Foster Care

Q: Do I get to determine which children I work with?

Yes, you will be able to determine the age range of the children you work with.

Q: Do I have to be married?

No, you do not have to be married. You can be single, but you cannot cohabitate. You can also be divorced, but not in the middle of a separation.

Q: Do you provide respite?

Yes, respite is determined by each child you’re caring for.

Q: How long does it take to become licensed?

Our goal is to license all families within 90 days.

Are you ready to make a difference in a child’s life through foster care or adoption? We’re here to help!

The ideal scenario is for vulnerable children to be safe, stable, and loved in their homes with their biological families. When this is not possible, the best solution for many children is to live with trained foster parents who open their homes and hearts and are there to help children heal and grow.

Foster care is important because it protects children and preserves families. When biological parents are not able to provide adequate care and a safe environment for their children, foster parents step in and provide children with the love and compassion they need. While children heal from their trauma, their biological parents are working with agencies to regain focus and preparing for reunification, if that is what is best for the child.

Things to keep in mind:

The foster care program is temporary placement of children who have been removed from their biological caregivers due to abuse or neglect.
The first goal of foster care is doing what is best for the child.
Foster families are responsible for housing, feeding, and transporting the children placed in their care.
Foster families are expected to parent the children in their home until children are reunited with their biological families or permanency can be reached.

Those parents with a desire to help children with higher level medical and behavioral needs can become licensed as Therapeutic Foster Parents. These parents are required to complete additional training with ACH staff so they can provide a nurturing and therapeutic environment for children with high-level needs. Therapeutic Foster Parents provide high-level supervision, support, and advocate for children while they learn and develop to their fullest potential.

Family-Focused Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic foster parents receive extra training to provide nurturing and therapeutic environments for children with high-level needs. These caregivers provide high-level supervision, support and advocacy for children while they learn and develop to their fullest potential.

Foster to Adopt

“Foster to adopt” is a term for families who are licensed for both foster care and adoption. These families are foster families interested in adoption should the option become available with children placed in their homes. Foster to adopt families are foster families first. While foster care is temporary, in some cases children will become legally free for adoption. There are many families who accomplish their goal of expanding their family with this route, but successful foster to adopt parents are concerned first and foremost with serving children and families in need.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you meet your foster child, it’s just the beginning of what we hope will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship. When you give your foster child the secure and nurturing home he or she deserves, your child will give you so much more in return. As a member of the ACH family, you always have access to our Foster Care Specialists. They are available for consultations, home visits and assessments to help you get through the challenging times.

Do I get to determine which children I work with?

Do I have to be married?

Do you provide respite?

Do I need to own a home?

No, but you will need to meet some space requirements for each child. For example, you will need at least an 8×10 (80 square foot) room for up to two children. Additional children will require more space.

How much does this cost?

There is an upfront cost of $41.25 for fingerprinting. This will be refunded if you get licensed by ACH.

The Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) will reimburse day care costs for families where both parents work at least 40 hours per week. This sometimes takes 2 to 3 weeks to set up, so you will want to plan to cover day care costs for at least 2 to 3 weeks for any child in your care. The ability to transport children to visits and appointments is also a requirement for all licensed foster parents.

How long does it take to become licensed?

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