Foster care is a temporary, safe alternative home and family for children that cannot safely live in their own home. The goal of a foster family is to give the child a safe and loving home while the child’s birth parents work toward reunification. To find out more information call 419-707-8658.
What is a Foster Home?
Foster home means a private residence in which children are received apart from their parents, guardian, or legal custodian, by an individual reimbursed for providing the children non-secure care, supervision, or training twenty-four hours a day. Foster home does not include care provided for a child in the home of a person other than the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian while the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is temporarily away. Family foster homes, pre-adoptive infant foster homes and specialized foster homes are types of foster homes.
Who can be a Foster Parent?
- Foster parents must be at least 21 years of age
- Can own or rent their home
- Should be in good physical and mental health
- Should have stable finances to care for a child
- Can pass a criminal background check
- Must have sufficient living and sleeping space
- Be able to love and care for children that are not your own
What is an Adoptive Parent?
Adoptive parents provide a “forever family” for children in the agency’s permanent custody. Once a child’s adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents take on full responsibility for that child’s health, education, and overall well being.