How to Become a Foster Parent in Wichita, Kansas

Becoming a foster parent can be a rewarding experience.

Foster parents provide care for children who have been subjected to abuse, neglect or poor parenting and cannot remain with their biological families. Becoming a foster parent in Wichita, Kansas is a great responsibility that can change a child's life for the better. Many different people become foster parents for different reasons and at different points in their lives. As long as you have the determination, patience, flexibility and sense of humor you too can help a child in the foster care system by providing a nurturing environment.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access

Instructions

1. Research children's services and agencies that specialize in foster care in Wichita. You can do this online or by contacting the state authorities. Youthville and Kansas Children's Service League both operate in the area and are a good place to start. Choose an agency you feel comfortable with and don't hesitate to contact them if you require any additional information.

2. Check the requirements to become a foster parent for your chosen agency and assess whether you should continue with your application. Youthville require that foster parents be 21 years of age or older, either married or single, in good general physical and emotional health, financially able to support themselves and their families and able to pass a KBI/CANIS child abuse background check. These requirements may vary between agencies so it is best to check them early in the process.

3. Contact your chosen foster care agency to begin the process. You can either join an informal group meeting or request an individual session with a representative from the agency to discuss the steps of the fostering process and to assess whether you are ready to continue.

4. Take a training course for the Partnering for Safety and Permanency, Model Approaches to Partnership in Parenting (PS-MAPP). It is a state requirement in Kansas for all foster parents to take this course and it is offered by most agencies as a free service. The course will prepare you for the role of successful foster parent and increase your awareness and understanding of the children needing care.

5. Schedule a meeting with your chosen agency at your home. The agency will asses whether your home passes the basic fire and health safety requirements and whether it will provide a nurturing environment for children in foster care.

6. Await the outcome of your home inspection. Upon approval your home will be licensed as an official foster care home and as soon as a suitable child becomes available you will begin to have children placed into your home and care.

Tips & Warnings

• Involve your family in your decisions. Becoming a foster parent will affect your whole family and it is worth discussing foster care at the earliest point to avoid any disruption in your normal family life.

• The main goal of fostering is to reunite the foster child with their biological parents; foster parents must agree with this.

References

• Kansas Children's Service League: Foster Care
• Youthville: Become a Foster Parent