How to Become a Foster Parent in Georgia
Are you looking to become a foster parent in Georgia? Our guide can help — check out this step-by-step process to getting licensed for foster care.
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Looking to take a step forward and become a foster parent? For those located in Maryland, this guide helps you get started with the foster care process!
According to Foster Care Capacity, there are over 4,300 kids in foster care in Maryland who need a loving home provided by selfless foster parents.
If you’re someone who wants to make a difference in the life of a Maryland child, few things in life have the same impact as being a foster parent.
Take it from Tacole Robinson, a foster parent with Mentor Foster Care:
"It really is an honor to be able to serve these children. The most rewarding experience... is becoming a parent to a child. If only for a day."
Like all U.S. states, there’s a process to follow and requirements that need to be met to become a foster parent in Maryland. Here’s your step-by-step breakdown of the process, starting with the role of a foster parent in Maryland, state requirements, and the licensing procedure.
Becoming a foster parent brings many joys and some challenges along the way. It’s important to know what’s expected and how you can best utilize your abilities to be an amazing foster parent.
Being a parent to a Maryland child in foster care is similar to parenting a biological child. However, since many children in foster care have been through trauma, some aspects are unique to the role of foster parents.
Like all children, a child in foster care flourishes when they feel safe and happy. Building security and trust with a child who may have experienced neglect or abuse is the goal.
Elizabeth Murrell, a Maryland foster parent, captures this sentiment perfectly:
"We want you to feel safe and loved in our home. We understand that this may be a new and unfamiliar environment for you, but please know that we are here to support you every step of the way."
Foster parents, like biological parents, are responsible for creating a home environment that is both secure and filled with affection. In addition, their homes must meet specific safety standards for care in Maryland.
Foster parents also provide nutritious meals, a cozy spot for rest or play, and opportunities to participate in fun activities and hobbies.
Educating children on the value of healthy relationships is especially crucial for a child in foster care. A significant number of kids in foster care develop attachment issues or are at risk of doing so.
It's important for foster parents to help children develop a bond with them and re-establish ties with their biological parents when it’s part of the care plan.
According to the National Council for Adoption, 46% of all children in foster care are reunited with their birth parents.
For many children in foster care, particularly those in therapeutic foster programs, forming connections with others may be difficult initially. However, compassion goes a long way toward making progress.
Foster parents who prioritize understanding, consistency, and security can build trust with children in foster care and help them overcome attachment issues.
Children in foster care may have more complex emotional needs depending on what they’ve experienced. As a foster parent, your support is crucial for their emotional healing.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the presence of a stable, nurturing caregiver positively influences the mental and behavioral health of a child in foster care.
As Tacole Robinson puts it:
"I just love to see how wonders can happen and how we can be in awe of what can happen when children are nurtured, when they're supported, where they're loved."
Foster parents play a significant role in a child's healing by creating an atmosphere of security, love, and belonging within the family. These children often need extra understanding and help in handling their feelings, particularly if they have experienced trauma.
For some children in foster care, their care plan might include specialized treatment services, and, as their foster parent, you're instrumental in ensuring they attend these essential appointments.
Children in foster care are among the most vulnerable groups when it comes to high school graduation and going to college.
During these critical developmental years, the support of foster parents is essential for a child in foster care who needs guidance and assistance.
Foster parents play a vital role by working together with educators and other specialists on the academic journey of a child in care. This cooperative effort helps address the unique educational needs of each child and tackle academic obstacles they may face.
Bill Ewolt expresses this commitment in his letter to his child in foster care:
"You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to, and I will be here to cheer you on every step of the way."
Get a sneak peek into the world of fostering with Letters Written with Love, a collection of letters from foster parents to the children in their care.
Get your free copy now, and experience the love, hope, and joy of foster parents who have been there.
Every parent wants their child and teenager to grow up into a thriving adult — and foster parents are no different.
According to The Child Welfare Outcomes Report, around 22.6% of children in foster care are between the ages of 15 and 18. Aging out is a serious challenge for kids in foster care, and you can make a difference in their success.
Children who “age out” of care without support and preparation from loving foster parents are also at an increased risk of experiencing homelessness and unemployment as well.
