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Christian Family
Care Agency has been providing foster care services to Arizona
families and children since 1982. The Agency is licensed by
the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the Arizona Department
of Health and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
Every day in Arizona, and across the nation, children live in
emergency shelters and other short-term settings as they wait for
appropriate foster homes. Christian Family Care Agency strives to
meet this need by providing temporary, loving Christian homes to
nurture these children.
Children are placed in foster care because their parent or guardian
is not providing a safe, stable or suitable environment for them.
For many children who have been removed from their home due to
circumstances of abuse or neglect, foster care is a temporary
situation. The goal is for them to return home, when the
circumstances that led to foster placement have been resolved. For
others, returning home is not a possibility and those children may
become legally free for adoption. The goal for each of these
children is to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home where they
can grow and thrive.
Today there are an estimated 7,000 children in Arizona and 550,000
children nationwide in out-of-home foster care. These children
represent all ethnic groups and range in age from infants through
teens.
Become a Foster Parent
The
decisions to welcome a foster child into your home and family is one
that requires careful thought and consideration by the entire
family. The love and guidance that foster parents give to a child
can benefit them for the rest of their life. The following
information will help you become more informed about foster
parenting and the requirements for licensing in Arizona.
How
do I know if foster parenting is right for me and my family?
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Do you have the
time and energy to care for a foster child?
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Can you love and
care for a child who has come from a different background than
yours?
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Can you help a
child develop a sense of belonging in your home even though the
stay is temporary?
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Can you love a
child who, because of fear of rejection, does not easily love
you back?
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Are you secure
in yourself and your parenting skills?
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Can you set
clear limits and be both firm and understanding in your
discipline?
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Can you accept
assistance and guidance from trained social workers?
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Can you maintain
a positive attitude toward a child's parents, even though many
of the problems the child experiences are a direct result of the
parent's actions?
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Are you willing
and able to take a child to counseling sessions, doctor's
appointments, court hearings and other regular appointments?
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Can you love a
child with all your heart and then let go knowing that the
investment you've made in their life is priceless?
If
you can say "yes" or "probably" to these questions, then there are
children who need you.
To
become a licensed foster parent in the State of Arizona you must:
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Be 21 years of
age or older.
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Have adequate
income to support your own family's needs, prior to receiving
the foster care reimbursement.
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Have adequate
living space for a foster child including a separate bed and
dresser space for each child.
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Pass a home
inspection by the Department of Heath Services.
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Receive a
Physician's statement verifying emotional and physical health.
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Pass a
background check and fingerprint clearance.
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Provide personal
references.
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Complete a
family and home assessment.
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Complete all
training classes provided by CFCA - Both single people and
married couples are urged to apply.
Christian Family
Care Agency is a licensing agency contracted by the State of
Arizona. We will walk you through the licensing process, provide
you with training, conduct your home study and prepare you for the
home inspection. After you become licensed, CFCA will assign you an
ongoing caseworker to help you find a placement and to encourage you
as you nurture a hurting child or children. We also are responsible
to help you renew your license each year.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who
are the children in foster care?
Approximately 2% of children in
foster care are under the age of 1; about 27% are between the ages
of 1 and 5; 27% are between the ages of 6 and 12 and 34% are over 12
years old. The majority of foster children come into care with at
least one sibling.
What
age group represents the greatest need for foster homes?
The greatest need is for foster
parents who are able to take a sibling group of two or three
school-age children.
How
much will it cost to become a foster parent?
There is no charge to become
licensed as a foster family.
How
long will it take for a child to be placed in my home?
The licensing process usually takes
about six months. A child may be placed in your home anytime after
the licensing is complete.
How
long do foster children usually stay in the foster home?
The length of placement varies from
a few weeks to a few years. Generally a placement will last between
one and two years.
Can
I specify the age, sex or number of children I'd like placed in my
home?
Yes. After you finish the
licensing process you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire
regarding the age, sex and number of children you are interested in,
as well as the emotional and physical challenges you are willing to
tackle. Before placement is made, your licensing worker will
discuss a specific child with you and help you decide whether or not
that child would be a match for your family.
What
if I only want to foster parent infants?
You may request that only infants
be placed in your home, however children often remain in foster care
for a year or more, so a baby placed in your home won't be a baby
for long! There are also many sibling groups that include an infant
in need of foster homes.
What
compensation do I receive as a foster parent?
After a child is placed in your
home, the State will pay you a monthly reimbursement to cover the
cost of room, board, clothing and supplies for the child. Rates are
based on the age of the child, and the extent of the care required.
All of the child's medical, dental and prescription drug expenses
are covered by the State Medical Plan. Therapy costs are also
covered by the State.
What
other support will I receive as a foster parent?
To ensure the success of our foster
families, CFCA provides training, counseling and support to all
families. As a foster parent, you are part of a team of
professionals who share the responsibility of caring for the child.
This includes:
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A CFCA Licensing
Specialist who will regularly visit your home and who will
provide you with support and guidance.
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Child care
assistance for working parents. (However, some children do
require a stay-at-home parent.)
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A respite
program that provides short-term care for the foster child to
relieve you from the challenging duties of foster parenting.
What
happens to a foster child when they leave my home?
While children are in foster care,
Child Protective Services is working with their family to rectify
the problems that caused them to come into care to begin with. The
family is provided with multiple services including: alcohol and
drug rehabilitation, anger management counseling and parenting
classes. If the parent shows progress in getting their life under
control, the child will be returned to them. A social worker will
continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the child is safe
and secure. If the parent cannot overcome the barriers to
parenting, an adoptive family will be sought for the child.
Can
I adopt my foster child?
Children that cannot be returned to their birth parents may become
legally free for adoption; many are adopted by their foster parents.
Isn't it hard to let a child go after having them become a part of
your family?
Yes, it is hard. However, the love
and guidance that you give to a child as a foster parent can benefit
them for the rest of their life.
To
learn more about foster parenting or to attend an
orientation or training
session -
In Phoenix/Northern Arizona,
call
602.234.1935
In Tucson/Southern Arizona,
call 520.296.8255
or submit the
Request
Information Form on
the Contact page for more info.
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
Foster Care
Resources
Foster Parent
Community
Information for foster and adoptive families, prospective foster and
adoptive families and anyone involved in the field of working with
at-risk-children.
National Foster
Parent Association
NFPA is a non-profit, volunteer organization that strives to support
foster parents.
CFCA Foster Care and Adoption Resource Library
The CFCA Foster Care and Adoption Resource Library is available
for community use. The library, created through a grant
received from Ronald McDonald House Charities, includes books
focused on adoption, foster care and parenting. It
specifically provides resources for families who are parenting
children with special needs, particularly those children who have
been abused, neglected or abandoned. Additionally, the library
includes a broad selection of illustrated stories about adoption for
both preschool- and school-aged children.
The
library, which includes more than 1,000 books and videos, is located
in the Phoenix office at 3603 North 7th Avenue and is open during
the Agency's regular business hours.
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