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Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? If so, this is the podcast for you! We talk with Arnie Eby, the Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Association and a foster parent for 22 years; and Angie Jones, a licensed clinical social worker and the Intensive Service Foster Care Recruiter and Trainer at Vista Del Mar, an agency placing foster children.

In this episode, we cover:

• What is the goal of the foster care system?
• How to become a foster parent?
• What are the typical requirements for becoming a foster parent? 
• What disqualifies you to become a foster parent?
• What type of pre-service training is involved?
• How long does it usually take to become a licensed foster parent?
• Who licenses foster parents?
• What types of questions should parents ask when deciding on which agency to work with?
• What are the different levels of licensing for foster homes? 
• Do foster parents get paid?
• Can you foster if you rent your home or apartment?
• Does one parent have to be at home if they want to have infants or young pre-school aged children placed with them?
• How much control do foster parents have on which child is placed with them?
• What is expected of foster parents when a child is placed with them?
• Can you travel with a foster child? Out of state? Out of the country?
• What is shared parenting or co-parenting?
• What type of support should foster parents expect from the agency they are licensed through?
• Is it possible to adopt your foster child? 
• How do you foster and adopt?
• How much control do foster parents have on visitation, medical treatment, mental health care, and reunification?
• How to cope with the grief when a foster child leaves?
• Where can foster parents turn for support?

This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building