Foster Parent Qualifications
Therapeutic Foster Parents
The treatment needs of the child require that a specialized therapeutic foster parent be available 24 hours per day to respond to crises or to the need for special therapeutic interventions. This may require that one of the foster parents not work outside of the home.
It is strongly recommended that specialized therapeutic foster homes have two parents. If a single parent wishes to become a therapeutic foster parent, special consideration must be given to his or her experience with parenting and the availability of a support network.
Specialized therapeutic foster parents are considered the primary treatment agents for the implementation of treatment plans in the home. Foster parents must attend all multidisciplinary service planning or treatment plan meetings.
Qualifications of Foster Parents
Specialized therapeutic foster care parents must have completed training required of all licensed foster parents and must receive 30 additional clock hours of pre-service, criterion-based training to prepare them to become treatment oriented foster care parents prior to having children placed in the home.
The district Substance Abuse and Mental Health program office, along with the enrolled provider, must assure that the therapeutic foster parents meet the qualifications and training requirements before a child is placed in the home and reimbursement is received from Medicaid.
Foster Parent Training Requirements
Foster home parents already licensed by the state must meet one of the following training requirements prior to the child being placed in the home:
The content of the pre-service training must be approved by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health program office and must address at least the following areas: Program orientation; Normal childhood development; Emotional disturbances in children; Behavior management; Discipline; Communication; Permanency; Stress management; Crisis intervention and emergency procedures; Self-defense and passive physical restraint; Working with biological or adoptive families; Placement adjustment skills; Confidentiality; Cultural competency; and Behaviors and emotional issues of children who have been sexually abused.
The treatment needs of the child require that a specialized therapeutic foster parent be available 24 hours per day to respond to crises or to the need for special therapeutic interventions. This may require that one of the foster parents not work outside of the home.
It is strongly recommended that specialized therapeutic foster homes have two parents. If a single parent wishes to become a therapeutic foster parent, special consideration must be given to his or her experience with parenting and the availability of a support network.
Specialized therapeutic foster parents are considered the primary treatment agents for the implementation of treatment plans in the home. Foster parents must attend all multidisciplinary service planning or treatment plan meetings.
Qualifications of Foster Parents
Specialized therapeutic foster care parents must have completed training required of all licensed foster parents and must receive 30 additional clock hours of pre-service, criterion-based training to prepare them to become treatment oriented foster care parents prior to having children placed in the home.
The district Substance Abuse and Mental Health program office, along with the enrolled provider, must assure that the therapeutic foster parents meet the qualifications and training requirements before a child is placed in the home and reimbursement is received from Medicaid.
Foster Parent Training Requirements
Foster home parents already licensed by the state must meet one of the following training requirements prior to the child being placed in the home:
- Have received pre-service training, or
- Provide documentation of having received commensurate training within the last two years.a
The content of the pre-service training must be approved by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health program office and must address at least the following areas: Program orientation; Normal childhood development; Emotional disturbances in children; Behavior management; Discipline; Communication; Permanency; Stress management; Crisis intervention and emergency procedures; Self-defense and passive physical restraint; Working with biological or adoptive families; Placement adjustment skills; Confidentiality; Cultural competency; and Behaviors and emotional issues of children who have been sexually abused.
