|
|
                                      |
CHILDREN SERVICES Foster Care is a safe, temporary home for an abused, neglected, or dependent child. Foster children typically visit with their birth families and are eager for their parents to complete reunification case plan goals so that they may return home. Foster children range in age from newborns to 18 years old. Children with mental handicaps can remain in foster care until they are 21 years old. Foster parents and agency caseworkers work together to meet the needs of foster children. The first step is matching a foster child to the most appropriate foster family available. Foster families have the option to tell the agency the age, sex, and number of children they would like to work with. The family always has the right to say "no" to a foster placement if the family is uncomfortable with the situation in any way. The agency strives very hard to make only one placement for each foster child who enters the custody of the agency; however, if a placement is not working out due to personality conflicts or other issues, the foster family can request that a foster child be moved. The agency attempts to place children in a foster home in the children's school district of residence. If this is not possible, the children typically must change schools to attend the school district of the foster home. Medical expenses are paid by Medicaid, the birth parents private insurance, or through the agency. Clothing is provided by the birth parents and clothing vouchers can be requested from the agency to assist in meeting a child's needs. Although, many foster parents also choose to purchase some of the clothing for children placed in their care. To find out more information on how to become a foster parent, please click onto our Recruitment Page or contact Tonya Kidder or Sabrina Buchanan at 740-373-3485. Washington County Children Services ©2010 Washington County |