Hello friends, I know I don't post often, but I am going through the training process to get my foster parent license and I thought I would share the timeline here - as a look-back for me and a help for anyone who might be considering the same.
As I begin, I'm in the very first stages of the training process, but I am curious to see what length of time lapses before my first child placement. The representative said 30-90 days from orientation to licensing, but I've heard stories of much longer lengths of time! We will see.
Before this timeline began were several months of talking to people who have fostered and interviewing with a few various agencies, as I didn't want to make the decision to foster lightly. The agency that I've chosen is the third that I've interviewed with - not including CPS, which I was considering, but I preferred a Christian-based agency for the support system and resources.
Foster Care Timeline:
January 20, 2016 - Interview with representative for a foster agency that I liked, but I didn't feel like I quit fit their needs (they're passionate about foster-to-adopt)
January 21, 2016 - Interview and private orientation for a foster agency that I also liked, but I didn't feel like I quite fit their needs (they're passionate about long-term foster care only)
January 23, 2016 - Conversation with someone at CPS; I was interested, but more passionate about a Christian-based agency
February through July (6 months) - After attending multiple meetings where I didn't feel the Lord saying "yes" and planning a group trip to Kenya in July, I took a break from interviews and meetings and spent time in active prayer about the next step to take
July 26, 2016 - Initial conversation with representative for my chosen foster agency (different agency from the first two in January)
August 2, 2016 - Foster Care Orientation and first training session
August 3, 2016 - TB test
August 6, 2016 - CPR Certification
August 7, 2016 - Two-hour Psychotropic Medication Overview Training
August 19 2016 - Finish reading The Connected Child, an assigned reading for training
August 20, 2016 - Built bunk beds for children's room, purchased smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguisher
September 8, 2016 - Training sessions over sensitive communication, sound relationships, and child development
September 15, 2016 - Training session missed due to being out of the country - making this up during my home study
September 22, 2016 - Training sessions over separation, loss, and grief and child maltreatment
September 26, 2016 - Completed two-hour Trauma Informed Care training and two-and-a-half-hour Medical Consent training
October 26, 2016 - Fingerprinting
November 22, 2016 - Sent autobiography, house and yard floor plans, and dentist and doctor information
December 7, 2016 - Veterinary papers and rabies certification sent
December 13, 2016 - Received wellness check from physician
December 16, 2016 - Cleared TB test
January 21, 2017 - Behavioral Crisis Management Training (4 hours) and Medical Training
January 25, 2017 - Fire safety home check
January 27-29, 2017 - First placement; respite care for 3 children under the age of 5 years
February 3, 2017 - Home visitation
February 7, 2017 - Submitted income information
