy level of chaos? If so, sibling foster care may be for you!

-Transportation for visitation can be easier as typically you will only be required to travel to one location for visitation with family.

-Communication is stream-lined as you only be assigned one caseworker from one county department of human services.

Sibling foster parent applicants must be at least 21 years old and exhibit stability in their lives. All potential foster parents must be willing to work with biological parents. Click here for the answers to some frequently asked questions or come to one of our informative monthly open houses in Colorado Springs. Also, we've found this link to be very helpful in answering some of these initial questions. Another helpful link that discusses important skills of a foster parent is here.

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.

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.

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 training's 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.

We can help facilitate adoptions for foster parents who wish to adopt. We offer no-fee adoptions. We cannot assist you with out-of-state or private adoptions. We can only help with adoptions if the child is in foster care in your home prior to the finalization of the adoption (typically for a minimum of 6 months). Unless you are interested in a child who is "free for adoption," meaning his/her parental rights have already been terminated, you must be willing to support reunification with biological parents. Many families who come to us with the intentions of adoption, do end up adopting. However, many children could be placed in your home who are reunited with their parents or relatives before a child is placed in your home who may become free for adoption.

If you are considering adoption and do not want to go through the risk of having foster children returned to their bio parents, we recommend you consider adopting older children, special needs children or sibling groups. To view waiting children in the State of Colorado, click here for the Adoption Exchange Web site. If you are interested in babies only, we recommend private or international adoption--as your chance for a baby is guaranteed through these types of agencies.

We would be happy to talk with you more about the adoption process. Please contact Amy at aharder@kidscrossing.com to make an appointment in Denver or contact Melissa at mparkowski@kidscrossing.com in Colorado Springs.

The licensing process for foster adopt parents is exactly the same as foster parents. We recommend you take the following classes offered by El Paso County Department of Human Services: Click here for adoption training opportunities. If you adopt a child through the Department of Human Services, Medicaid (covering Medical, Dental and Mental Health care) stays with the child until he/she turns 18 years of age. Medicaid is always secondary to your private insurance. Often, with children adopted through DHS who do have special (emotional/behavioral/etc) needs, a subsidy may be negotiated with the adoptive parents and available to the parents until the child is 18 years of age.

If you live in Denver or the surrounding area, call (303) 330-5083 to speak with Amy!

If you are unsure which office to call, simply email us at aharder@kidscrossing.com or call and ask for Amy at (877) 780-5437 (KIDS).