May is Foster Care Awareness Month

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month.  Know someone who is considering fostering a local child?  Here are some helpful steps to begin the process.

Becoming a Foster Care Parent

1. Attend the 36-hour pre-service training (12 – 3 hour sessions).
   For more information and schedules, visit: http://cfs.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/perservice-training.aspx
2. Application submission.
   You are given an application to foster and/or adopt children in the first pre-service training session.  The application can be submitted at any time between the start of training and up to 12 months.
3. Home study.
   Home studies can take 4-6 months and entail a series of visits from the home study social worker who will conduct interviews with all household members and perform safety checks.
4. The approval.
   Once the home study is complete and successful, your family can be approved to be considered as a foster or adoptive family.
5. The matching process.
   Once approved, the process of matching a child in need with your family begins.  Information regarding the sex, age, and other characteristics you have specified are considered during the placement process.

To learn more about the foster care/adoption process, please read the Foster/Adoption Family Handbook.

Post a Flyer and Help Spread Awareness

Click on the following graphic to download a Stop The Wait PDF flyer. Feel free to distribute and help build awareness.