foster care services
Frequently Asked Questions 

• Be at least 21 years of age

 

• Have sufficient income to support themselves without   relying on foster care payments

 

• Discipline children in a positive manner without the use of physical punishment

 

• Provide supervision appropriate to the age or specific behavior of the child as outlined by the social worker

 

• Complete training:

  • First Aid/CPR

  • Blood Borne Pathogens

  • Licensing Orientation

  • Pre-service Training

 

• Complete a background clearance check with the FBI and Washington State Patrol

 

• Medical screening (if applicable, doctor's note)

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• TB screening for all adults in the home (if applicable, doctor's note or negative TB test)

The licensing process takes roughly 3-6 months, and involves

the steps outlined below.

 

Our foster care licensor plays an active role in assisting you through each step of the process, and is available during office hours for any questions you may have.

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• Initial 2-3 hour interview

 

• 26 hours of pre-service training, including an overview of     the foster care system in Washington state

 

• Foster Care Application

 

• Background checks for all individuals over 16 in the  household

 

• CPR / First Aid certification and Bloodborne Pathogens Training

 

• Medical screening (if applicable, doctors note)

 

• TB screening for all adults in the home (if applicable, doctors note or negative TB test)

 

• Paperwork including autobiography, family history and references, child interviews, child care plan, safety and supervision plans, and other supporting documentation

 

• Home inspection

 

• Home study interviews – 2-3

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Foster Parents can be single or partnered, renters or homeowners, inexperienced or experienced. We provide all

our Foster Parents with the support and resources to achieve success in fostering.

 

Foster Parent qualities we seek include:

• The ability to work with children

who have experienced trauma

• Time and commitment

• Willingness to be part of a team

• Awareness of youth behavioral issues

• Consistency and stability

• Openness to diversity

 

Prospective parents must meet state licensing requirements

as well as those set by Friends of Youth. Our licensor assists applicants through the process, which usually takes three to

six months.

The Friends of Youth foster team works diligently to ensure

that our children are placed in safe, stable and nurturing foster homes.

 

We license Foster Parents and ensure they are supported with free monthly training; a financial stipend; periodic respite and

the support of an entire team of professionals working with

each foster child in their care.

 

Our foster care team includes a Case Manager and Individual Treatment Aides for every child.

 

We ensure that our Foster Parents are supported through continuous home visits, ongoing training, on-site therapist to support youth mental health, enrolling youths in apple health, support with medical and legal appointments, and a 24/7 emergency line.

 

We ensure foster parents always have support and guidance

to help them support foster youth in achieving positive

change, emotional healing, improved behavior, and stronger social skills while preparing them for their future.

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Our foster children and youth come to our agency through

one program.

 

We serve children from the Washington State foster care

system with therapeutic services (BRS) and are eager to license foster homes for youth, and adults who have experience with teenagers (or a willingness to learn) who wish to support them
in a therapeutic setting.

 

We license families for children ages 6-18, and due to the

nature of the programs we have, we have a higher

concentration of teenagers.

If you can’t commit to full-time fostering, consider being a

respite Foster Parent.

 

Respite providers care for foster children on the weekends or

over vacations, depending on the need of the Foster Parent. Providing respite is a great way to get involved and lend a hand.