Adoption Services
An agency adoption specialist recruits and trains adoptive parents and makes recommendations for the placement of children into adoptive homes. Children of all ages can become available for placement when the agency has been granted permanent custody by the court. Permanent custody is granted when the birth mother and/or birth father surrenders his/her child for adoption or a birth parent fails to reduce the risk of abuse/neglect to his/her child by completing court-ordered case plan services. Post-adoption services are offered primarily in the form of financial subsidies and information/referrals. Adoption Assessor training is available throughout Ohio and can be accessed on the Institute for Human Services' website at http://www.ocwtp.com.
Foster Care Services
An agency foster care specialist recruits and trains foster parents and makes recommendations for the placement of children into foster homes. Foster parents are needed who will specialize in fostering teenagers, unruly/delinquent children, and sibling groups of three or more children. Specialized training and supportive services are provided, and financial subsidies are offered to defray expenses. Foster parent requirements include:
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Over 21 years of age
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Good health
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Safe, stable home with enough space for additional child(ren)
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Sufficient income to meet the needs of your family
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Accepting a child who is not your birth child
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Attend pre-service training classes (24 hours)
- Attend annual training (20 hours)
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Foster parent supports:
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Per diem board rate
- Foster child clothing allowance
- Foster child Medicaid card
- Foster child transportation reimbursement
- Support groups
- Training
- On-call worker
- Case management
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Foster children have one thing in common--they need the love and support of a foster family. Please consider the following:
"I'd be a foster parent if I thought I was really needed."
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You are really needed, because in an average month, 50-60 Tuscarawas County children are in foster care. Our greatest need is for foster parents who will care for sibling groups and teenagers in their own school districts. You are needed!
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"I'd be a foster parent if I thought I could really make a difference."
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All children need a safe and secure home. Becoming a foster parent--accepting abused and neglected children into your home; providing a nurturing, safe, and secure environment-- you could make a difference.
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"I'm afraid I won't want to let the child go home."
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You can build a relationship with the birth family that can continue after the child goes home. You can maintain contact that supports parents and provides mentoring. In other words . . . become a family forever!
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"I'd be a foster parent, but I'm not sure I have what it takes."
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Being a foster parent requires some very special qualities: flexibility, open-mindedness, a commitment to working through problems that come with parenting abused and neglected children, a willingness to share what you know with other parents. You may need to try foster parenting to see if you have what it takes.
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"I'd be a foster parent if I could choose the type of children I want to foster."
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Everyone wants a foster placement to be successful. We give you as much information as we have about the child and try to match a child's personality and needs with your family. We encourage you to meet the child's birth parents and share information about him or her. The decision to accept or decline a foster placement is always yours.
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Please call (330) 339-7791 and ask for the Placement Unit for more information and to register for foster parent training classes.
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