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.

Rule change, effective February 1, 2010

5101:2-7-15 Transportation

(D) If the foster child is less than four years old or forty pounds in weight, a child restraint seat secured
      by a seat belt or the lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system shall be used.  The child
      restraint seat shall be placed in the back seat of any motor vehicle that has a back seat.
(1) An infant less than one year of age or twenty pounds in weight shall be restrained only in a rear-facing position and whenever possible she not be placed in the front seat of any motor vehicle that has a back seat.
(2) Children at least one year old and between twenty pounds and forty pounds in weight shall be restrained in a forward-facing position.

(E) If the foster child is less than eight years of age and less than four feet nine inches in height, the child
      shall be properly restrained in a booster seat if paragraph (D) does not apply.  The booster seat shall
      be placed in the back of any motor vehicle that has a back seat.

(F) If paragraph (D) of this rule does not apply and the foster child is at least eight years of age but not
      older than fifteen years of age the child shall be restrained in a belt positioning booster seat in a
      forward-facing position or in a seat belt including both a lap belt and a shoulder belt in vehicles that
      are so equipped.

(G) All children age twelve and under shall ride in the back seat of a motor vehicle that has a back seat
       and shall not ride in the front seat of the vehicle unless that vehicle does not have a back seat.  If a
       foster child rides in the front seat of a vehicle as allowed by this rule, the foster caregiver must
      disable the passenger side airbag if the vehicle is so equipped.

(H) Paragraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F) of this rule do not apply to the foster caregiver who has a signed affidavit by a licensed physician in Ohio or a licensed chiropractor in Ohio.  The affidavit shall state that the child who otherwise would be required to be restrained, has a physical impairment that makes use of a child restraint system, booster seat, or an occupant restraining device impossible or impractical, provided the person operating the vehicle has safely and appropriately restrained the child in accordance with any recommendation of the physician or chiropractor as noted on the affidavit.

Rule change, effective March 1, 2010

5101:2-7-12 Site and Safety Requirements for a Foster Home

(V) A foster home shall provide a smoke free environment for foster children.
 (1) No smoking shall be permitted in the living area of a foster home on in a vehicle used to
       transport a foster child when a foster child is present.

(2) Smoking may be permitted in the home or vehicles used for transporting foster children
       only when no foster child is present.