Foster Care
Goals
The main goal of foster care is reunification. The primary aim of all child welfare services is to preserve and strengthen the child’s own home, whenever possible, to remedy the home situation and to return the child to his/her natural parents. Children enter foster care because of neglect, abuse, a family crisis or the child’s own needs. Foster homes are intended to be places of safety and comfort for a child.
Foster Care enables children to:
- Attend the same schools, team events, cultural and social activities
- Remain close to their siblings, other family members and friends
- Remain in their communities
Decide If Foster Care is Right for You
Being a foster parent can be an incredibly rewarding, life-altering challenge, if you are ready to take it. You can decide when it is the right time. Children in the foster care system need a special kind of person. A successful foster parent is patient, an advocate, likes kids, a team player and able to love and let go when the job is done.
Child Foster Care Initial Documents
- CFC Licensing Applicant Checklist (include PDF)
- Prospective Letter (include PDF)
- Points to Ponder In Considering Foster Care (PDF)
- Minnesota Adoption and Child Foster Care Application (PDF)
- Individual Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Data Collection Form & ID (anyone 13+ living in the household) (include PDF)
- Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices (include PDF)
**Once these documents are returned to Polk County Social Services, you will receive additional forms and the 2nd packet to the licensing process.
Child Foster Care Training & Resources
Normalcy and Reasonable and Prudent Parenting
B.E.S.T. (Best Education for Safe Travel)
SUID/AHT (It does say for Child Care, but it is the same for Foster Care. You will watch all 6 videos. Some are shorter in time)
www.fosterparentcollege.com (if you are not registered please contact your licensor on how you can become registered)
www.fosteradoptmn.org (great reading materials for foster care, post adoption, mental health, parenting tips, kinship care, and lots more)!
www.childwelfare.gov (information about children’s welfare, family preservation, adoption and guardianship, family centered practice, and much more).
Foster Families
Foster families may provide:
- Longer term care as families work through the reunification process. When reunification is not possible, foster families sometimes make a permanent commitment to their foster children
- Respite care for children whose families may need a short break from their daily routine
- Temporary, short-term care for children in crisis
Adult & Child Foster Care
A social worker completes orientation, licensing and re-licensing of family foster care and adult foster homes. A social worker will also assist in the training and on-going support of foster care parents.
Child Foster Care is an opportunity for you to make a difference in a child’s life. Foster care is temporary. Children usually continue to visit their own families until they can be reunited. If children can’t return home, foster parents may have an adoption option. Foster parents are asked to care for children who have challenging behaviors and require a lot of time and supervision.
Adult Foster Care is a home setting in the community for adults who are unable to live independently due to physical, emotional, developmental or mental health impairments. Residents receive meals, support, supervision and some assistance with personal care and living skills as needed.
Additional Information
Polk County Social Services licenses, monitors and supports child & adult foster homes. Polk County Social Services can only license homes which are located in Polk County. For more information call 218-281-3127.
If you live outside of Polk County, contact your local department of social services for licensing information.