Become a Therapeutic Foster Care, Adoption or Respite Parent
Every child needs stability, guidance, patience and love to grow. Children with special physical, emotional or medical conditions need all of this and more. When families are unable to provide for their child’s special needs, Kennedy Krieger’s Therapeutic Foster Care program is there to help. Therapeutic Foster Care’s foster and adoptive parents give children the chance they deserve for a family, a home and a future.Who are therapeutic foster parents?
A therapeutic foster parent is someone willing to make a commitment to care for a child with special needs until the child is returned to his or her family, adopted or transitioned to independent living. Successful foster parents come from diverse financial and cultural backgrounds. They are at least 21 years of age, can be single or married, are self-supporting, rent or own their own home, have experience with children and believe in giving back to their community.
Being a therapeutic foster parent means helping a child negotiate the ups and downs. It involves working with social workers, the courts, teachers, doctors, therapists and the child’s biological family. Though a big responsibility, the difference foster parents make in the life of a child is a reward unlike any other. For more information on becoming a therapeutic foster parent see Foster Care Services.
Who are adoptive parents?
An adoptive parent is someone who has made a commitment to be the child’s legal parent. Therapeutic foster parents often step forward to adopt children placed in their home when and if the child’s plan becomes adoption. Most of the reasons people adopt stem from their attachment to the child. Other reasons include wanting to give a child a permanent place to belong. For information about post-adoption services, see Adoption Services.
Who are respite parents?
A respite parent is someone who provides care for a child on a temporary basis in order for a parent to is interested in caring for a child on a temporary basis. Many have other commitments and responsibilities but still have a desire to care for a child for short periods of time, during the day, weekends or even for a week. Many respite parents enjoy the benefit of providing care for a variety of children and being a real help to foster parents who may want a break from caring for a child with a disability. Respite parents do not have to have experience with children with disabilities, just a desire and willingness to be involved in a child’s life. Respite parents receive specialized training and support, financial compensation and can reach staff by pager 24 hours/day. For more information on becoming a respite parent see Respite Care.
What else is required to be a therapeutic foster care, adoption or respite parent?
To become a therapeutic foster care parent, adoptive parent or respite parent, the applicant must meet state licensing requirements. These include:
- Medical check-ups and tuberculosis testing for all family members
- Criminal background check for all family members 18 and older
- Reference checks
- Health and fire inspections of the home
- First Aid and CPR training
- Birth and Marriage Records
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