Another question

Okay, I told you that I would start answering some of the questions I get...so here is question #2.

*What do you have to do to become a foster parent?*

Sandy's answer-
First of all the answer I give is for us here in Ga. Some states require more or less than Ga, but pretty much they all are very similar.

1. First you contact the (DFCS) Department of Family and Children services in your county and ask them to send you an information packet.
2. You must attend an introduction class which takes about 2 hours. This class may encourage or discourage you from fostering, because you learn alot about the foster care system and sometimes it's not good.
3.If you decide to go for it, you will be given a list of "To-Do's"
Here are the things that was on the list we had to do.
1.Forms...forms...forms...tons of those to read and sign.
2.Back ground checks. These take the longest and should be done 1st.
3.Finger print cards
4.Medical examinations
5. Health statement from doctor
6.Drug screen
7.Financial statement
8.Copy of insurance and vehicle license
9. Citizenship papers
10.Birth certificates
11.Health screen on bio kids
12.Copy of marriage license
13.Divorce decree if you are divorced
14. Any death certificates
15.Pet vaccination records
16.Enviromental statement re:water/sewage
17. Firearm verification
18. Pool verification
19.Smoke detector statement
20.References: personal, relative, and employer
21. Pictures of family and home
22. A drawing of the layout of home
23.20 hours of pre-training with 10 more yearly
24. cpr and first aid
25. water safety and basic rescue
26. 2 visits from the RW where they study the family and home.
27. A safety inspection of home (every year)

This took us all of 6 months to complete with us working as fast as we could to get everything done.
It was alot of work and it kept us very busy but it was worth it!