Foster Family Agency

The Foster Family Agency is the least restrictive, most home like, of our levels of residential care.

Beginning with the selection of foster families, we have several features that distinguish us from competitors. EA’s recruitment relies on word of mouth referrals from existing foster parents. This provides an initial level of screening. The screening process continues with in-depth interviews, fingerprint and child abuse index clearances, DMV printouts, and home safety inspections. We contact three references and freely solicit public input about prospective applicants. The screening is further aided by a set of practical child management situation questions, which are reviewed for adequacy and applicability.

Having passed the screening level, foster parents undergo a pre-service training program.

Training continues through EA sponsored group training and a State approved independent study program. A minimum of twelve hours of in-service training per year is required for each parent.

On a weekly basis, social workers come to the home to assess the child, provide guidance and support for parents, and insure the individual treatment plan developed for each child is followed. Social workers are available 24 hours a day to provide emergency assistance.

All social workers are expected to cover each other's caseload and to insure good service. Weekly case conferences are held by EA social workers.

The FFA program provides a variety of wraparound social services.

This means we coordinate, facilitate, and/or directly supply the family, child, and agencies with needed services. These services include a full range of residential care coverage, including medical and dental evaluation and treatment, counseling or mental health treatment, education, independent living skills, substance abuse programs and pregnancy prevention information.

Admission criteria

We accept children from birth through age eighteen, who are able to function in a community setting. Besides a wide array of children with behavioral problems, we routinely admit those with a variety of obstacles, including those with developmental delays, pregnant and teen mothers with infants, and medically fragile children.

From our experience with screening methods since 1981, we have concluded:

Relying on the judgment of placement agencies is as good as, and often better than, interviews with the child.

Consequently, admission is usually arranged on the phone, offering immediate response to placement agencies. We have several people who regularly visit placement agencies when personal assessments are needed. We maintain enough flexibility to accommodate most unique placement requests.

Foster Family Agency

Who Are Foster Parents?
Foster parents are people who are genuinely concerned about the well-being of children and families. Foster parents recognize that not all families have the   physical, intellectual, or emotional resources to provide children with what they need to grow into healthy, happy, productive adults. Foster parents are acutely aware of the crises, stresses and social problems that result in the abuse and neglect of children, or in the adolescent behaviors of truancy, running away, or unmanageability.

Foster parents are people, who represent different ages, races, and income levels. Foster parents may be married or single. Many foster parents have  biological or adopted children living at home. Some have never had children of their own, and still others have raised their own children to adulthood. There are  foster parents who go to your church, work with you, or live in your neighborhood.

Invest in a Child’s Future
What Do Foster Parents Do?
Foster parents are people who, having come to understand all of these realities, choose to become substitute families for these children in need. Foster parents provide the daily basics, including food, clothing, and shelter, and the love, stability, guidance and discipline that all children need. Foster parents do all these things sometimes knowing the children may only be with them for a short time. Foster parents are people who believe children are worthy of their best efforts everyday.

Sometimes foster parents provide long-term care when necessary, taking guardianship or adopting children in their care.

How Do We Support Our Families?
It is our job to ensure you are fully supported while foster parenting. We provide:

► weekly home visits by social work staff
► substantial financial reimbursement
► initial training and continuing education
► 24-hour support
► counseling
► crisis intervention support services

What Are the Requirements?
The basic requirements for becoming a foster parents generally include that you:

► are at least 21 years of age
► are in good physical and emotional health
► have the skills, attitude, and stamina to effectively deal with the behaviors and feelings displayed by children
► have a non-punitive attitude and can demonstrate a level of acceptance toward parents of the children in care
► can work cooperatively with our staff
► are currently supporting yourself financially
► are accepting of the potential temporary nature of foster care and can help a child transition back to his family or move on to a permanent adoptive placement
► have adequate room for a foster child(ren) in your home
► have a good driving record
► have a clean criminal background or are able to obtain an exemption