Before a child can be placed in your home, your home must be approved through an assessment process. From beginning to end, you will have a Resource Family Approval social worker available to answer questions and equip you with needed information regarding the process of becoming approved to care for youth in foster care.
1. Application Process
To begin, you will need to log into "BINTI" to complete the application process that includes information about your family, family history, and the reasons you are interested in becoming a resource parent. You will get information on what is needed to become a Resource Family and the needs of children in foster care.
2. Training
If you decide caring for a child is right for you and your family, you will need to complete Pre-Approval training.
The goals of the training are:
- Meet the protective, developmental, cultural and permanency needs of children placed with families
- Strengthen families
- Provide information and tools to care for children who have experienced trauma
- Share resources
Training includes topics such as children attachment issues, grief and loss, discipline, effects of abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, and the effects of foster care and adoption on the family.
You will also be required to attend Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First-Aid training.
3. At-Home Consultation
The RFA social worker will schedule a time to meet with you and your family in your home. We will make sure your home passes basic fire and health inspections and provides a suitable environment for children in foster care. You will be informed of necessary requirements during your training. The RFA social worker will conduct interviews with your family to gain information about your family and how you may best assist children in foster care.
4. Complete and Pass Criminal Background Check
Not all criminal history will prevent you from being approved. Applicants with criminal or arrest history are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In certain circumstances, the law allows for exemptions to be made when there is criminal history.
5. Approval
At this stage you and the RFA social worker can make decisions about the number of children, ages and behaviors of the children that you feel you can successfully accept into your family. When you are officially approved to accept foster children into your home, you will receive your approval certificate.
6. Placement
Once you are approved, you will begin to receive children into your home at your discretion. When a placement is needed for a child, you will receive a call from our Centralized Placement Support Unit (CPSU) to discuss a particular child. You will have an opportunity to review their history with the social worker and ask questions. You are under no obligation to take youth you do not believe is a right fit for your family.
