The Foster Parent NETwork

San Joaquin County

Phone 209-465-KIDS (5437)

A: Yes. You can take a foster child out of town.  If you are planning on leaving the county it is a good idea to let the child's social worker know, in case there is need to contact you, while you are out of town.  If you are planning on taking a trip out of the State, it is necessary to obtain a court order to take the child with you.  Contact the child's social worker and they will obtain the court order for you.  This can take up to a month, so it is important to let the social worker know as soon as possible when you are planning to leave on your trip.

Q: Do we have any choices as to the age and sex of the children placed in our home?

A: Yes.  Part of the determining factor will also be dependent on the type of sleeping quarters available, your abilities as foster parents, and other conditions affecting the safety and welfare of children.  Your Licensing Social Worker will discuss these factors with you to determine the best fit for your family.

Q: How long will we have to wait for a child after our home is licensed?

A: Obtaining a foster care license does not guarantee that children will be placed in your home immediately.  The Agency does not know from day to day which children will be in need of foster care. Your home may be needed immediately or there may be a waiting time extending over a period of months.

Q: Would we receive any financial help and/or medical assistance for being foster parents?

A: Yes. When children are placed by an agency, foster parents are given a monthly reimbursement for the cost of basic needs, such as the cost of food, personal and school expenses and replacement of clothing.  You should receive the first reimbursement check approximately 45 days after the initial placement.  The foster child's medical needs are also covered by foster care Medi-Cal insurance.

Q: What are Special Needs Children?

A: Special Needs children are children with documented medical and/or behavioral problems that are above and beyond what is considered "normal" or "average" for a foster child. Caretakers who care for Special Needs children receive Special Needs funds in addition to the Basic Foster Care rate for the extra care these children require.  Documentation of the behaviors and/or medical problems is required in order to substantiate the payment of Special Needs funds. Documentation might include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Psychological/psychiatric evaluations

• Physician's reports

• School documentation
   

Q: What is the Independent Living Program (ILP)?

A: The Independent Living Program is a federally funded, county administered program designed to assist eligible foster youth, between the ages of 16 and 19, in developing the skills necessary for a successful transition to independence.

Youth in foster placement who receive state or federal foster care funds are considered eligible for services during placement, and for at least 6 months following emancipation from the system. Youth can be referred to ILP by their social workers, probation officers, school district Foster Youth Services social workers, foster parents, foster family agency social workers, other county ILP coordinators or by self-referral. Each referred youth is assigned to an ILP Social Worker for case management. The social workers meet with ILP eligible youth to develop a Transitional Living Service Plan.

For more information about the Independent Living Program, call (209) 468-1275 or visit their website at www.sjgov.org/hsa/Childrens Services/ILP/index.htm

Q: How long will we have a foster child in our home?

A: The length of time a child is in your home is partially determined by the type of foster care you choose to do.  If you are a Satellite Foster Home, then you will probably only have a foster child in your home anywhere from a couple of days to a year.  If you choose to do long-term foster care, then you will probably be serving children that require foster care for a year or two or three.  It is difficult to predict with any certainty, but usually children are best served by being kept in one foster home as long as there is need for foster care.  Depending upon the circumstances of the particular family situation, children may stay with you anywhere from a few days or weeks to one or two years.  The social worker will discuss any changes in plans before a child may leave your home.

Q: Can we adopt or obtain guardianship of a foster child placed in our home?

A: Yes, that is possible.  Each foster child will have a concurrent plan, which is the "Plan B" so to speak.  The first plan is almost always for the child to reunite with their biological parents.  If this is not possible, then another permanent plan must be determined--this is called the concurrent plan.  If you have an established bond with a child you have been fostering, and they have been in your home for an extended period of time, then their best interest may be to remain permanently in your home through adoption or guardianship.

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