Tuesday, May 21 – Forestdale will be hosting an Open House for all those interested in learning more about becoming a Foster Parent. Meet our family of caring, dedicated workers as we answer your questions about foster parenting and foster care. Light refreshments will be served. No registration or fee required. 

Forestdale is looking for special people to provide temporary homes, guidance and love to young people who cannot safely remain with their parents. Your role is to provide children and teens with the emotional support they need to heal and thrive. At the same time, you work with Forestdale to help birth parents make progress towards rebuilding their families. In most cases, foster children reunite with their birth parents; when it is not safe to do so, Forestdale will facilitate the adoption process.

As a foster parent, you will provide what all loving parents do: food, shelter, clothing, stability, discipline and a caring home environment. Foster parents serve as champions for the children in their care, helping them gain self-esteem, achieve in school, and acquire the life skills they need to lead fulfilling lives. If you love and understand children, you’ve already met many of our qualifications.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a foster parent at Forestdale, please email fosterparentrecruitment@forestdaleinc.org, or contact the Homefinding Department at 718-263-0740 x279.

Foster Parent Orientation Dates

5/21/13                                               4-8pm OPEN HOUSE

5/23/13                                              1:30pm

5/29/13                                              6pm

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Who can become a Foster/Adoptive Parent?

• Foster/Adoptive Resource Parents must be at least 21 years of age and in good health.
• They can be single, married, widowed, divorced or legally separated and can have other children living at home.
• They must have their own income, whether from a job, public assistance, a pension or social security.
• Citizenship is not required.
• Relatives of children in foster care can become kinship foster parents and the same requirements apply to them.

Do I need a lot of money?

• Finances are considered only as they pertain to a family’s ability to provide stability to a child.
• Foster/Adoptive Parents receive a monthly stipend and numerous support services from the agency, including training for the foster and birth families and counseling for the child.
• Adoption subsidies and post-adoptive services are also available to persons who adopt children with special needs.

Do I need to own my own home?

• Both homeowners and renters qualify.

What kinds of children need Foster/Adoptive Families?

• All kinds of children of all ages need Foster/Adoptive Homes.
• The children most urgently in need are brother and sister groups, adolescents, teen mothers and their children.
• Foster and adoptive Parents from all ethnic groups are needed.
• There are no religious requirements.

What do I have to do to become a Foster/Adoptive Parent?

• The first step is to call our Homefinding Department at 718.263.0740.
• You will be invited to an orientation meeting at Forestdale’s campus where you will learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
• You will be asked to file an application, enroll in a specialized training program, “Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting” (MAPP), make yourselves available for interviews and home visits, and produce some documentation such as birth and marriage certificates, references and medical exams.

• A New York State Central Registry Clearance for Child Abuse and a Criminal Record check are also completed.

How long does it take to become a Foster/Adoptive Parent?

• The MAPP training is 30 hours spread out over a ten week time period.
• The entire evaluation process, including MAPP, takes about 3-4 months.

Does Forestdale respect the privacy rights of its clients?

• Yes. Forestdale makes every effort to protect the privacy rights of its clients in compliance with all City, State, and Federal regulations. Please review Forestdale’s HIPPA statement (Notice of Privacy Practices). Also, please review our website’s privacy policy.