How to Be a Specialized Foster Parent In Virginia

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A big heart
An extra bedroom
Patients
Time
Love

Step 1

First we need to know what a Specialized Foster Parent means. A Specialized Foster Parent is an adult who takes on the responsibility of a child (not their own) and takes training classes. These classes continue monthly for as long as you want to be Specialized. There are also different levels assigned to the children, depending on their circumstances; child's diagnosis, age of child, etc. For example: a child under the age of 5 with no diagnosis is first level. Once that child is 5 years old, they are bumped to second level. Now this same child gets diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) & LD (Learning Disability) and this child is a third level. If the child turns 12 years old or gets another diagnosis, they are at the fourth level and the highest level (this is an example and there are other ways to reach each level. Any child exceeding this level falls in the "Salaried Specialized Foster Parent". These parents earn $30,000 or more a year per child (limited to two at this level per household).
Step 2

Some people think you should look at foster care as a business. You're taking care of someone else's children until they go home or move on. These foster parents are concerned about the bottom line; the money. In Virginia, there is a reimbursement for foster parents and you earn extra if you are a Specialized Foster Parent. The agency and state consider the "payment" as "reimbursement". The higher the level of the child, the more you are paid. Some parents negotiate the amount they will settle for each child and what other benefits they want, like not having to take children to appointments ~ having a driver. The benefit of this is that they don't get attached to the children placed in their home. One type of child that would do well in this environment is a child diagnosed with detachment disorder. This child will not be able to attach to them and would not be harmed by the "business" type of approach.
Step 3

Other Specialized Foster Parents look at it through their hearts ~ it's about the children. They also get paid but they don't typically negotiate. It's all about the kids. These parents are all about nurturing the children and usually think of the foster children as their own for the duration. This type has a downfall for the foster parents ~ it's hard when the children leave. It can also be hard on the children to leave but they hopefully are going home (where they want to be) or they are being adopted into a loving family and they will never have to leave a family again.
Step 4

To become a Specialized Foster Parent, you must find an Organization that fits you. I have several listed in the Resource section below. There may be others but I'm not aware of them. If you do not live in Virginia, just do a search on "Treatment Foster Care Agencies". You can add "In (your state)" to narrow the search.
Step 5

Once you have chosen your organization, they will have a "training" program for you to complete of 12 hours or so. This usually is broken into 2 hour classes but they are pretty flexible and will work with your schedule (my husband and I did three 4 hour classes on three consecutive Saturdays). Both parents (unless you are single) will most likely have to be at the initial training. Once these classes are over, only one is usually required and the parents can take turns or one can do all of the meetings or both can go together.
Step 6

While you are getting through the classes, the agency will do a background check on you (everyone 16 year and older living in your home) and your finger prints should be taken. They should also do a check on your house and finances. If they don't do a thorough check, I'd be cautious. You don't want to be associated with an agency that doesn't protect it's children. Not thoroughly checking on the foster parents could mean they don't care about either the children or their foster parents.
Step 7

Once your classes are finished, the background checks, fingerprints, financial paperwork, and house inspection are completed and in the agencies office, you will be placed on a list. It may take six months to get your first placement (child) or it may take a week.
Step 8

Even before you get your first placement, you should be expected to attend monthly training classes. These meetings last 1 to 2 hours. The topics can range from "Sexually Transmitted Diseases" to "Dealing with Bipolar Disorder" to "Acceptable and Unacceptable Behavior" to many other topics. These meetings are a support group as well as training. They usually set aside thirty minutes or more for the parents to ask questions or get advice from the other parents.
Step 9

Once a child is placed with you, a placement worker should visit your house once a month and the foster child twice (once at your home and once away from your home). Once you have foster children in your home, many agencies will provide "babysitting" or an activity during the meetings. If they don't, you should try to arrange for babysitting away from the meeting.
Step 10

When my husband and I were Specialized Foster Parents, we didn't look at it as a "business". We were very much the second type of family. For 12 years we took many children into our home and made them part of our family. The payoff for us was getting to know the children and hopefully making a difference in their lives. Many of our foster children continue to keep in touch with us today.
Step 11

The best part of being foster parents was knowing the children and watching them blossom into confident children. The children that came through our home were so precious to us that we adopted three of the girls who started out foster children in our home.
Step 12

The worst part was when the foster children had to leave. It was easier when the children went to a good place (home or an adoptive family). It was awful when they went back to an unhealthy home life.