Who can become foster parents? Any mature couple or individual over the age of 25 residing in New Jersey is eligible to be a foster parent. You must have a stable home environment and an adequate household income. No member of the household can have a violent criminal history or child abuse record.
What do I have to do to become an FIS foster parent? All applicants must complete a paperwork process, which includes an application, personal, employment and medical references, a criminal background check and a DYFS background check. Once the paperwork is accepted and processed applicants must complete a 27-hour PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education) pre-service training class. The PRIDE class introduces you to the foster care system and gives you the opportunity to assess your appropriateness for fostering. Finally, all applicants are interviewed and their homes are physically inspected by FIS. FIS then forwards recommended applicants’ information to The Office of Licensing (OOL), who will complete a final physical inspection and grant a foster home license.
Do I have to be in perfect health to become a foster parent? All household members must have a physical exam verifying that there are no physical conditions that may impede their ability to be a foster parent. A negative tuberculosis test is also required.
What if I have a criminal or DYFS history? If a household member was arrested and/or convicted of any assault, domestic violence, or child endangerment charge, they cannot receive a foster home license. Other criminal charges are addressed on a case-by-case basis. A substantiated child abuse allegation will also prevent someone from becoming a foster parent. Inform FIS of any arrests or DYFS involvement.
I am not working right now. Can I still become a foster parent? Foster parents must submit a budget report demonstrating adequate financial resources to maintain the family without foster care reimbursements.
Can we be foster parents if we both work outside the home? Foster parents can be employed but approved arrangements must be made for childcare and emergencies. All FIS foster parents are required to identify an Emergency Care Provider who will need to complete a criminal and DYFS background check.
What if I’m a single parent? FIS recognizes that single parents can give high quality care to a child. However, be advised that single applicants must provide a structured childcare plan that includes after-school care and daycare for school vacations and holidays.
How long will the child stay with me and my family? The length of stay varies with each child. Emergency foster care is short term. Many of our children have no parental involvement and are looking for long-term placements.
How many foster children can we take? That depends on factors such as your ability, your enthusiasm, how many children you have of your own, and how much room you have in your home. Although OOL sets the maximum number, FIS makes all decisions regarding the number of children that will be placed in a home.
Do foster children need individual bedrooms? No, but the foster family must have adequate room in their home/apartment. A foster child can share a room with your children or other foster children of the same sex. The child must have a bed of his or her own. Children under two may share a room with the foster parents. A foster child over age 2 may not share a bedroom with an adult -- except for brief periods due to the child's illness or another need for attention.
Can I leave a foster child home alone? No. FIS requires that all foster parents provide 24-hour supervision. Anyone who will be alone with the child must be an approved Emergency Care Provider.
Will a child’s birth parents visit him or her? In some cases, yes. In fact, visits between parents and children are an essential part of the efforts to reunite families. FIS/DYFS has the primary responsibility for planning visits and arranging supervision, if required. The caseworker will talk with you and the child's parents to work out the time and location of the visits. In some cases, a foster child will not have any parent(s) or family, or the parent's rights are being or have been terminated
What is the difference between state and private run foster care? Many foster parents work directly with DYFS. DYFS also contracts with private agencies like FIS to provide foster care and other services to families and children. In turn, we provide services, support and direct supervision of the foster home and the children placed there.
Who is the Office of Licensing? The Office of Licensing is a unit of DYFS responsible for inspecting and approving all foster homes in New Jersey. In accordance with state legislation, they will complete an inspection of your home and ensure that you are meeting and continue to meet the state requirements. FIS will assist all foster parents in preparing for their inspections and addressing any violations that may arise.
Who are the Division of Youth and Family Services? The Division of Youth and Family Services is the state’s child protection/child welfare agency. They are mandated to investigate all allegations of child abuse and if necessary, arrange for the child’s protection and the family’s treatment. All children in foster care are under the supervision of DYFS. Each child is assigned a caseworker who is personally responsible for the child’s case management.
