Becoming a foster parent can be a rewarding experience.
According to the AdoptUsKids web site, there are 14,000 children in foster care and 2,500 waiting for adoption in Ohio. Most of these children are African-American, older children or siblings who want to be adopted together. Each county has its own public adoption and foster agency. There are also 100 private agencies providing adoption services. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services supervises these public and private agencies and issues rules and regulations for adoption and foster care.
Age
A foster caregiver has to be at least 21 years old, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Communication
At least one parent must be able to read, speak and write English or to communicate effectively with any child placed with her.
Income
A foster parent in Ohio must have an adequate income to meet basic needs and to make rent or mortgage payments.
Health
Foster parents may not have a physical, emotional or mental condition that would endanger the child or impair the parent's ability to care for the child. A doctor's statement must be provided.
Training
Before becoming a foster parent, an Ohio resident has to complete pre-placement and continued training. This involves 36 hours of educational sessions followed by a home study process done under the guidance of a trained agency professional. The home study assesses the prospective foster parent's child-rearing skills and life experiences in order to determine the type of child best for the parent.
Fire Safety
A state fire inspector or state fire marshal's office must certify that the foster parent's home is free from any condition that would threaten the safety of foster children.
Background Check
Foster parents must pass a criminal background check to make sure they have not been convicted of certain crimes.
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