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FAMILY FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
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Family foster care offers a temporary home for a child whose parents are having a crisis. Whenever possible, children who must be removed from their families are placed in a foster home in their own neighborhood. The goal of family foster care is to provide a safe, nurturing place for children to live until they can be reunited with their own families, placed with relatives, or adopted.
What benefits does a foster parent receive?
Being a foster parent is the highest form of public service. Foster parents have the respect of their community, and the reward of knowing they have helped to stabilize a family in crisis. Foster parents receive a monthly payment to cover the child's expenses. Foster parents also receive the support of social workers and other trained people.
Who are the children in foster care?
Children in foster care are children from your neighborhood. They can be of any race, infants to teenagers, and of either sex. They are abused or neglected, and some have been exposed to domestic violence or substance abuse. They are children who want to remain attached to their families despite their experiences. They are children whose families need the help of your family.
What skills do I need to be a foster parent?
You must enjoy working with children and their families. Since children in foster care need to remain connected with their families we are looking for foster families who:
- will give birth parents the chance to remain in contact with their children;
- will be part of the team working to reunite children with their families; and
- will demonstrate good parenting skills
How do I become a foster parent?
To become a foster parent call the Frederick County Department of Social Services at 301-600-2466. Also you must:
- Must reside in Frederick County
- Must be over the age of 21
- Can be married or single
- Everyone in your home 18 and older must have criminal and child protective services background checks
- Need to have a stable income
- Must be willing to work with children's birth families
- Must have the desire to love and parent a child
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