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Do you have your Foster Care License?
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AJ, just before he left the orphanage for the last time, just under three years ago.
At our three year post placement for AJ we turned in the last of our Foster Care paperwork for the foster care bi-annual check-up. In order to adopt a child in the state of Illinois (either internationally or domestically) one has to get a foster care license.
In the news just this last week many families have been inquiring about an abandoned baby left at 4600 N. Beacon St. Anyone who wishes to adopt the baby boy must go through the Department of Child and Family Services.
People who wish to apply for a Foster Care License must be:
- may be single, married, divorced,
- may or may not have children
- must be at least 21 years old
- must be able to financially manage themselves and children
- must have no criminal history
The Steps to get a Foster Care License in Illinois can be lengthy and on average can take 3-6 months.
- Orientation Meeting: You will learn all about Foster Care, the process for the license, and what it takes to nurture a child.
- Application
- Criminal Background Check and fingerprints
- Training Classes that average 9-30 Hours. These will be continuous so that you stay up to date with parenting and adoption "trends".
- Home Study and Interview
As a Foster Care Home you will have to have the following:
- be clean, well ventilated, properly lighted and heated, and free of fire hazards
- have a safe water supply (and have appropriate water heating devices)
- provide protection from poisoning and injury
- have room for a child
- have an operating telephone or approval for quick access to a telephone
There are several types of Foster Care, not just the traditional Foster/Adopt programs that one hears about. Families can donate time to help interim care children or to foster special needs children.
My husband and I have actually inquired about being interim foster parents for newborns who are awaiting placement with their adoptive families. However, since we are bringing Gus home in the fall and because AJ needs so much attention we feel that this will be a great thing for us to do later in life.
If you are at all interested make sure you click this link to meet some Illinois kids who need homes. Who knows?
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