Orientation
Foster Parent Training
The only thing in this world that is
constant is change…change is the
definition of my life.
~Foster Youth, age 16~
What do these
individuals have in
common
(aside from their notoriety)?
Eddie Murphy, Actor/Comedian
Lucky Luciano, Mobster
Dan O’Brien, Olympic Athlete
Marilyn Monroe, Actress
Ice-T, Musician/Actor
Alonzo Mourning, NBA Player
Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady
David Berkowitz aka “Son of Sam”, Serial Killer
Malcolm X, Civil Rights Activist
Willie Nelsen, Singer/Songwriter
Dante Culpepper, NFL Player
Steps to Foster
Home
Certification
1.
Application and Fingerprint Submission (Live Scan)
– Complete Foster parent applications (LIC 283A, LIC 215)
– Live Scan process; criminal background check
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2.
Orientation and Training (Minimum of 12 Hours)
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3.
All adults 18 or older in the home must also complete the Live Scan process.
Respite workers (people who will be caring for the foster youth in your
absence; i.e. relatives, babysitters, etc)
If you are a licensed Child Care provider, the staff that assist you in your
childcare must be LiveScan for NCFC
Attend Foster Parent Orientation
Attend Advanced I Training
Attend Advanced II Training
Submit current certification card for First Aid/CPR (Infant & Child)
Submit certification for Water Safety course (if applicable)
Documentation/Application Packet
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Submit all required forms
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Physical (must be within last 12 months) (LIC 503)
TB Test results/X-Ray if skin test is positive. (must be within the last 12
months)
DMV Printout (NCFC can order if applicant completes the INF 70)
Copies of Identification Card and/or Driver’s License
Copies of Lease/Rental Agreement or Property Deed (homeowners)
Renters or Homeowners Insurance Policy
Vaccination Records of Pets
Reference Letters (Total of 3 references)
Budget Form
Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) process (LIC 198A); child abuse record
check
Budget (LIC 420)
Foster Parent Questionnaire
Steps to Foster
Home Certification
4.
Interviews and Inspections
– Home Inspection (aka “Facility Inspection)
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5.
Health and Safety inspection (checking home/facility per CCL
regulations)
Fire Safety Check
Certification
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Final check/review of all foster care application/documentation
Final determination by applicant & NCFC to certify applicant
Foster parent certification is issued
Home file is issued
Foster Care
Programs
Crisis Foster Care/
Short Term
Placement
• Youth 9-17 years.
• Short term; youth
stays 1-5 days.
“Cooling off
period.”
• Parents/guardians
still have custody
of youth.
• Voluntary
Program.
• Emergency
medical care only.
General Foster Care/
Long Term
Placement
• Youth 0-21 years
• 1 day till age 21
• Youth removed
from parents care
by CWS;
abuse/neglect
• Youth may be in a
reunification plan.
• Ongoing wellness
care required.
– 30 Day Physical
AB 12 Youth
Assembly Bill (AB) 12 was enacted on
1/1/12; the focus of this legislation is
to provide foster care services/support
to youth until their 21th birthday.
“Fostering Successful Connections”
• Youth placed through CWS
• Youth are 18-21 years old
• Eligible for Life Skill Courses
Live Scan
Information
Who must complete
the Live Scan
Fingerprint process:
• Each foster parent
applicant
• Each adult that
resides in the foster
home
• Any authorized
adult that provides
care for the foster
youth
• Upon completion of
your certification
with NCFC; provide
the Live Scan
receipt to NCFC and
the costs will be
reimbursed.
• Call 1-800-315-4507
to find the nearest
Live Scan location.
• Bring Photo
Identification, NCFC
Live Scan Form and
method of payment
to the appointment
Reference
Letters
Title XXII regulations
require three (3)
reference letters for
each foster parent
applicant.
NCFC will send out
the forms if names
and addresses are
supplied OR the
foster parent
applicant can
provide the form to
the person providing
the reference.
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Who can provide
reference letters:
Co-workers
Friends
Colleagues
Any person who is
not related to the
foster parent
applicant that has
observed the
foster parent
interacting with
children.
Northern California Family Center
Foster Home Applicant Reference
Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________
Name of Reference: __________________________________________________
Address of Reference: ________________________________________________
Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________
Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______
Has FP Applicant been consistently employed:
____Yes ____No
Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No
FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________
FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________
Please comment on the FP applicant’s:
GOOD
Emotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
FAIR
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____
____
____
____
____
____
POOR
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Additional comments: ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND
CORRECT:
___________________________
______________
Signature
Date
Please complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553,
Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster
parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you
for your time.
