The following information was obtained from Washoe County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) Training and Licensing.

1. What are the qualifications to become a licensed foster home?
2. Can a foster child share a room?
3. Will an arrest record automatically keep me from being licensed?
4. How long will a child stay in my home?
5. Will I be able to say what age/sex child I wish to foster?
6. Will I be given information concerning the children?
7. Do you check foster children for AIDS?
8. How long will it take to finish the licensing process?
9. Am I expected to take every child I am contacted about?
10. Will there be out-of-pocket expenses, or will the County and State pay for everything?
11. Am I allowed to spank foster children?
12. What happens if I have an out of town emergency?
13. Does WCDSS need foster and adoptive placements for drug affected babies?
14. What makes a child considered special needs?
15. As a foster parent, when I am asked if the child or children are mine, what
    should I say?
16. Do I have to meet the birth parents
17. Am I considered the child’s guardian?
18. Do I have to go to Court?
19. Can I adopt my foster child?
20. Do I have to be married?
21. Do I have to have a lot of money?
22. Who do I contact when I have questions about my license or the licensing
    regulations?
23. How does my choice to sub-contract with an agency that is contracting with WCDSS to provide treatment level care impact my license?
    

• You must be 21 years of age.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision making.
• Be willing to be a team member.
• Possess skills necessary to live as a family group.
• Accept and respect each child as an individual.
• Have knowledge and understanding of childcare and problems of children.
• Participate in training as required.
• Serve as a positive role model for foster children.
  

Yes. However, each foster child must sleep in a room that is a designated bedroom and have his/her own bed and storage space (closet, dresser drawers). Pull out couches, portable cribs, etc. are not considered acceptable beds. Only same gender children are permitted to share a bedroom. Exceptions to this regulation may not occur without prior approval from the licensing office. All foster parents need to assess age, behaviors, special needs, etc. when determining which children will share a bedroom.

No. A background check is done on each applicant. Arrest or convictions are handled on a case by case basis. However, convictions for crimes against children are non-licensable offenses.

It our goal to minimize the number of moves a child will make when removed from their home. Therefore, once a child is placed in a foster home, it is our goal that he/she will remain in that home until placed back with his/her parent(s), relatives or adopted. If a child’s needs outweigh the skill level of the family, a request can be made to the child’s social worker for additional support/training or removal of the child from the home.

Yes. At the same time licensing representatives will assess the composition of your family and provide you with feedback and guidance in making this decision.

The social worker for the child provides as much information available to help with the parenting of any child placed in a foster home. Sometimes this information may be limited. During the pre-service training, applicants are assisted in developing a list of questions they need to consistently ask social workers wanting to place children with them.

If either DCFS or WCDSS have reason to believe a child was at risk for having contacted HIV, a check will be made.

The process can take three months, sometimes more, depending on how soon the necessary information is returned to the agency. The biggest hold up is problems associated with the application.

This depends on the type of foster care you are interested in providing. With the exception of Emergency Shelter Care, we understand that this is a very important decision and you need to feel comfortable with the placement of a child into your home. Families agreeing to provide emergency shelter care are expected to be available 24/7 to take children who have just been removed from their home when you have an opening and the child fits within the parameters of your license.

Yes. You will be reimbursed a certain amount each month. This will be discussed during the pre-service training. However, most foster families find there are extra expenses as they include the foster children in family activities that go beyond the reimbursement rate.

Absolutely not. State regulations prohibit any form of corporal punishment or the threat of corporal punishment with foster children.

If you cannot take the child with you, the agency you are working with will provide temporary placement.

13. Does WCDSS need foster and adoptive placements for drug affected babies?

Yes. Parental drug and alcohol use/addiction is a significant contributing factor on infants and young children entering the child welfare system. However, most children coming into DCFS/WCDSS care are considered special needs for a variety of reasons.

A child receives the designation of special needs when one or more of the following are identified:

• The child is age five years or older.
• A sibling group of at least two children where one child is at least three years old.
• A child who is under six, but has a diagnosed medical or psychiatric condition
  which they are currently getting treatment for.
• A child’s family history presents as a challenge in recruiting an adoptive home. The child, by themselves, does not me the criteria for the designation of a special needs child.