In 2021, nearly a third of Maryland children still in foster care at year’s end were 12 years or older. There is a strong need for foster parents willing to provide love and a sense of belonging for Maryland teenagers in foster care.
These teens benefit greatly from supportive foster parents who can positively impact their academic success, emotional well-being, and outlook on the future.
The support of a foster parent helps shape youth in foster care into well-rounded adults — they offer emotional guidance and teach crucial life skills. They also help teens learn about finances, saving strategies, and available resources and support for transitioning out of foster care in their later years.
If you’re ready to meet the needs of a Maryland child in foster care, Mentor Foster Care, a Sevita company, will help you begin your journey. Mentor Foster Care experts are there to see you through every step of the process with customized support, at no cost to you.
Mentor Foster Care operates in Baltimore, and is located at:
2525 Lord Baltimore Drive Suite H Baltimore, MD 21244
Learn more about fostering with Mentor Foster Care by calling (410)-455-4600.
According to Maryland’s Department of Human Services, to become a foster parent in Maryland, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements:
Finding a foster care organization to support you during the process is a valuable step. Experts are available to guide you through everything from completing the application to navigating home study requirements.
Partnering with an organization ensures that you receive accurate information and expertise to streamline each step of the foster parent process.
If you meet the requirements above, then you're ready to start your application!
Mentor Foster Care helps prospective foster parents in Maryland with the application process and other steps to become foster parents. Any questions you might have about fostering can be answered along the way.
Preservice sessions are educational programs designed to help prepare people for foster parenting. They generally cover how to meet the needs and challenges of children in foster care, safety guidelines, and information about available resources.
Preservice sessions are required to become a foster parent. In Maryland, foster parents need 27 hours of preservice sessions. They usually cover topics such as:
For therapeutic foster care in Maryland, 28 hours of preservice sessions are necessary.
Prospective Maryland foster parents must also complete a CPR and First Aid class.
There are important documents required for potential foster parents in Maryland. This paperwork helps ensure that you can provide a safe, stable, and healthy environment for a child in foster care.
Maryland, like every state in the U.S., requires a home study before placing a child in foster care in a new home.
During a home study, a social worker will verify that your home offers a secure and supportive setting for a child. This includes:
They will also explore aspects of:
This process also serves as a chance to reflect on your choice to become a foster parent.
As Tacole Robinson reassures:
"At the end of the day, it's worth it. The paperwork is worth going through. The interviews is worth going through the fingerprinting because at the end of the day, you're going to provide a space, a home, a family for a child."
Once you've completed all the required steps — application, preservice sessions, home study, and background checks — the final step is receiving your official approval from the Maryland Department of Human Services.
After receiving your Maryland license for foster parenting, you will undergo the matching process. This process takes into consideration all factors to arrange the best placement for a child in foster care with a foster parent.
Some parents go into the matching process focused on babies or younger children, but it’s beneficial to keep an open mind. Many foster parents who started out thinking they only wanted to foster younger children have discovered a love of fostering teens.
The matching process may take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months. How selective you are in the matching process can extend the waiting time.
This process ensures careful determination for the best fit on behalf of kids in foster care and foster families alike.
When your license is approved and you’ve completed the matching process, you'll be ready to welcome a child into your home.
Now is when the time spent on your application and fulfilling the requirements to foster in Maryland pays off. You get to share your love, care, and compassion with a child who is longing for it.
Monteka, a foster parent in our Alabama program, offers this advice to new foster parents:
"Do it because that's where your heart is, and do it because you genuinely care. And if you do it for those reasons, everything else will fall in place."
Approved foster parents in Maryland are required to have 10 hours of in-service education per year. This continuing education session is offered for free by Child Welfare Training Academy and covers many helpful topics.
If helping children living without their parents is in your heart, see if you meet the basic qualifications to foster with Mentor Foster Care.
This quick and easy quiz takes just two minutes, and will give you results tailored to your life’s circumstances.
Take the first step towards finding a life filled with purpose and family:
Are you looking to become a foster parent in Georgia? Our guide can help — check out this step-by-step process to getting licensed for foster care.
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