Northern California Family Center
Foster Home Applicant Reference
Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________
Name of Reference: __________________________________________________
Address of Reference: ________________________________________________
Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________
Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______
Has FP Applicant been consistently employed:
____Yes ____No
Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No
FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________
FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________
Please comment on the FP applicant’s:
GOOD
Emotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
FAIR
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POOR
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
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_____
_____
Additional comments: ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND
CORRECT:
___________________________
______________
Signature
Date
Please complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553,
Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster
parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you
for your time.
Northern California Family Center
Foster Home Applicant Reference
Foster Parent (FP) Applicant Name: _____________________________________
Name of Reference: __________________________________________________
Address of Reference: ________________________________________________
Phone # of Reference: ________________________________________________
Relationship to FP Applicant: _______________ Length of time known: _______
Has FP Applicant been consistently employed:
____Yes ____No
Has FP Applicant demonstrated financial stability:____Yes ____No
FP Applicant’s strengths: ____________________________________________
FP Applicant’s challenges: ___________________________________________
Please comment on the FP applicant’s:
GOOD
Emotional Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Morality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Interpersonal Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Role Modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Set Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Work Collaboratively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Housekeeping Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
Ability to Follow Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
FAIR
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POOR
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
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_____
_____
Additional comments: ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND
CORRECT:
___________________________
______________
Signature
Date
Please complete and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez, CA 94553,
Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993; Your feedback is invaluable to the foster
parent applicant in their endeavor to become a certified foster parent. Thank you
for your time.
Health Screening
Reports
Title XXII regulations require that foster
parent applicants submit the following
health related forms:
• Heath Screening Report-Facility
Personnel (LIC 503)
• Tuberculosis test; if the tuberculin
screen test is positive an x-ray is
required (LIC 503)
• “Applicant Own Report on Health”
Northern California Family Center
Applicant’s Own Report on Health
Name: ___________________ Address: __________________________________
Height: _____ Weight: _____ Age: ____ Date of last medical exam: ____________
General Health: __Good __Fair __Poor
Sleep: __Good __Fair __Poor
Tire Easily: ____Yes ____No
Headaches: ___Often ___Sometimes ___Never
Primary Dr.’s Name: ________________ Dr.’s Phone #:______________________
Most Serious Health Issue: ____________________________________________
Have You Ever Been Treated for:
NO
Diabetes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Tuberculosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Heart Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Ulcers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .___
Epilepsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Allergies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Substance Abuse Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
YES
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Have You Ever Been Hospitalized for:
NO
Psychiatric Reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Medical Reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
YES
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If you checked “YES” for any of the above, please explain: ___________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I CERTIFIED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FORGOING IS TRUE AND
CORRECT:
___________________________
______________
Signature
Date
These forms are NOT to be sent to your physician. Each foster parent applicant
must fill out a separate form and return it to: NCFC, 2244 Pacheco Blvd, Martinez,
CA 94553, Ph: 925-370-1991, Fax: 925-370-1993
CPR/First Aid
Who Must be CPR/First Aid
Certified:
• Foster parent applicant
• Any adult will be assisting the
foster parent in caring for the
foster youth (i.e. Spouse, adult
children in the home, daycare
providers, etc.)
CPR/First Aid (cont.)
Infant/Child/Adult CPR & First Aid
Water Saving CPR/First Aid
Certification
NCFC periodically provides
CPR/First Aid training.
After you are a certified foster
parent, you are eligible to attend
CPR/First Aid training (for recertification) at your local
community college free of charge
through the Foster Care Education
(FCE) Program.
Budget
• Each foster parent applicant must
demonstrate that their current
household income is sufficient to
sustain the household prior to
becoming a certified foster
parent. (LIC 420)
Funding
Long Term/General
Foster Care
• Foster Care is a County, State and
Federally funded REIMBURSEMENT
Program.
• The foster care rates are set by the
Federal Government.
• Not taxable income.
• Tax benefits for foster parents.
Funding
Crisis/Runaway Foster
Care
• $30/bed night
• $50/bed night/first night-if foster
parents accept a foster youth after
9pm.
• Invoice process
Insurance
NCFC has insurance to augment the various
insurance coverages of the NCFC foster
parents:
• Foster Parents must have vehicle
insurance
• The vehicle insurance policy must have
PD and PL with minimum liability of
$35,000/person
• Foster parents must have either home
owners insurance or renters insurance to
cover their “facility”
• Home owners insurance must include
personal property and liability coverage
• Renters insurance must include liability
coverage
Insurance (cont.)
NCFC carries the following insurance
coverages:
• Personal injury liability
• Incidental malpractice liability (limits
liability up to $1,000,000)
• Contractual liability
Insurance (cont.)
