Fostering Process & Requirements

Fostering Process

Being a Foster Parent

Place of Hope’s program, Homes of Hope, in partnership with ChildNet and Communities Connected for Kids, gathers members of the community to support children that are hurting and families throughout our region. With offices in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Hobe Sound and Port St. Lucie, Place of Hope licenses and supports foster families in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties. A child or sibling group will be placed in your home and live with you until the permanent plan has been decided. This can be anywhere from a week to well over a year. The permanent plan for the child or sibling group is to find the safest option for them; whether it be reunifying with their birth family or finding a forever family. More than half of all children return to their birth families.

These children are our region’s most hurting children! They have suffered various types of abuse and neglect but you can provide hope and healing! Our team at Place of Hope is deeply committed to supporting you from your initial inquiry all the way through raising foster children in your home. We understand that the process is lengthy and laden with paperwork, but we assure you that it is all worth it. Throughout it all, you can rest assured that you will never be alone.

We have been praying for God to provide people like you!

Fostering FAQ

Steps to Licensing

CREATING AND RETAINING EXCELLENCE (CARE)

After you have attended an orientation, every prospective foster parent must complete the CARE class. This 21-hour class is offered in a variety of formats to accommodate different schedules. In this class, you will not only gain the tools necessary to successfully parent a foster child, but you will also get to know and interact with our staff in the process.

HOMEWORK AND PROFILES

At the beginning of the CARE Class, you will receive a packet containing homework and your family profile. Your trainer will make sure that you successfully complete all of the paperwork. At the completion of the class, you will receive a CARE certificate.

HOME VISITS

After you begin the CARE classes, our staff will complete two one-hour home visits with you. The initial meeting will give us an opportunity to go over your licensing packet and answer any questions that you might have. You do not need to be prepared to accept a child at this time, as we will thoroughly explain how to get your home ready and what changes might need to be made. If you are married, we ask that your spouse attend this meeting as well. The second home visit will be scheduled after we have all of your paperwork and screenings and are ready to finalize your home study for submission. This will be another opportunity for you to clear up any remaining questions about the process of licensing. At this visit, it is important that all household members are in attendance.

PAPERWORK, SCREENINGS & INSPECTION

At the initial home visit, you will receive a licensing packet that contains most of the paperwork that must be completed to continue the process. We are here if you have questions along the way. After the initial meeting, we will request an inspection of your home as well as local, county, state and national background screenings for you and your family. When all of these items are completed, we will return for our second home visit to have you sign the final paperwork and sign off on the narrative home study we have written on your family. Your file will then be submitted to DCF for approval after which you will receive your Foster Parent License.

“We truly feel called to support the children and their families and love being there when they need us most. Through this fostering journey, we have learned how to rely on God and His plan more than ever before and that is such a blessing.“

Kayla and Steve Spear
(Foster Parents)

To learn more, please contact our Recruitment Specialist.

homesofhope@placeofhope.com