OrientationFoster Parent Training

The only thing in this world that is constant is change…change is the

definition of my life.~Foster Youth, age 16~

What do these individuals have in common

(aside from their notoriety)?

Eddie Murphy, Actor/Comedian

Lucky Luciano, Mobster

Dan O’Brien, Olympic Athlete

Marilyn Monroe, Actress

Ice-T, Musician/Actor

Alonzo Mourning, NBA Player

Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady

David Berkowitz aka “Son of Sam”, Serial Killer

Malcolm X, Civil Rights Activist

Willie Nelsen, Singer/Songwriter

Dante Culpepper, NFL Player

Steps to Foster Home Certification

1. Application and Fingerprint Submission (Live Scan)– Complete Foster parent applications (LIC 283A, LIC 215)– Live Scan process; criminal background check

• All adults 18 or older in the home must also complete the Live Scan process.

• Respite workers (people who will be caring for the foster youth in your absence; i.e. relatives, babysitters, etc)

• If you are a licensed Child Care provider, the staff that assist you in your childcare must be LiveScan for NCFC

2. Orientation and Training (Minimum of 12 Hours)– Attend Foster Parent Orientation– Attend Advanced I Training– Attend Advanced II Training– Submit current certification card for First Aid/CPR (Infant &

Child)– Submit certification for Water Safety course (if applicable)

3. Documentation/Application Packet– Submit all required forms

• Physical (must be within last 12 months) (LIC 503)• TB Test results/X-Ray if skin test is positive. (must be within the last 12

months)• DMV Printout (NCFC can order if applicant completes the INF 70)• Copies of Identification Card and/or Driver’s License• Copies of Lease/Rental Agreement or Property Deed (homeowners)• Renters or Homeowners Insurance Policy• Vaccination Records of Pets• Reference Letters (Total of 3 references)• Budget Form• Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) process (LIC 198A); child abuse record

check• Budget (LIC 420)• Foster Parent Questionnaire

Steps to Foster Home Certification

4. Interviews and Inspections– Home Inspection (aka “Facility Inspection)

• Health and Safety inspection (checking home/facility per CCL regulations)

• Fire Safety Check

5. Certification– Final check/review of all foster care application/documentation– Final determination by applicant & NCFC to certify applicant– Foster parent certification is issued– Home file is issued

Foster Care Programs

Crisis Foster Care/Short Term Placement

• Youth 9-17 years.• Short term; youth

stays 1-5 days. “Cooling off period.”

• Parents/guardians still have custody of youth.

• Voluntary Program.• Emergency medical

care only.

General Foster Care/Long Term Placement

• Youth 0-21 years• 1 day till age 21• Youth removed

from parents care by CWS; abuse/neglect

• Youth may be in a reunification plan.

• Ongoing wellness care required.– 30 Day Physical

Assembly Bill (AB) 12 was enacted on 1/1/12; the focus of this legislation is

to provide foster care services/support to youth until their 21th birthday.

“Fostering Successful Connections”

• Youth placed through CWS• Youth are 18-21 years old• Eligible for Life Skill Courses

AB 12 Youth

Live Scan Information

Who must complete the Live Scan Fingerprint

process:• Each foster

parent applicant• Each adult that

resides in the foster home

• Any authorized adult that provides care for the foster youth

• Upon completion of your certification with NCFC; provide the Live Scan receipt to NCFC and the costs will be reimbursed.

• Call 1-800-315-4507 to find the nearest Live Scan location.

• Bring Photo Identification, NCFC Live Scan Form and method of payment to the appointment

Title XXII regulations require three (3) reference letters for each foster parent applicant.

NCFC will send out the forms if names and addresses are supplied OR the foster parent applicant can provide the form to the person providing the reference.

Who can provide reference letters:• Co-workers• Friends• Colleagues• Any person who

is not related to the foster parent applicant that has observed the foster parent interacting with children.

Reference Letters

Northern California Family Center Foster Home Applicant Reference

Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________Name of Reference: __________________________________________________Address of Reference: ________________________________________________Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______Has FP Applicant been consistently employed: ____Yes ____No Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________

Please comment on the FP applicant’s: GOOD FAIR POOREmotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .______ ____ _____Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____

Additional comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT:

___________________________ ______________Signature DatePlease complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553, Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you for your time.

