Finding the right home
One of the first considerations the agency makes in placing a child with a family is whether there are any relatives, community members, or other adults with whom there is a significant relationship that the child could stay with. This is known as Kin Care. When this is not possible and an agency foster home is needed, careful consideration is given to making the best possible match between the child and the foster family. For example, some of the matching criteria include: ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds family dynamics professional or fostering experience of the foster parent geographical location of the foster home
Before placing a child in your home all known information is shared. If, after learning the child’s background, you feel uncomfortable or unsure of accepting the placement, you should talk to your social worker. Saying no is okay. Levels of care Children’s needs range from straight-forward to very complex. Foster parents with various levels of skills, experience and training meet these needs. We divide traditional foster care into three levels with each level meeting a different set of needs – regular, specialized and treatment. Most foster parents enter at the first or ‘regular’ level.
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