Foster Care Print E-mail

Caring For Kids, Inc. is a network foster care provider for children in custody of Summit, Cuyahoga, and surrounding counties.  We are seeking foster parents in the greater Summit County, Cuyahoga County and adjacent county areas.  There are currently over 1,100 children in care in Summit County and over 1,700 in care in Cuyahoga County.  Below is a brief overview of the foster care and adoption programs in which we are involved.

Foster care is, by definition, is temporary care provided to a non-relative child, lasting from overnight to a year or more.  Children are removed from their homes when they are abused, neglected or are identified as being dependent and their parents are incapable of safely providing care for them at the time of placement.  Foster parents are needed to provide a safe, stable and loving home for children of all ages; but there is a particular need for families to care for
a) newborns and toddlers, b) brothers and sisters who should remain together (sibling groups),
c) physically, developmentally, or emotionally challenged children and d) teenagers.  Becoming a foster care parent involves a home study/family assessment and pre-placement training classes.

Criteria

The criteria to become a foster parent includes:

  • Must be 21 years of age or older
  • May be single or a couple
  • Must have sufficient income to meet the financial needs of the family
  • All members of the family must be in good physical, emotional and mental health
  • The physical aspects of the home must meet Ohio regulations for safety and health
  • Foster parents must be mature and stable individuals who can give guidance and security to a foster child
  • Must have general knowledge of child care and child development
  • A foster parent applicant can have no convictions for crimes related to violence, sexual abuse, drug corruption, or drug trafficking

Sometimes, children do not return home, and foster parents are needed to not only foster but to adopt children.  This is called the Foster-to-Adopt program.  Families may be dual certified to foster and adopt.  This provides the child with stability and reduces the number of moves a child has to make, thus eliminating the trauma of having to attach to a new primary caregiver.

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