Children may be removed from their homes for different reasons, including neglect, abuse, or an addiction or criminal offense on the part of the custodial parent. While the custodial parent works to regain custody of her child, the child will often go to a foster home. The parents in charge of this home are known as foster parents. Before they are approved to become foster parents, they must meet specific requirements, which may vary slightly from state to state.
General Health
According to the New York Office of Children and Family Services, all foster parents must be in generally good health. Each person in the household must have a letter from his physician stating that he is mentally and physically healthy and that he does not have any communicable illnesses, including tuberculosis. If a person is handicapped or has a chronic illness, he may still be eligible to become a foster parent as long as the illness does not impede his ability to care for a child.
Proper Training
All foster parents must take the training classes required by their states. In Washington State, for example, potential foster parents receive pre-service training, CPR and first-aid classes, and blood-borne pathogens training, according to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. In New York, foster parent applicants must enroll in parenting classes, health-education programs and crisis-counseling classes.
Safety and Space in the Home
Each state has its own requirements for passing a home study to make sure that the home is appropriate and safe for a child. The Child Welfare Information Gateway stresses that the home study is not a white-glove test or a judgment on a potential foster parent’s housekeeping but rather a way to be sure that the home is in good order and can pass fire- and health-department standards. Each state may have different specific requirements for the amount of space required for a foster child. In Racine County, Wisconsin, for example, a foster child must have her own bed. She may share a room with other children, but the room must have at least 50 square feet of space for each child.
Character References
Hopeful foster parents must not have any criminal or abuse allegations in their pasts, which will be verified via criminal background check. Applicants will be asked to provide references so the agency can look into each foster parent's character. The exact questions may vary from state to state. In New York, for example, references will be asked about the applicant's moral character, financial management and judgment skills.