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NCFC insurance provides for the
following protections
(in or out of the foster home facility):
Child injury
Lawsuits
Bodily injury claims
Property damage claims
Landlords
Training
Foster parent applicants are required
to have the following pre-certification
training (a minimum of 12 hours):
• Orientation
• Advanced I (Adv. I)
• Advanced II (Adv. II)
• CPR/First Aid
• Mandated Child Abuse Reporting
Training (cont.)
Annually foster parents are required to
have 12 hours of training. Here are
some suggested topic areas:
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Child Development
Learning Disabilities
Developmental Disabilities
Trauma/Impact on Children
Life Skill Development
Life Books
Conflict Resolution (i.e. when caring
for siblings)
Almost certified…
Once all of the above stated forms
have been submitted and the
trainings have been completed
there are 2 more steps to complete
the certification process:
• Foster Parent Questionnaires (2)
• Home Visit (“Facility inspection”)
From those two steps a foster home
narrative will be drafted by a NCFC
social worker.
Title XXII Foster
Care Regulations
• At least one certified foster parent
resides in the foster home
• No more than three (3) foster youth
can be placed in a NCFC foster home at
a time (if the home can accommodate
3 youth in accordance with the
regulations
– Foster youth cannot share a room with
someone of the opposite gender
– Foster youth cannot share a room with an
adult
• Income of each foster home is
sufficient to maintain each home with
an adequate standard of living
• 24 Hour Supervision shall be provided
for the foster youth
– Respite/Vacations
– Prudent Parent Standard
Prudent Parent
Standard
“Reasonable and prudent parent
standard” means the standard
characterized by careful and
sensible parental decisions that
maintain the child’s health, safety,
and best interests.
Ensuring foster youth can
participate in activities the same
or similar as birth children.
Prudent Parent
Standard (cont.)
Considerations:
• Youth’s age
(developmental/chronological)
• Legal authorizations (travel orders)
• Level of danger
• Level of youth’s skill
• Would you let a birth child do this
activity?
Title XXII Foster
Care Regulations
(cont.)
• Weapons:
– Firearms must be stored in a gun safe
– Ammunition must by stored and locked
separately
• Foster parents will participate in and
cooperate with the foster youth’s
treatment plan (i.e. therapy, school
services, visitation, etc)
• Foster parents will maintain a foster
youth’s records in a confidential
manner:
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Life Books
Pentaflex file
Binder
Locked/Centralized
Title XXII Foster
Care Regulations
(cont.)
• First Aid Manual/Supplies:
– Centralized location
– Fully stocked
– Replenished on a consistent basis
• Foster Youth Rights (highlights):
– To attend spiritual/religious services of the
foster youth’s choosing; or to not attend
services
– Telephone County Social Worker, NCFC
Social Worker and the foster youth’s
attorney anytime, confidentially
– Live free from corporal punishment,
infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation,
coercion, threat, deprivation of meals,
withholding of regular monetary
allowances or denial of court ordered
services/visitations
Title XXII Foster
Care Regulations
(cont.)
• Foster parents shall provide &
encourage:
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Social activities
Educational activities
Religious/Spiritual activities
Physical activities
Age appropriate books/toys/games
Title XXII Foster
Care Regulations
(cont.)
• Foster homes shall have:
– Screened fireplaces/open faced heaters
– Three balanced meals and snacks provided
daily
– Clean, safe, sanitary, good repair
– Hot water temperature (150-120)
– Fires extinguisher (2A1OBC);
charged/accessible
– Smoke detectors; kitchen, each bedroom,
each level of the facility
– First aid kit; fully stocked/accessible
– Locked area; all medications/toxic
substances/cleaning products
– Inside/Outside of the home; neatly
maintained, no safety hazards
– Telephone
Title XXII
Regulations
Title XXII Regulations govern all foster
care activities:
Regulations in English:
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/Ffaman.pdf
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/ffhman1.pdf
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/ffhman2.pdf
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/ffhman3.pdf
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/ffhman4.pdf
Regulations in Spanish:
• http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/
pdf/Fost%20Fam%20Homes%20Man%20SP.pdf
The Northern California Family Center is a
non-profit, licensed Foster Family Agency
that has been serving the needs of youth
and families for over 30 years. Our staff are
dedicated professionals on-call 24 hours a
day to provide experienced clinical care
and assessment for a wide range of
personal and family problems.
Northern California Family Center (NCFC)
2244 Pacheco Blvd.
Martinez, CA 94553
Ph: 925-370-1991
Fax: 925-370-1993
Executive Director: Tom Fulton, MA