What Disqualifies You As a Foster Parent in Ohio?

For children in need, foster care is a place for them to heal and grow, providing children who can’t live with their families a chance to thrive.

This is where foster parents step in — they are true superheroes! 

In Ohio, like in many places, there's a serious need for more foster parents — especially for older children who may not have anywhere to go. 

Being a foster parent isn't just about giving a child a bed and meals; it's about providing stability, love, and support. If you're thinking about opening your home and heart to a child in need, you’ll need to know what makes a great foster parent — but also the reasons why you might not be able to foster.

First, let’s talk about why foster parents are so important in the state of Ohio. 

Why Foster Parents Matter

Foster care in Ohio plays a vital role in supporting children who temporarily cannot live with their biological families. The state works with various organizations to place children in homes that can cater to their emotional and physical well-being.

Here are some facts about the urgent need for foster parents in Ohio:

• With over 15,000, Ohio has some of the highest numbers of child in care.
• This need spans to various age groups, but there's a particularly high demand for families who can take care of teenagers and sibling groups.
• Ohio also has a notable number of children with special needs who are seeking a nurturing home environment. Children need and rely on foster parents who are equipped and prepared to handle specific health or behavioral challenges, offering them the dedicated care they need.

Ohio's foster care system helps connect loving foster parents to children in need who are currently in care. When you become part of that process as a foster parent, you make an incredible difference in your community for kids who need it the most. 

The Qualities of Superhero Foster Parents

While there are some technical (and legal) requirements for foster parents that might disqualify an applicant, there are also some personality traits that are ideal when you’re planning to support a child.

Here are some of these essential traits:

• Compassion and empathy - Understanding and relating to what a child in care is going through is key. Children in care may have experienced trauma in their lives, and showing compassion helps in building trust and a sense of security.
• Patience and flexibility - Children in care may have behavioral, emotional, or learning difficulties. Be patient with them! They need time to adjust to their new space, and that’s okay. Flexibility is also important, as plans and situations can change quickly in care.
• Resilience and emotional strength - The journey of foster care, while highly rewarding, can also be challenging at times. Emotional strength and resilience help foster parents get through the ups and downs, providing stable support for children in their care.
• Effective communication skills - Clear communication is key — not only with a child in care but also with caseworkers, biological family members (when appropriate), and other professionals involved in a child’s life. Everyone is working together to provide the best possible life for a child in care! 
• Supportive of educational and developmental goals - Unfortunately, only about 50% of children in care will finish high school. Foster parents can reverse this trend by supporting a child in care and their education. This includes implementing regular school attendance, homework help, and encouraging outside interests.
• Commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment - Creating a home where a child feels safe and loved is a must. This means providing a space where a child in care can grow, learn, and feel valued.
• Willingness to learn and grow - The world of foster care is always evolving. A willingness to learn about new parenting strategies, understanding the unique needs of each child, and adapting to the changing dynamics of foster care are invaluable traits. No one is perfect, but everyone can commit to learning!

What Disqualifies You As a Foster Parent in Ohio?

In Ohio, there are specific criteria that can disqualify someone from being a foster parent. It's important to understand these to ensure the safety and well-being of children in care:

• A criminal background - Anyone with a history of criminal activities — particularly those involving violence or harm to children, is ineligible to be a foster parent. This also includes anyone in your home over the age of 18, since everyone is required to go through a background check.
• Health concerns - People with serious health conditions that might hinder their ability to properly care for a child may not qualify. In the state of Ohio, all caregivers must be looked at by a medical professional who will sign a medical statement that says you are in good enough health to care for a child.
• Home safety - The living environment must be safe and conducive to a child's well-being. Ohio has specific standards for what constitutes a safe home:
  • The home should be clear of any fire risks, with enough lighting, ventilation, and functioning plumbing, electricity, and heating.
  • Essential appliances, like a fridge and stove, must be in good, safe working order.
  • Bedrooms for children in care should meet specific safety criteria.
  • Smoke detectors are required on all levels of the home, including basements if applicable.
  • The home must have an operational telephone with emergency numbers for police, medical, fire, and poison safety hotlines posted nearby.
• Financial stability - Prospective foster parents need to have sufficient financial resources to meet a child's basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter. The focus here is on the child's day-to-day well-being rather than the wealth of the foster parent.
• Household size limits - Ohio also enforces a limit on the number of children that can be in a foster home at any given time. 
  • Foster parents cannot care for more than five children at a time.
  • Foster parents cannot care for more than two children under the age of two.
  • Foster parents cannot care for more than four children under the age of five. 
  • These limitations can be broken if it’s to care for siblings — whenever possible, keeping siblings together is the best option!
• Substance abuse issues - Individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction may be deemed unsuitable for foster parenting. The aim is to ensure that children in care are not exposed to substance abuse and can live in a stable, healthy environment.

These guidelines are in place to protect the interests of children in foster care in Ohio, ensuring they are placed in homes that provide safety, stability, and a nurturing environment.

Learn All About Ohio Foster Care in Our Upcoming Webinar

Looking for more information about becoming a foster parent in Ohio? If so, our upcoming webinar can give you the answers. 

By attending a Foster Parent Information Session Webinar and learning more about the fostering process, you can take the first step toward becoming a foster parent and providing a safe, loving, and supportive home for a child in need. 

Mentor Foster Care has offices all over Ohio, including:

• Akron
• Canfield
• Canton
• Columbus
• Elyria
• Independence
• Warren
• Willoughby Hills

Sign up for our webinar today, or call one of our local offices to get started!