What is Foster Care?
Foster care is temporary living arrangements for minors who have been placed in state custody.
Foster care is needed when children are living in impoverished, abusive or neglectful homes.
However, the goal of Child Welfare is not just to remove children from their home, but to help teach and equip the members of a household with the skill and knowledge they need to provide a healthy environment.
Types of Foster Homes
Family Foster Home: This is where a child is placed in a private home with an actual family. If possible the child will be placed in the home of a relative, which is called kinship care.
Group Home: This is a facility that can house a large number of children, who are cared for 24 hours a day by staff.
Shelter: Shelters are intended for a short term basis, and are available to house children who are in an immediate crisis. Oftentimes kids will be placed in a shelter as soon as they are removed from their home
Who Can Foster?
- Applicants must have the ability to love, understand, care for, and accept a child to whom they did not give birth
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and preferably no more than 55 years older than the child considered for placement
- Applicants may be married for at least one year, or single
- Applicants must be in good physical and mental health to provide for the needs of the child
- Applicants must have sufficient income to meet current expenses
- Applicants must be able to provide sufficient beds and bedrooms for additional children
- Applicants must submit to a search of all OKDHS records, including Child Welfare records
- Applicants and each household member, 18 years of age or older, submits fingerprints for a state and national criminal history records search
- Applicants must ensure that no household member has a prior conviction of any sexual offense
- Applicants must have a working vehicle and a telephone
- Applicants must attend 27 hrs. of Pre-Service Training
- Applicant must be a legal resident
