Learn About Fostering

Follow this link to complete a contact form. You will be contacted shortly by the Department of Health and Welfare Licensing Team who can help guide you through the next steps.

Attending an informational meeting will give you a basic understanding of who the children in foster care are, the roles and responsibilities of foster parents, and the process you will need to go through to become licensed to foster. The Department of Health and Welfare will let you know when they are having these.

During this meeting, you will hear from experienced foster families about the rewards and real challenges of fostering. You will learn more about the background of some of the children and the length of time it will take to get a placement.

At this point in the journey, you may have some very real concerns and conflicts about fostering. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have. Attending an informational meeting does not mean you have to make any decisions right away. It serves as a place to gather information about whether or not fostering is right for your family. You can also complete step 3 with this one.

If you have decided that foster parenting is right for you and your family, please complete this brief online foster care application. Be as thorough as possible and do not leave any sections blank unless asked. English Application

Aplicar para acoger/adoptar

At this point, you will complete your Criminal History and Background Check. In order to apply for the Criminal History and Background Check, you will need your "Employer/Agency Code ID# and "Payment Code." Look below for your location ID# and payment code.

• Region 1 (Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah Counties)
  Agency Code is #1460; Payment Code is RCB27F 
• Region 2 (Latah, Nez Perce, Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho Counties)
  #1460
• Region 3 (Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon, Owyhee Counties)
  

  Agency Code is #1226; Payment Code is T6B7WQ

• Region 4 (Valley, Boise, Ada, Elmore Counties)
  Agency Code is 1236; Payment Code is 75PLUA
• Region 5 (Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Twin Falls, Cassia Counties)
  Agency Code is 1838; Payment Code is RHJ7Y
• Region 6 (Bingham, Bannock, Power, Caribou, Bear Lake, Franklin, Oneida Counties)
  Agency Code 1274; Payment Code S86Y47
• Region 7 (Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Jefferson, Fremont, Madison, Teton, Bonneville Counties)
  Agency Code 1505; Payment Code is FVEETJ

Once your foster care application and background has been approved, your DHW Licensing Worker will give you the process to access to FIRST(Fostering Idaho Resources & Skills Training) on the Training Portal. FIRST is a 24-hour training for potential foster, kinship, and foster/adoptive parents. You will be required to complete the Reasonable Prudent Parenting Standard(RPPS) and the FIRST Prerequisites course before you are allowed to register for a FIRST class in your area. FIRST is designed to help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to make an informed decision about fostering and/or adopting.

It is essential to commit to attending and actively participating in all training sessions. Additionally, if you are looking to foster/adopt with a partner, both parties must attend these sessions.

Sessions are designed to:

• Begin the preparations for fostering/adopting
• Create a basis for teamwork between yourself and the agency
• Challenge you to grow and develop as a resource parent
• Help you ask yourself the following: Is fostering/adopting for me? Am I able to parent a child who has been neglected and/or abused? What type of child can I parent?
• Provide a group setting to discuss and learn

During this step, you will make friends with other prospective parents, staff, and experienced foster/adopt parents and start to feel like part of an enthusiastic, hard-working, and competent team. You are not in this alone!
You can register for FIRST by completing RPPS and FIRST Prerequisites only, and classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum of 25 participants.

A Home Study is a document prepared by a Licensed Social Worker. Information used for this assessment is gathered during multiple home visits with you and your family. The assessment includes:

• A safety inspection of your home
• A safety inspection of your home
• Review of financial stability
• Review of character & medical references
• A determination of the characteristics of the children you are interested in foster parenting (age, gender, behaviors, special needs, etc)
• A recommendation of suitability by the Social Worker
• If you do not feel sure that you or members of your household are ready to continue the process at this point, you can postpone the home study until you are ready.

In Idaho we perform a Dual Assessment Home Study. The term “Dual Assessment” means that the completed home study can be used for both foster care and adoption. Unless you specifically request foster or adoptive care only, all home studies completed by Child and Family Services are designed to be used for both.

Home visits may occur during and after completion of the FIRST(Fostering Idaho Resources & Skills Training). During the home study phase, the Social Worker will use information obtained from your written autobiography, personal and medical references, home visit interviews and FIRST participation to write your home study.

The purpose of a home study is to determine if foster or adoptive care is a good fit for your family, and to determine the characteristics of the children whom you are most able to parent. Additionally, the home study must be approved before a family can be considered as a possible resource for children.

During the home study step, you and members of your household will:

• Decide whether it is right for your family to proceed with the foster/adoptive process.
• Work with the social worker to complete the home study process by providing all necessary information.
• Meet with other experienced foster/adoptive parents.

If you do not feel sure that you or members of your household are ready to continue the process at this point, you can postpone the home study until you are ready.