Frequently Asked Questions

Just what is the Foster Family Care Network?
The Foster Family Care Network is a partnership of two agencies that work together to recruit, certify, train and support foster families.

• Albertina Kerr Centers
• Morrison Child and Family Services.

What kind of children would I care for?
Our programs care for high need children who:

• Range from three to 18 years of age
• May have suffered from physical sexual, emotional abuse; neglect or abandonment
• May have been involved with the juvenile justice system; adjudicated youth
• May have alcohol and drug issues.

What would be my commitment?
The level of commitment is up to you. It can be as little or as much as you are willing to take on. The Network has a wide range of foster care opportunities from overnight crisis care to long-term placements. We need people who will not give up easily on troubled kids and care committed to care for children through troubled times.

Why should I be a foster parent with the Network?
There is the single point of entry for the network. That means if you are certified with the network you can be a foster parent for any of the network programs. Among the many other Network advantages are:

• 24 hour support/seven days week
• Respite caregivers to give you a break
• High quality training: pre-services and ongoing
• Foster parent support groups
• Tax-free reimbursement for care: the monthly stipend varies depending on the program
• Prompt reimbursement.

What are the basic requirements to be certified as a network foster parent?
All kinds of people can be foster parents, single, married, retired, working, and both urban and city dwellers. Most of our foster parents are employed at other jobs. But you must:

• Be in good health
• Be at least 25 years of age
• Hold a Oregon driver’s license
• Have homeowner or renter’s insurance
• Have automobile insurance: 100/300 level of liability.

What accommodations do I need in my home?
For all programs you need a separate room and bed for the foster child. In some programs in which children have disabilities, they may need additional accommodations.

Does my spouse or significant other have to be certified too?
Your spouse or significant other does not have to be certified, but it will make it much easier. Most of our programs do not allow you to leave a foster child in the care of a non-certified caregiver even for a brief period of time.

Can I be a foster parent for the both state Department of Human Services and the network?
In most cases, you cannot be dual certified. There are exceptions, ask your Network representative about this.

What are the next steps?

• You must complete the application
• A state Department of Motor Vehicles check will be conducted
• A criminal history and fingerprinting check will be processed
• A state Child Protective Services check will be processed
• You must attend pre-service training. These are eight sessions, one night each week
• Your references will be checked
• A certifier from the Foster Family Care Network will conduct a home study.

How long with this take?
Certification generally takes up to three months. You participate in pre-service training during this time.

What types of foster care does the Network have?

• Proctor care at Morrison Child and Family Services, a Network organization, is family foster care that is connected to a mental health day treatment program. Proctor care is the highest level of treatment for children needing a therapeutic educational setting and a therapeutic home that carries the treatment plan into the home
• BRS proctor care at Albertina Kerr (Network organizations) is a therapeutic foster home which is recruited, trained, supported and supervised by a private agency
• Treatment Foster Care homes are required to be QMHA (Qualified Mental Health Associate) eligible and provide at least 10 hours per week of skills training. The child is able to attend a regular school setting or a ‘school district paid for placement’ in a higher level school setting
• Therapeutic foster care is the generic term to describe a different level of care as compared to “regular” child welfare foster care