Foster Home Licensing and Placement

The responsibility of foster home licensing includes general recruitment of foster and adoptive parents, training, licensing, and ongoing monitoring of the foster parents in Mecklenburg County.  Applications are provided at the Monthly Orientation Meetings.  The applications are screened based on agency need.  Individuals will be invited to attend the foster parent training or provided information regarding why they are being screened out.

 

Training

Prospective foster parents must attend TIPS/MAPP (Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence/Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting) training during the selection process.  TIPS-MAPP training will provide information to help prospective foster parents decide if they are ready to provide foster care and answer many of their questions about being a foster parent. 

TIPS-MAPP is part of a mutual selection process. An applicant can select out or may be selected out by the agency if it is determined that they may not be a good fit for the children and families served by the agency.

TIPS-MAPP is a ten week training for a total of 30 pre-service hours. Classes are held weekly from 6pm-9pm or 6:30pm-9:30pm. 

 

Requirements to be a Foster Parent

The requirements to be a foster parent include but are not limited to:  

  • Both husband and wife and any adult household member that will have caretaker responsibility of a child in foster care must attend the 30 hours of training and additional training requirements including CPR, medication administration, and Shared Parenting.

  • Receive a finger print clearance letter.

  • Be self-sufficient (employment or retirement income).

  • Medical examination including TB test for each adult.

  • Reside  in Mecklenburg at least 6 months.

  • Be married at least one year at application.

  • Pass a fire safety inspection by the local Fire Department.

  • Fence in bodies of water such as ponds, pools, etc.

Foster parents must be residents of Mecklenburg County with no child protective services or criminal history.  Depending on the date and type of criminal offense, and the applicant’s current status, licensure could be possible despite past criminal history, but there is no guarantee.

***Applicants with any history of substance abuse, charges of DWI/DUI or charges of possession of substances will need to complete an assessment to determine their eligibility to become a foster parent prior to being invited to attend training. 

 

Agency Needs

Foster homes for children of all ages, specifically teenagers, sibling groups, children with special needs such as emotional and medical, various racial backgrounds, especially minorities.

We need individuals who are flexible, open-minded, willing to participate in shared parenting, have patience and time to give a child.