Frequent Questions

Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions about becoming a foster parent.

What is Foster Care?

When families are unable to provide acceptable care to their children, or if there is abuse, neglect or risk of harm present in the home, a child can be taken into state custody and placed in foster care.  In foster care the child will be placed in an alternative living situation, such as a foster home.  Foster care is meant to be temporary, lasting only as long as it takes for the family to make changes so that the child can return to a safe and stable home.  If the decision is made that a child cannot return home, he or she will remain in foster care until placed in the care of a relative, adopted or emancipated.

What is Therapeutic Foster Care?

Therapeutic foster care comes into play for children who have experienced extreme trauma, abuse or neglect, and require specialized services. These children often have emotional and/or behavioral problems or may have developmental delays or some type of medical condition that requires special care. Many, but not all, children referred to SCYAP are in need of therapeutic foster care. This may sound scary and a bit overwhelming, but rest assured that SCYAP’s experienced staff will be there to ensure you are prepared and able to provide the care and support to a child with complex issues.

What About the Child’s Family?

Foster care is meant to be temporary, and in most cases the goal is for the child to return to his or her family. Foster parents can encourage the child’s connection with his or her family by assisting with visitation, setting up telephone calls, facilitating letter writing or card sending, passing along pictures of the child to the family, etc. We will ensure that involvement with the child’s family is done in a manner that is safe and as comfortable as possible for everyone.

Can I Adopt a Foster Child?

Foster parents are critical in helping a child in foster care to heal from the trauma they have experienced. They provide a caring, safe, loving and stable family environment for a child or group of siblings. There are times when foster parents adopt the foster child placed in their home, but being a foster parent does not guarantee adoption. The ability to adopt a foster child depends on that child’s permanency plan, which is ultimately decided on by the Family Court.

Will I Receive Training and Support?

We will thoroughly prepare you to care for a foster child before any placement in your home is made and we will provide you with ongoing training. You will have a skilled SCYAP worker who will provide family support, advocacy and service coordination to you and the child(ren) placed in your home. Your worker will provide regularly scheduled in-home services, telephonic support, and immediate response services as needed. In addition, SCYAP provides 24-hour per day, 365 day per year on-call support and response services.

Am I Financially Responsible for the Child’s Care?

SCYAP foster families receive a tax-free reimbursement to cover basic expenses of caring for each child placed in their home. Payments are made twice monthly via direct deposit with the daily amount being based on the severity of the child’s needs and the number of days the child was placed in the foster home.

It’s normal to have a list of questions about foster parenting, like “How does the whole process work? When will classes be offered and will I have to take off work? What if I don’t own my home?” We want you to ask questions so you are fully informed and comfortable in making the important and generous choice to become a foster parent. You can call us anytime to learn more about the challenges and rewards of being a foster parent and how you can change a lifetime for a child in need!

Which Regional Office Will Serve My Home?

SCYAP Regions

Didn’t find the answer to your question?

Please contact us for assistance or to answer any question you have. We look forward to hearing from you.