Northern California Family Center Foster Home Applicant Reference

Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________Name of Reference: __________________________________________________Address of Reference: ________________________________________________Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______Has FP Applicant been consistently employed: ____Yes ____No Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________

Please comment on the FP applicant’s: GOOD FAIR POOREmotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .______ ____ _____Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____

Additional comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT:

___________________________ ______________Signature DatePlease complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553, Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you for your time.

Northern California Family Center Foster Home Applicant Reference

Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________Name of Reference: __________________________________________________Address of Reference: ________________________________________________Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______Has FP Applicant been consistently employed: ____Yes ____No Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________

Please comment on the FP applicant’s: GOOD FAIR POOREmotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .______ ____ _____Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______ ____ _____

Additional comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT:

___________________________ ______________Signature DatePlease complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553, Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you for your time.

Title XXII regulations require that foster parent applicants submit the following health related forms:

• Heath Screening Report-Facility Personnel (LIC 503)

• Tuberculosis test; if the tuberculin screen test is positive an x-ray is required (LIC 503)

• “Applicant Own Report on Health”

Health Screening Reports

Northern California Family Center Applicant’s Own Report on Health

Name: ___________________ Address: __________________________________Height: _____ Weight: _____ Age: ____ Date of last medical exam: ____________General Health: __Good __Fair __Poor Sleep: __Good __Fair __PoorTire Easily: ____Yes ____No Headaches: ___Often ___Sometimes ___NeverPrimary Dr.’s Name: ________________ Dr.’s Phone #:______________________Most Serious Health Issue: ____________________________________________

Have You Ever Been Treated for: NO YESDiabetes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .___ ___Tuberculosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Heart Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Ulcers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .___ ___Epilepsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Allergies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Substance Abuse Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___

Have You Ever Been Hospitalized for: NO YESPsychiatric Reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___Medical Reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ ___

If you checked “YES” for any of the above, please explain: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND CORRECT:

___________________________ ______________Signature DateThese forms are NOT to be sent to your physician. Each foster parent applicant must fill out a separate form and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553, Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993

CPR/First Aid

Who Must be CPR/First Aid Certified:

• Foster parent applicant• Any adult will be assisting the

foster parent in caring for the foster youth (i.e. Spouse, adult children in the home, daycare providers, etc.)

Infant/Child/Adult CPR & First AidWater Saving CPR/First Aid

CertificationNCFC periodically provides CPR/First

Aid training.After you are a certified foster

parent, you are eligible to attend CPR/First Aid training (for re-

certification) at your local community college free of charge through the Foster Care Education

(FCE) Program.

CPR/First Aid (cont.)

• Each foster parent applicant must demonstrate that their current household income is sufficient to sustain the household prior to becoming a certified foster parent. (LIC 420)

Budget

• Foster Care is a County, State and Federally funded REIMBURSEMENT Program.

• The foster care rates are set by the Federal Government.

• Not taxable income.• Tax benefits for foster parents.

FundingLong Term/General Foster

Care

FundingCrisis/Runaway Foster Care

• $30/bed night• $50/bed night/first night-if foster

parents accept a foster youth after 9pm.

• Invoice process

NCFC has insurance to augment the various insurance coverages of the NCFC

foster parents:• Foster Parents must have vehicle

insurance• The vehicle insurance policy must have

PD and PL with minimum liability of $35,000/person

• Foster parents must have either home owners insurance or renters insurance to cover their “facility”

• Home owners insurance must include personal property and liability coverage

• Renters insurance must include liability coverage

Insurance

NCFC carries the following insurance coverages:

• Personal injury liability• Incidental malpractice liability (limits

liability up to $1,000,000)• Contractual liability

Insurance (cont.)

NCFC insurance provides for the following protections

(in or out of the foster home facility):• Child injury• Lawsuits• Bodily injury claims• Property damage claims• Landlords

Insurance (cont.)

