Foster / Adoption

URGENT NEED - FAMILIES FOR ADOLESCENTS!
While arrangements are being made for children to be returned to their families, many children need temporary living arrangements. We currently have a shortage of available foster families willing to take adolescents.

Becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent

Richland County Children Services believes every child needs a permanent home. Many of our foster parents adopt the children who are placed with them. Others help children prepare for placement with an adoptive family or relative.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent can call 419-774-4100.

To become a foster or adoptive parent:

• You can be married, single, or divorced.
• You can have other children.
• You must be over 21 years old.
• You can own or rent your home or apartment.
• You can leave the foster child with an approved appropriate sitter while you work.
• You will receive training to help understand and respond to the child's needs.
• You will be fingerprinted for a criminal background check.
• You will receive reimbursement for caring for the foster child.

An assessor will contact you to help you decide if foster care or adoption is a good plan for your family. Our representative will also give you an application and a medical form to complete for each member of your family. The law requires that a criminal background check be run on all applicants, therefore, you will be fingerprinted. In addition, references you provide will be contacted. While these checks are being run, you will attend training classes to help you prepare for your future role as a foster or adoptive parent. The initial licensing and training process may take up to six months.

Foster & Adoptive Families' Services

• Foster care reimbursement
• High quality training
• Clothing allowance 
• Mileage / Parking reimbursement
• Medical, dental, counseling, and therapy needs 
• Pre-placement Adoption services 
• The Foster Family Association 
• Post-placement Adoption services
• On-going visitation 
• Foster parent manual
• Summer camp programs 
• Respite care stipend

Post Adoptive Special Services Subsidy

This program is designed to assist adoptive families who have adopted children with special needs through public child welfare agencies. Occasionally, children who have been adopted require special assistance or develop special needs. Many times these special needs are related to pre-existing conditions or may have developed after the adoption was finalized but are related to the child's having been adopted. These "special needs" are often attributed to factors in the child's pre-adoptive background or medical history of the birth family.

Family Centered Treatment Foster Care

The treatment foster care program serves children (0-21 years old) who are behaviorally challenged. Foster families are selected for this program as a result of their demonstrated ability to provide a family based treatment environment for behaviorally challenged children. Our experience indicates that behaviorally challenged children can make significant gains when trained foster parents use treatment skills and consistent implementation of a motivation system. Once the child's behavior stabilizes, they may no longer need this high degree structure, in order to transition into a safe, permanent home in the community.

What is Foster Care?

Foster care involves the temporary care of children who are not safe with their family's home due to abuse, neglect, or dependency. Families who are willing to share their homes with children who temporarily cannot live with their parents or relatives provide foster care.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
Foster parents are people who:

• Care for children of all ages, races, and religions from all geographic areas.
• Meet the basic day-to-day needs of the children and work with the family's social worker regarding family member visitations, special treatment needs of the child and the hopeful reunification of the child with the family.
• Are open to a child's past, willing to adjust their parenting to fit a child's needs, and are vital members of the treatment team.
• Enjoy the challenges and rewards that come from helping youth develop self-esteem and a healthy perspective on life.
• Share their hearts, their homes and their family experience.

What can you expect from RCCS' Foster program?
RCCS serves children and families through a team approach. The team includes foster/adoptive parents, birth parents, the child, the foster care specialist, adoption specialist, therapist, community professionals, and a social worker.

RCCS values foster parents as a child's special resource
RCCS foster parents receive:

• Intensive training prior to a child placement in your home.
• Ongoing training.
• 24-hour support.
• Counseling and support groups
• Monetary stipend to help with the cost of taking care of the children placed in your home, including therapy, medical, and dental expenses that the child may need.
• Continuing financial assistance and support services after adoption.
• Case management services intended to keep you informed and part of the team.

Why do we need you?
Children need to feel safe and nurtured while they are waiting to go home or to be adopted. Foster parents are needed to help them heal from past experiences and to help them grow emotionally, psychologically, and educationally.

Who are the children?

• Children who are victims of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency.
• Children who struggle with emotional and/or behavior challenges that are a direct result of abuse, neglect, and dependency.
• Children who have a disability.
• Pre-teens and teenagers.
• Brothers and sisters who need to be together.
• Children who have led traumatic, chaotic lives and have rarely experienced stability.
• Children who need acceptance, guidance, nurturing, and a stable environment that will encourage their healing and growth.