Foster Care of Children with Special Needs
Choosing to Become a Foster Parent
A Few Key Terms for New or Potential Foster Parents
- Has disabilities that may include mental, physical, or behavioral challenges.
- Is at risk for developing learning, emotional, behavioral, or physical disabilities in the future.
- Was prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol.
- Is older than the average age for adoption.
Basic Considerations for Foster Families
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Have sufficient income to meet the basic needs of your household.
- Be in good physical, emotional, and mental health.
- Have no criminal record for violent crimes, sexual crimes, or crimes against children.
- Attend pre-service training and meet the continuing education requirements.
- Contact a local foster care agency.
- Complete an application to become a licensed foster parent.
- Attend the required amount of pre-service training. Additional medical or behavioral training may be needed for children with special needs.
- Complete a criminal background check. (You and any adult members of your household will be fingerprinted for a national criminal background check.)
- Participate in a home study. (This will include interviews of all your household members, fire inspection, home safety audit, reference checks, credit check, and medical examination.)
- Receive a state-issued foster parent license.
- A child is placed in your home.
Welcoming a Child Into Your Home
- Allow the child age-appropriate space and his own belongings.
- Give the child a choice about what to call you. Generally, calling you by your first name is fine, but sometimes a child will want to call you "mom" or "dad." The general rule here is to let the child choose what is comfortable.
- It is important for a foster child to understand the role of a parent as protective and nurturing. Let her know that you are the parent of your household, and that is your role.
- Be aware of racial and cultural differences, and try to incorporate the child's culture into your own.
- Create a life book with or for the child. A life book is basically a scrapbook, and a very valuable resource that foster parents can create for their foster child. It may become very important to a child, and can include anything from medical records, to school pictures, to awards and photographs. The life book will stay with the child through new foster placement, reunification, or adoption.
Advocate for your Foster Child
- Working closely with the caseworker and knowing their supervisor. Make sure they assist you in working with the birth family.
- Knowing your child's court-appointed guardian.
- Understanding and coordinating Medicaid services. Children entering the foster care system are entitled to Medicaid and an initial or periodic EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment). States have a variety of approaches to fulfilling this obligation.
- Choosing a primary care provider for your child. Make sure they accept Medicaid and are available and willing to advocate for the child.
- Participating in medical appointments, which may include primary medical care, medical subspecialties, dental, mental health and therapies–occupational, physical, and speech.
- Maintaining the placement packet and record keeping. Obtain as much information as possible on medical, dental, developmental, immunization, and mental health records, as well as the child's former foster homes.
- Working with the school system, meeting with teachers and therapists, attending IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings, and special education meetings.
Saying Goodbye to a Child
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
National Foster Care & Adoption Directory Search
Has a database of adoption and post-adoption resources that is searchable by state and region.
Healthy Foster Care America (AAP)
Resources for children and teens in foster care and foster parents; American Academy of Pediatrics.
FosterClub
FosterClub is a national network for youth in foster care. This site has excellent resources for youth in foster care, including:
entering foster care; message board; topical information about things like foster families, court, your caseworker and the
agency, school, friends and relationships, health, and leaving foster care; and state-by-state information and resources.
Fostering Healthy Children Program (UDOH)
Program nursing staff works in partnership with the Utah Division of Child and Family Services caseworkers to coordinate health
care services (including medical, dental and mental health) for Utah foster children; program of the Utah Department of Health.
Parent Education Materials for Post-Trauma Children
Tips, questions, and answers for things parents can do to help their child after a trauma; from the Center for Pediatric Traumatic
Stress at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
What is Child Traumatic Stress?
Child traumatic stress occurs when children and adolescents are exposed to traumatic events or situations that overwhelm their
ability to cope. This area of the NCTS website has many handouts with education and questions and answers about child traumatic
stress.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (CDC)
One of the largest investigations ever conducted to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health
and well-being; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Resource Directory Salt Lake County Children's Justice Center 2014 ( 437 KB)
Compiled by the Salt Lake County Children's Justice Center, the directory provides information and numbers for reporting child
abuse and accessing services including child protective services, legal services, domestic violence resources, teen pregnancy
resources, mental health resources, protective order resources, and hotlines.
Services in Nevada
Behavioral Learning Therapy
See all Behavioral Learning Therapy services providers (49) in our database.
Family Support Centers/Outreach
See all Family Support Centers/Outreach services providers (10) in our database.
For other services related to this condition, browse our Services categories or search our database.