Sunday, December 2, 2012

Does anyone have any insights on becoming a Foster Parent?

Q. I am 53 years old and reside in the northwest suburbs of Cook County. I have a 16 year wonderful daughter. We have talked it over and I have applied to become a Foster Parent. I would love to get some insight from current or retired foster Moms. Thank you!

A. I am a retired Foster parent of 34 yrs and am an active Support person for the foster parents in my area. I advise FP's all every imaginable issue that can and does come up in foster care. I also advise caseworkers on open homes and resources available in each county I cover.

Be prepared for caseworkers and children's service workers coming anytime of the day or evening--without notice. I sometimes meet workers coming or going when I'm on visits so I know that at times things get very hectic.

You will have a homestudy, fingerprints and background cks all everyone in your home 13 and above.
You will need to provide references from people who know you outside of your family or relatives. You will need to attend FP training---usually held at a DCFS office in your area---they train for both private and state agencies. If you go with a state agency you will have a trained Foster Parent Support Specialist who works and represents you.

If you take placement of a baby --or newborn---you will have to find someone that the agency approves to care for the child if and when you are working.you provide that person's name, address, and SS# for the agency to run to approve that person for caring for the child while you work---if you do.

You will receive a monthly board payment that included a certain amt for clothing and allowance---even for a baby. You will document clothing, allowance, any and all medications,behaviors out of the norm, and lots of other documentation. Remember---If it isn't written down--it didn't happen! So write it down. Keep current with ALL paperwork---I did it nightly after the kids were all in bed and sleeping.

You will need CO2 and smoke alarms. You need so may Sq.ft. per child. Bedrooms will be measured. Corporal punishment is prohibited. There are many services out there to help you and many resources available ---the little ones all get WIC--and visits are required. You will receive a clothing voucher and a medical card----and all doctors, dentists, etc will not take the medical card.

If your agency has a good FPSS she is worth her weight in gold. She will attend anything you ask her too and will accompany you to doctors. team meetings, ACR's, school staffings, court hearings,
grievance meetings---whatever you need.

Expect to get calls anytime during the day, night, or at work. Confidentiality is Extremely important---and one of the most disregarded rules that I know of. Do not post anything on the internet re: foster kids.

If in doubt---don't. Always have a plan. Be prepared. Your state also has an internet site called D-net.

Every year we took at least one or two foster children on out of state vacations with us---approval is easily gotten from her or his caseworker. You get no extra money to do this but they are part of the family and it helps with bonding for certain---and they enjoy everything. Be sure and their health passports and their medical cards with you EVERY TIME you leave your home.

NEVER SIGN A FORM AT THE HOSPITAL IF THEY NEED TREATMENT! First you do NOT have that authority and if anything goes wrong the parents can and will come after you. They have the state number they need to call and it's up to them to get permission to treat---not you.

Thanks for caring for the children.


Do you think Im eligible for section 8?
Q. I make around $38,000 a year and my husband makes about $38,000 a year as well. I have 4 kids, 2 teens and 2 children. I live in San Mateo County.

A. A family of 6 has to make less then 77k to qualify, so, yes, you squeak in. I am assuming those teens are under 18 and will be under 18 for at least one lease period. As soon as one turns 18 your income will be too high and you will not qualify.

The maximum your total rent can be 1,606 for a 3 bedroom house. Because your income is so high you will have to pay about 1,580, and HUD pays the other 26 each month. I know every little you save helps, but you might want to think about all of the hoops you will be jumping for a whooping
$312 a year. It may cost you more then that just to move into a section 8 acceptable rental (rent 1,606 or less and passes the inspection).

Right now they are not even accepting applications for section 8, UNLESS you are willing to live on Hilton Street and Pine Street, both in Redwood City; and Robbin�s Nest in San Carlos. All three of those are housing projects, but you can get a voucher to live in them. Honestly I doubt you would need it though, I am betting the rent is pretty low. I was not able to find any public data on the rent.


does anybody know a lot about section 8 renter's assistance?
Q. I am on section 8, and I'm on SSI. I want my daughter and her 5 children to live with me. How do I go about doing this? Also where can i find out how many bedrooms or how much my voucher would increase? And a little side note I'm 52. If that matters

A. They can not just move right on in, first your daughter needs to qualify with section 8, and wait her turn just like everyone else. She has to be working full time and collecting child support for those kids.

If you illegally move her into government paid housing you will be evicted and lose all housing assistance, apart from homeless shelters, for your life time.


Housing voucher question. Can someone explain this to me please?
Q. This is from the Baltimore City Housing Voucher handbook. I am disabled. What does this mean for me?

What does this mean for me?

(snip)
Q. If I qualify for voucher tenant based assistance, what portion of my income will I
Be required to pay for rent?

A. The family's rent payment is usually based on 30% of its monthly-adjusted gross income.
However, in cases where the unit's gross rent exceeds the HABC's payment standard, the family
Will be allowed to pay up to 40% of its monthly-adjusted gross income if the family is able to do
So. Income means all monies received on behalf of the family to support the household. Usually,
Income is reviewed and calculated annually, meaning for the entire year. Gross income means all
Earnings before taxes and HUD approved deductions allowed by HUD. The allowable
Deductions are listed below:

(snip)
� Dependent - $480 is deducted for each family member (excluding the head of household
And spouse) who is under the age of 18, a full-time student or person with a disability.
� Elderly / Disabled - $400 is allowed for a family whose head of household or spouse / co applicant
Is 62 years of age or older, or a person with a disability.

A. If they issue you a Section 8 voucher, they will calculate your income, and expect you to pay 30% of that income for your rent and utilities.

They will let you rent a place for up to a maximum rent for a one-bedroom apartment, unless you have other family members too. If you want a more expensive place, you can pay a little more out of your own pocket (up to 40% of your income) for that place.

When they calculate your income, because you are disabled, they will reduce your income by $400. Example, let's say you get $8,000 a year income, they will calculate your income as $7,600 (8000-400). If you have really high medical expenses, they might also deduct some of those too, but don't expect that. If you have children, they deduct $480 per child from your income too. Example 2 kids=960 off your annual income.





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