(951) 674-9400
information@kamalii.org
So you want to be a resource parent? Great!
Resource parenting is one of the most challenging and rewarding journeys you can experience. Every day you have the opportunity to improve a kid’s life. Foster kids deal with many challenges that other children can hardly imagine, but with your love and support they can discover a happier, healthier future.
In this article, we discuss what it takes to become a resource parent, answer some commonly asked questions, and offer resources for getting started.
Who Can Become a Resource Parent?
Foster agency resource parents come from a wide variety of different backgrounds. Resource parents can be single or married, but need to be at least 21 years of age. You’ll also need a reliable source of income, dependable transportation, and available space in your home.
One thing that all resource parents have in common is their desire to help children in need.
How to Become a Resource Parent
To become a foster agency resource family you must first meet a number of requirements:
• Complete 24 hours of classroom training.
• Pass a FBI and Criminal Record background check, and a Child Abuse Index check.
• Complete CPR and First Aid training
• Possess a valid government issued ID
• Verify current automobile insurance coverage
• Complete a medical health questionnaire
• Meet home safety requirements
• Provide family references
Most important requirement is the desire to love and care for a child in need. We need families who will support our mission to provide foster youth and young adults safe, supportive environments which empower them to be part of their local communities.
Candidates can fill out an online application to begin the approval/verification process. All resource families will be assessed for permanency. Interest in adopting is not required to become a foster family, and you can always change your mind down the road. Once approved resource families will be provided continual training so they’re well equipped to support foster youth.
How to Prepare for the Home Environment Assessment
Single-family houses, town homes, and apartments are all appropriate environments for foster youth. However, foster children do require their own beds and some need their own room. They also need dressers and adequate closet space.
A home environment assessment will be conducted after you’ve completed your application. An agency social worker will evaluate your home based on State in the Interim Licensing Standards and Community Care Regulations.
What they look for includes:
• Medications and knives are inaccessible to children.
• All pets are licensed and vaccinated.
• Number of pets in your home doesn’t exceed city ordinances.
• Pool/ open water safety measures.
• Youth bedrooms are set up and prepared for foster youth.
• Fire safety requirements.
• Natural disaster plans.
• Functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Other requirements, like outdoor activities and food, will be discussed in greater detail in your classroom training.
The home environment assessment also includes a psychosocial assessment. This is an in-depth home study that is conducted at the prospective families home by an agency social worker. The assessment includes individual and joint interviews to explore if becoming a resource parent is right for you. Topics may include your own upbringing, your philosophy on discipline, experience raising your own children, and your attitude towards birth parents. The findings will be summarized in a written report describing a family’s social history as it relates to their skills and abilities to parent foster children.
Training for Resource Parents
All resource families have to complete 24 hours of classroom training.
This includes:
• Orientation class
• 2 in-person classes (2 hours each)
• 2 zoom classes (2 hours each)
• Online courses
• 12 hours of post-training (online and recorded)
• First aid/ CPR
Pre-training consists of four classes and online training totaling about 12 hours. The first and final class will be in person, while the second and third will take place online via Zoom. Classes need to be completed in order.
Once you’ve completed pre-training you can continue with your application, home assessment, and background check.
Post-training consists of a mix of recorded and online courses, and must be completed before you have your first placement. First Aid and CPR training is also required. If you’ve already completed this, you can provide us with a copy of your certification card. If you are not CPR certified, Kamali’i Agency can help you get that completed.
Support for Resource Parents
Kamali’i Foster Family Agency provides resource families and kids the tools they need to create loving environments that empower youth.
Our agency offers resource families:
• 24 hour on call support services.
• Personal assistance throughout the approval process.
• Continued training for resource families.
• Monthly reimbursements to cover transportation, food, clothing, personal care, activities, allowance, and school needs.
• Respite care to give resource families a break when needed.
• Liaison between resource families, county officials, and other parties.
And we offer foster youth:
• Educational support.
• Informal individual and family counseling.
• Independent Living Skills Program for teens.
• Life long connections.
How Foster Kids Get Placed
Resourc parents are not required to accept every youth who gets referred to their home. On the contrary, we prioritize finding the best possible fit between resource families and foster youth. That’s why we strongly encourage every resource family to voice their opinions and concerns regarding a prospective foster child. This will reduce the risk of placement disruption, preventing another loss for the child. Refusing a placement will not result in withholding future referrals.
Prior to placement, an agency social worker will share with you information about the child, including social history, needs, allergies, reason for placement, medication, therapy needs (if any), challenging behaviors, and educational placement.
If a family does not feel comfortable accepting a child into their home, they have the right to decline placement. But, upon acceptance of a child for placement in your home, we do expect the family to be committed to the child throughout the entire foster placement.
During the home assessment process, resource parents can discuss with the agency social worker what age and sex they prefer.
How Long Do Foster Kids Stay with a Resource Family?
Some foster youth may only stay the night and others may stay for extended periods of time. There is no definite length of time a child may be in your home. The goal of foster care is to reunite families, and typically biological parents have from six to 24 months to achieve stability leading towards reunification.
How to Get Started
To get started, email information@kamalii.org or call (760) 761-4300.
