Foster Care

Health Connect America believes in the importance of a thorough approach when approving homes and in the placement of foster children in these homes. The approval process to become a foster parent requires individuals to evaluate themselves throughout training, to demonstrate a willingness to support reunification, and a desire to help children who have suffered trauma, even when this may be challenging. Patience, empathy, and a willingness to learn are important to have when considering foster care. The training and approval process help prospective families learn to work with not only children in foster care, but birth families and the state agencies as well. To get started, consider the list below.

• Can be either married or single.
• Can either own or rent a home.
• Can have other children or none.
• Must be at least 25 years of age.
• Must be both physically and emotionally healthy enough to care for a child.
• Must be able to pass a background check.
• Must have room in home for a child.

Health Connect America’s program provides comprehensive support to foster parents and their foster children throughout the entire approval process. At the outset, you’ll receive training and guidance from your local Health Connect America foster parent trainer. The licensing process, which is free, includes several critical steps:

• Completion of our education and training program.
• Background checks.
• Home visits to evaluate safety and capacity.
• Completion of necessary paperwork and documentation.

Additionally, your foster parent trainer will conduct a home study. This crucial part of the approval process helps match foster families with children by assessing the compatibility of the home environment with the needs of the foster child. A completed home study is mandatory in all states for families looking to foster or adopt.

Once you become an approved foster parent, your Health Connect America trainer will continue to work with you to ensure your home consistently meets your state’s licensing standards.

Once a child is placed in your home, you will be assigned an HCA case manager. Your case manager is available to assist you and your foster child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each child has a unique set of needs and your case manager will help support you and your child to ensure all their needs are met. This includes working hand in hand with your child’s social services county of origin to initiate outpatient therapy, in-home therapy, medication management, and other services that are deemed to be in the best interest of the child. Social services will have developed a unique foster care plan for your child. The plan contains many goals for your child, including a plan for permanency. The permanency plan for your child may be reunification with their biological family or adoption. Your assigned case manager will work with social services, your family, and the foster child to ensure the steps outlined in this plan are being met as best as possible.

As well as having a circle of support while providing care to your foster child, HCA provides a monthly stipend to assist with room, board, and daily essentials. HCA abides by the state stipend guidelines. The stipend rate differs from state to state but is primarily based on the child’s level of need.  In addition, in many states, day care costs are covered for working parents.

Whether your family is interested in providing respite care, full-time foster care, or fostering with the goal to adopt, we are here to support you along the way. Our goal is to ensure every child is given the opportunity to live in a safe, stable, and loving environment and each and every one of our staff are dedicated to supporting you and your foster child throughout your fostering journey.