Fostering In Lubbock
Children are the most precious beings on earth. Foster and adoptive parents help children who have endured more than most could possibly imagine. You can show them the love and support a family can give each other. Find out more information on fostering and become a foster parent!
Basic Requirements
The prospective foster/adoptive parents may be single or married and must:
- be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults
- complete an application (staff will assist you, if you prefer)
- share information regarding their background and lifestyle
- provide relative and non-relative references
- show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable)
- agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members
- allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household
- attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children
Additional Requirements
In addition to the basic requirements, foster parents must:
- have adequate sleeping space
- allow no more than 6 children in the home including your own children or children for whom you provide day care
- agree to a nonphysical discipline policy
- permit fire, health and safety inspections of the home
- vaccinate all pets
- obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
- obtain TB testing as required by the local Health Department for household members
- attend 20 hours or more of training each year
Responsibilities
Foster Parents:
- provide daily care and nurturing of children in foster care
- advocate for children in their schools and communities
- inform the children’s caseworkers about adjustments to the home, school, and community, as well as any problems that may arise, including any serious illnesses, accidents, or serious occurrences involving the foster children or their own families
- make efforts as team members with children’s caseworkers towards reunifying children with their birth families
- provide a positive role model to birth families and
- help children learn life skills
Responsibilities
Adoptive Parents:
- provide permanent homes and a lifelong commitment to children into adulthood
- provide for the short-term and long-term needs of children
- provide for children’s emotional, mental, physical, social, educational, and cultural needs, according to each child’s developmental age and growth
- may become certified as a foster family and accept children who are not legally free for adoption, but whose permanency plan is adoption.
Information Meeting
You will need to attend an information meeting in your area where you can discuss the scope and requirements of being a foster or adoptive parent.
You will get basic information and questions are welcome. Your local DFPS office will furnish you with this information if there are no informational meetings in your area.You do not need an appointment. Find free foster care and adoption information meetings in your Texas area.
How Can I Find a Meeting Near Me?
To find details about upcoming meetings near you, you can view the Event Calendar for upcoming meetings or reach out directly to an agency or agencies you may be interested in working with.
What is the Cost to Attend?
There is no charge to attend a foster care/adoption information meeting in your area.
Do I need to make a reservation?
The foster care and adoption information meetings are open to the public. You may need to register for a virtual event, or you may attend an in-person event without the need to register.
Training
You will attend training to learn more about the children available and to assess your strengths in parenting children. The classes also boost your knowledge and confidence to meet the challenge of taking children into your home and to be sure you are ready to follow through on the commitment.
Additional Training Requirements
The state minimum standards require that prospective foster families also complete the following trainings or certifications, which are not part of the PRIDE or other Pre-Service model curriculum:
- Behavioral Intervention
- Certification in both First Aid and infant/child/adult CPR
- Cultural Competency
- Medical Consent
- Normalcy
- Preventing and Recognizing Sexual Abuse
- Psychotropic Medication
- Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
- Runaway Prevention
- Suicide Prevention
- Trauma Informed Care
- State minimum standards require that verified foster homes receive pre-service and annual in-service training. Depending on the number of foster parents and the needs of the children in a foster home, the annual training requirements range from 20 hours per family to 30 hours per foster parent or 50 hours for a single parent home.
Home Study
A caseworker will visit you in your home. The purpose is to discuss your personal history, family interests and lifestyle, childcare experiences, the types of children you feel would best fit in your home, and your strengths and skills in meeting the children’s needs
Cost $
Some costs associated with becoming a licensed foster home include but are not limited to:
- CPR/First Aid Certification
- TB test for each home member 12 months and older
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke detectors
- Environmental and Fire inspections
- Storage containers for medications and weapons stored in the home
- Pet vaccinations if not up-to-date
- Mattress protectors for beds that foster children will sleep on
Foster Care Reimbursement
The costs incurred by a family to care for a foster child, such as food, transportation, clothing, school supplies, and other day-to-day costs that ensure a child’s needs are met are reimbursed through a daily reimbursement rate set by the State of Texas. See Texas Foster Care Reimbursement Rates.
Free Donation Items
Do you need help with getting childrens clothes or other items?
Check out Caleb’s Closet for more details and support.
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