Thousands of children in Indiana, Kentucky, and across America are in need of safe foster homes. Children and teens are in foster care due to a multitude of reasons usually resulting in an unsafe living environment.
As a therapeutic foster care agency, we invite you to consider joining us on the journey of becoming a foster parent and supporting this unique population of wonderful kids and teens.
The road to becoming a foster parent can feel overwhelming but we assure you each step is important and necessary to ensure the safety of the children we serve and equip you to become successful foster parents.
But not to worry, we will be here to walk you through each step of foster parent training in Kentucky and Indiana.
This process may look different from state to state, depending on which agency you work with. Here is a brief look at what the typical process could look like to become a foster parent.
Step 1: Inquiry
Your first step is simple. For foster parenting in Kentucky or Indiana, Simply fill out our contact form to get in touch with our agency. When you do this, a representative from the office closest to you will be in contact with you shortly.
The inquiry stage is a great time, with no pressure, to ask any questions you may have about becoming a foster parent. We will provide you with all the information you need before you make a decision on whether or not you want to move forward in the process. There is no such thing as a dumb question when making this decision.
Step 2: Licensing
When you make the decision to move forward in working with Benchmark Family Services to become a therapeutic foster parent, we will help you along in the licensing process. Each state has specific requirements you must meet to become a foster parent. This could include:
- Background checks
- Child Abuse Registry check.
- Proof of employment.
- References for prospective foster parents
- Medical clearance must be obtained for all household residents.
- All prospective foster parents will need to complete First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne Pathogen training.
- Each parent in the home will complete pre-service training as required by state regulations. Hours may vary by state.
- BFS staff will complete a safety audit of the home when doing a home study.
Step 3: Matching
Once you are licensed to be a foster parent, congratulations! You now get to welcome a child into your home. When the need arises, you will have an opportunity to review your options with our staff to decide if a child or teen will be a good fit for your family.
Once a match is made you get to actually welcome a child into your home. This is where all the training you did in the licensing process will come in handy. But don’t worry, you aren’t doing this alone. As a therapeutic foster parent, you will be working hand in hand with a team of professionals to provide the best care and support for the child or children in your care.
Step 4: Ongoing Support
Benchmark Family Services and additional health professionals will be available to both you and your foster children throughout your entire experience. We provide ongoing training as well as scheduled check-ins and 24/7 availability for emergencies or questions that may come up along the way.
The need is great for caring and supportive foster parents across America. If this is something you are interested in, you can start at step one and simply fill out our inquiry form. We look forward to hearing from you.