Foster parent applicants are required to have the following pre-certification training (a minimum of 12 hours):• Orientation• Advanced I (Adv. I)• Advanced II (Adv. II)• CPR/First Aid• Mandated Child Abuse Reporting

Training

Annually foster parents are required to have 12 hours of training. Here are some suggested topic areas:

• Child Development• Learning Disabilities• Developmental Disabilities• Trauma/Impact on Children• Life Skill Development• Life Books• Conflict Resolution (i.e. when caring

for siblings)

Training (cont.)

Once all of the above stated forms have been submitted and the

trainings have been completed there are 2 more steps to complete

the certification process:• Foster Parent Questionnaires (2)• Home Visit (“Facility inspection”)From those two steps a foster home narrative will be drafted by a NCFC social worker.

Almost certified…

• At least one certified foster parent resides in the foster home

• No more than three (3) foster youth can be placed in a NCFC foster home at a time (if the home can accommodate 3 youth in accordance with the regulations– Foster youth cannot share a room with

someone of the opposite gender– Foster youth cannot share a room with an adult

• Income of each foster home is sufficient to maintain each home with an adequate standard of living

• 24 Hour Supervision shall be provided for the foster youth– Respite/Vacations– Prudent Parent Standard

Title XXII Foster Care Regulations

“Reasonable and prudent parent standard” means the standard

characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that

maintain the child’s health, safety, and best interests.

Ensuring foster youth can participate in activities the same

or similar as birth children.

Prudent Parent Standard

Prudent Parent Standard (cont.)

Considerations:• Youth’s age

(developmental/chronological)• Legal authorizations (travel orders)

• Level of danger• Level of youth’s skill

• Would you let a birth child do this activity?

• Weapons:– Firearms must be stored in a gun safe– Ammunition must by stored and locked

separately

• Foster parents will participate in and cooperate with the foster youth’s treatment plan (i.e. therapy, school services, visitation, etc)

• Foster parents will maintain a foster youth’s records in a confidential manner:– Life Books– Pentaflex file– Binder– Locked/Centralized

Title XXII Foster Care Regulations

(cont.)

• First Aid Manual/Supplies:– Centralized location– Fully stocked– Replenished on a consistent basis

• Foster Youth Rights (highlights):– To attend spiritual/religious services of the

foster youth’s choosing; or to not attend services

– Telephone County Social Worker, NCFC Social Worker and the foster youth’s attorney anytime, confidentially

– Live free from corporal punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, coercion, threat, deprivation of meals, withholding of regular monetary allowances or denial of court ordered services/visitations

Title XXII Foster Care Regulations

(cont.)

Title XXII Foster Care Regulations

(cont.)

• Foster parents shall provide & encourage:– Social activities– Educational activities– Religious/Spiritual activities– Physical activities– Age appropriate books/toys/games

Title XXII Foster Care Regulations

(cont.)

• Foster homes shall have:– Screened fireplaces/open faced heaters– Three balanced meals and snacks provided

daily– Clean, safe, sanitary, good repair– Hot water temperature (150-120)– Fires extinguisher (2A1OBC);

charged/accessible– Smoke detectors; kitchen, each bedroom,

each level of the facility– First aid kit; fully stocked/accessible– Locked area; all medications/toxic

substances/cleaning products– Inside/Outside of the home; neatly

maintained, no safety hazards– Telephone

Title XXII Regulations

Title XXII Regulations govern all foster care activities:

Regulations in English:•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/Ffaman.pdf•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffhman1.pdf•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffhman2.pdf•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffhman3.pdf•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/ffhman4.pdf

Regulations in Spanish:•http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/Fost%20Fam%20Homes%20Man%20SP.pdf

The Northern California Family Center is a non-profit, licensed Foster Family Agency that has been serving the needs of youth

and families for over 30 years. Our staff are dedicated professionals on-call 24 hours a

day to provide experienced clinical care and assessment for a wide range of

personal and family problems.

Northern California Family Center (NCFC)2244 Pacheco Blvd.Martinez, CA 94553Ph: 925-370-1991Fax: 925-370-1993

Executive Director: Tom Fulton, MA