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Foster Care and Adoption
“The shortage of foster homes unfortunately, is quickly approaching crisis proportions. Without additional foster care homes, most Westside children separated from their parents will leave not only their family, but their community as well.” – Muriel Gaudin, WCC Director of Foster Care
• About Foster Care
• Foster Parent Qualifications
• Becoming an Adoptive Parent • Upcoming Training Dates (coming soon)
• Foster Family Blogs and Articles (coming soon)
About Foster Care:
Every day, children are separated from their families, by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in order to protect them from abuse and neglect. The children are placed in Foster Homes to provide temporary, nurturing environments so the families can work to resolve difficulties and reunite family members in safe and supportive environments.
Children placed through the foster care system have one of the following case plans:
1. Reunification Plan: The goal is to reunify the child with his/her birth parents. This plan is typically 18 months but can be extended for several years. If reunification does not occur, the foster parents will most likely have the opportunity to adopt the child.
2. Concurrent Plan: In some cases, the child's case plan has already been targeted for adoption upon entry into the foster system. Although reunification efforts are still made while the adoption is being concurrently planned.
3. Adoption Plan: When a child has been in foster care for an extended period of time without reunification, his/her case is referred for adoption. The child will be slightly older as he/she has already spent time in foster care.
Becoming a Foster Parent
At Westside Children’s Center we provide extensive training designed to help you explore all aspects of becoming a foster parent. We provide a structural format by which prospective foster and adoptive families make decisions about their ability, willingness and readiness to participate in the program.
Topics include: understanding children's feelings regarding their birth families, dynamics of separation and attachment, discipline techniques, impact of a new child on one's own family, and how to parent children who have been physically, emotionally and sexually abused.
Foster Parent Qualifications:
All potential foster parents, regardless of race, religion or non-traditional parenting circumstances are welcomed to consider this program.
1. Be at least twenty-one years of age.
2. Successfully complete MAPP training sessions.
3. Complete a home consultation with an agency social worker.
4. Complete and comply with the safety awareness checklist for the home.
5. Have fingerprint and child abuse index clearance. This must be done for anyone living in the home that is over the age of 18.
6. Have a physical examination, including TB clearance. This must be done for anyone living in the home over the age of 18.
7. Designate a primary baby-sitter who must also have fingerprint and child abuse index clearance, as well as general medical and TB clearance on file with WCC.
8. Successfully complete First Aid and CPR certification including infant CPR.
9. Provide proof of sufficient income to meet the needs of the family.
10. Provide evidence of car insurance, with state law minimum of liability.
11. Complete a safety check of all automobiles that will be used regularly to transport foster children.
12. Provide a recent DMV printout, (if requested WCC can access this for a small fee.)
13. Provide copies of current driver's licenses.
14. Provide proof of a safe and appropriate car seat.
15. Provide the agency with three written references.
16. Sign and agree to maintain a minimum of twelve hours of in-service training per parent, per year.
17. Sign and understand all additional policies, procedures, and agreements set forth.
Becoming an Adoptive Parent
At Westside Children’s Center, all children who may eventually be available for adoption come through the foster care system. Potential adoptive families must be certified as foster parents and are required to complete agency training classes, CPR and First Aid certifications.
Once adoption placement papers are signed, the child and family will no longer be affiliated with the public foster care system. WCC provides free post adoption services that include topic-specific educational classes, an adoptive parent support group, and information regarding legal and financial matters. In some instances, a home visiting component will also be available. The Center will remain accessible for adoptive families to provide resource and referral information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Foster Care:
How long will it take?
Why can’t I get a child right away?
How old are the kids available for adoption?If the children have been removed from their home, why would the court system want to return them to their homes?Can I choose the ethnicity of the child whom I foster or adopt?
Can I choose the gender of the child who I foster or adopt?
What happens to siblings in foster care?
The adoption/foster care system can be complicated. If you live in Los Angeles and have further questions, please contact Westside Children's Center at (310) 390-0551 or by e-mail at: janels@westsidechildrens.org
How long will it take?
The certification process typically takes 3-6 months. After you have become certified, you will be placed on a wait list. As children become available, foster families that have been on the waiting list the longest will be contacted first. Your preference regarding a child’s age, gender, siblings, physical and developmental needs are all factors that can affect the amount of time it will take to have a child placed with you. This process can occur fairly quickly once you are certified or it can take up to 36 months.
Why can’t I get a child right away?
Although there are many children in need of foster care homes, safety is the primary concern of DCFS. The foster care certification and placement process is designed to provide as much information as possible so each child can be successfully placed with a foster family. Although this is not always possible, every effort is made to secure an appropriate placement.
How old are the kids available for adoption?
WCC typically works with children under the age of 8 years old. However older children may be available as part of a sibling set.
If the children have been removed from their home, why would the court system want to return them to their homes?
The core belief of the family court system is that children belong with their parents. Although the circumstances may not be ideal, parents who have learned coping techniques, effective parenting skills, and eliminated abusive behaviors earn the right to have their children returned to them. (needs to be worded differently)
Can I choose the ethnicity of the child whom I foster or adopt?
Yes, you can specify the ethnicity that you feel comfortable incorporating into your family. Foster children represent all ethnic backgrounds found in this country. However, the majority of children are of African-American or Latino decent. There is a great need for families to provide homes for children of color. There are more homes that have specified a Caucasian child than there are Caucasian children which means that a family may wait a longer time if they are only open to Caucasian children.
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Can I choose the gender of the child who I foster or adopt?
Yes, you can specify the gender of the child that you feel most comfortable fostering and/or adopting. However, there are far more homes that want to foster or adopt a female child than a male child and therefore, homes are most needed for male children. When children must be placed in separate homes, foster/adoptive parents will be asked to maintain contact.
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What happens to siblings in foster care?
If it all possible, siblings are kept together in one home. When there is no home available for all siblings, tragically they are sometimes split up into different homes. There is a tremendous need for families who can take multiple children.
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