Protecting the confidentiality of foster children is an important, and often challenging, responsibility for foster parents. Applicants need to inform people they have regular contact with including family, friends, clergy, church, etc. that they have applied to have their home licensed as a foster home. Educate them about the legal mandate to protect a foster child’s confidentiality, even the fact that the child is a foster child. Foster parents may not introduce foster children as foster children. Most foster parents answer proudly, “Yes they are.”

Because foster parents are the primary caretakers of foster children they are encouraged to participate as an active member of the team working with the biological family. The foster parent has information about the behavioral and emotional needs of the child and is in a unique position to serve as a role model, mentor and teacher to the biological parents or other family members involved. By establishing a positive relationship with the biological parents/family, the foster parent minimizes a foster child’s feelings of torn loyalties. Contact with the biological family also provides the foster parent access to valuable information regarding the foster child’s history and experiences prior to coming into care. Agreeing to have contact with the biological family can facilitate reunification efforts and increases reunification success. Quite often if there has been a positive relationship between the foster parents and biological parents/family, some degree of contact is maintained between the families.

It is emphasized here, that safety is never compromised. Sometimes the biological parents/family are hostile or engaging in behavior/activities which are unsafe for both the foster family and the foster child. Under these circumstances, foster parents would not be asked to have contact with the biological parents/family.

No. The agency is the legal custodian for the child(ren). You are the authorized caretaker.

No. However, foster parents are an integral part of the child’s team. You are notified of hearings and encouraged to attend. There will be times when as the foster parent you will have important information that would assist the Court in making a decision that is in the best interest of the child and his/her family. Communication with the Court can occur by submitting something in writing to the social worker to attach to the court report or by appearing in court.

It depends. Children do best when they can grow up in their own biological family whether it is with their parents or a blood relative, therefore reunification with family is always our primary goal. However, sometimes that is not possible and some of our most successful adoptive homes started out as foster parents. There is an approval process that you need to go through should your role as a foster parent switch to that of an adoptive parent. Please note that families who know that their goal is adoption when they initiate the licensing process will participate in a more intensive home study process.

No. We license single men and women and unmarried couples.

No. However, you do need to demonstrate the ability to meet your financial obligations independent of the foster care payment. Providing foster care to a child in need is a privilege. The foster care payment is a reimbursement for expenses the foster parent incurs caring for foster children. Becoming licensed as a foster home is not intended to be a business or a means to supplement your income.

All questions related to the status of your license or licensing regulation questions are to be directed to your assigned licensing representative. Any requests for changes in your license must be submitted in writing to your licensing representative and only the licensing office has the authority to approve changes to your license. Accepting children outside the parameters of your license is considered a license regulation violation and may invalidate your license. It is also important to remember that it is your home that is being licensed and foster home licenses are non-transferable. Prior to moving it is necessary to coordinate with your licensing representative so a preliminary inspection can be done prior to or on the day of your actual move. When necessary, a follow-up inspection will be completed within 30 days of your move.

Licenses issued in connection to foster homes that are sub-contracting with a treatment level provider are accountable to that provider for the care provided to foster children. Therefore, by contract, the treatment level agency you contract with is responsible for providing you with clinical support, training, respite and other services that ensure the services they have agreed to provide to foster children are in fact provided through you in your home. This does not apply to homes that contract with Washoe County Department of Social Services, which are considered non-treatment level foster homes.

Should you or the contracted agency decide to terminate the relationship the license becomes invalid the effective date of the termination. Licenses are NOT TRANSFERRABLE from one contract provider to another. In addition, licenses are NOT TRANSFERRABLE should you decide to switch between non-treatment level foster care and treatment level foster care. Any desire to change the type of license initially issued should be discussed with your licensing representative BEFORE you terminate your contract as these types of changes are regarded as new applications. Issuance of a new initial license under these circumstances is at the discretion of the Placement Resource Team licensing authority.