Foster in Your Home

Our primary goal for children is family reunification.  Sometimes reunification is not possible, and we work with the family or with the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to seek other avenues toward permanence.  Options fall along a spectrum, from placement of the child with relatives, to intervention by DFPS with the intent to take custody of the child, to a parent making the choice to voluntarily give up parental rights with the intent of placing the child in an adoptive home.  Adoption is a less likely outcome than most other types of permanence for the child. There is no guarantee of adoption.

You will typically have the opportunity to meet your foster child before placement in your home. Most children have already entered foster care with us prior to placement with you, and some will require a pre-placement visit before they can be placed in your home.

We can make emergency placements into your foster home without a visit if the child is coming into foster care directly from their family, rather than from another foster home placement.

All adults and children in your household over the age of 1 are required to have a negative TB test. All children must receive and remain current on required childhood vaccines. Children 14 and older must complete a background check, along with any other adults living in the home. Pets must be fully vaccinated, and documentation must be provided.

When we move children into community care, we expect it will be long-term. This could be anywhere from 3 months to several years until permanency can be reached for the child. Every scenario is unique and there are no guarantees.

We are happy to work with foster families to provide cribs, car seats, clothing, or other basic needs the family requires in order to foster a child. Children are enrolled in Medicaid and WIC to provide access to medical care and assistance with the cost of food. Most of our foster children are voluntarily placed in foster care and therefore do not come with any funding from the state. For those children who are in DFPS custody, Casa has a no-pay contract with the state for those placements, so our foster families do not receive money from the state for DFPS placements. Casa will consider assisting with other costs related to foster care on a case-by-case basis.

Separation from family and entry in to foster care can be traumatizing for a child even with the best of intentions. We will help you prepare for the potentially challenging situations and behaviors that may arise while the child is in foster care. Casa does not accept children with significant medical needs into foster care. However, we have limited information about the children, including their current medical needs and behaviors when children first come into care. Sometimes children may require additional support from professionals such as speech, occupational or physical therapists to help them catch up on certain developmental milestones. Casa de Esperanza will help arrange these screenings and therapies if needed.

Family visits are typically in-person, supervised by Casa staff, and scheduled every other week at our Casa offices.