Child Welfare / Foster Care - Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health


Child Welfare / Foster Care How to Become a Foster Parent Foster Parent Locations Foster Parent / Provider Resources	Child Welfare / Foster Care How to Become a Foster Parent As part of the Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health network and continuum of care, our foster care programs operate with the belief that all individuals deserve a loving, supportive and nurturing family – and a positive home environment – to help them reach their unique potential. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent to a child with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences, we would love to connect with you! While every state and Devereux center has its own requirements and regulatory practices, please look below for high-level requirements you will need to become a foster parent. You must: Be 21+ years of age Have a birth certificate Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States Obtain/pass a fingerprint clearance and a criminal background check (criminal and child abuse) for all household members over the age of 18 Demonstrate the ability to meet financial expenses without a reliance on foster care reimbursement Have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance Complete a Home Study process Pass a safety inspection of the residence Own an operable vehicle with a valid registration and insurance, or assure dependable transportation needs Have marriage or divorce certificate or documentation, if applicable Show proof of a physical healthcare examination Complete pre-service foster parent training Provide personal references Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health requires all candidates interviewing for a position involving contact with children to complete The Diana Screen^®, which assesses an individual’s understanding of appropriate boundaries between adults and children. Look below and click on the links of the state in which you reside to learn more! Foster Parent Locations Devereux impacts the lives of thousands of individuals in the foster care system every year. We care for children – from infancy to 21 years of age – who have been removed from their biological families due to abuse or neglect, and who have been diagnosed with emotional, behavioral and/or cognitive differences. Our foster care programs also offer services for adults who have been diagnosed with mental illness. Foster care services – offered in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts/Rhode Island, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – include: Traditional Foster Care (FL, PA): Foster care homes for children and adolescents that provide 24-hour crisis consultation and support to families through our professional staff, as well as in-home assistance and foster parent support groups. In Pennsylvania, we accept mother/baby referrals. Therapeutic Foster Care (AZ, FL, GA, MA/RI, NJ, PA): Specially-trained foster parent homes that provide a stable, supportive and highly-supervised home environment for children and adolescents with medical, psychological, social and emotional needs, including youth diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Treatment Family Program (PA): Specialized, intensive foster care services for youth diagnosed with I/DD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Treatment parents are supported in a variety of ways, including: service training, support groups, respite care and 24-hour consultation services. Adult Therapeutic Foster Care (AZ, FL, PA): Foster or life-sharing homes specifically designed for adults diagnosed with developmental differences and/or mental illness who need support with daily activities in a family-based setting. Respite Care (AZ, PA): Foster homes offer planned respite care for youth – both in the foster care system and the community – to prevent out of home placements. Devereux also offers respite care for adults in our foster care programs. Foster Parent / Provider Resources Our Devereux foster parents/providers are a critical part of each foster individual’s “team” and are trained to: 1) provide a nurturing, caring and structured environment within their homes, and 2) care for those who may have challenging behaviors or special needs. All Devereux foster parents/providers receive support from a variety of resources to prevent and reduce stress and family crisis, including: Free training and support groups Frequent consultation with our knowledgeable staff who have expertise working with individuals with emotional, behavioral and/or cognitive differences Comprehensive mental health services for the individual; medical care is paid by the state Paid respite care and financial assistance to help with the individual’s food, clothing and personal allowance* *Note: This service may not be available in all Devereux centers. Please visit our center pages for more information. We seek a diverse pool of foster parents/providers who reflect our diverse clientele. Devereux welcomes single, married, partnered, or cohabitating individuals to become foster parents/providers. In addition, Devereux works closely with LGBT foster and adoptive families. At Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, it is our policy to practice nondiscrimination in services. All activities with regard to referrals, admissions, placement of individuals and provision of services are conducted without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is proud to recruit, train and support LGBTQ foster parents, some of whom later become adoptive parents.