Foster Care in Williams County

Becoming a Foster Parent

Foster parenting requires a special kind of love and commitment to children…a love that transcends food, shelter, medical assistance and educational opportunities. It is a need to share yourself, to the fullest, with children who need a temporary substitute family while separated from their families. Foster Parents are part of a special team comprised of social workers from Williams County and other child care professionals who are working toward the ultimate goals of helping children grow, strengthening families and reuniting children with their parents.

Foster Parent Training

Safe, temporary homes are provided for children who cannot safely remain in their own homes. The main purpose of the foster care program is to reunify children with their families and/or to find other permanent living arrangements when children cannot return home.

If it is determined that a child must be placed out of their home, kinship and foster homes are then considered. These types of homes are considered to be safe, temporary homes for children while their families are working on issues such as parenting skills, housing, budgeting, and/or meeting medical needs, among others. A child may be placed in a temporary home for up to one year before a more permanent solution is considered.

Why are children separated from their parents?

Children are removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect and dependency which may be caused by parental illness, marital problems, mental illness, substance abuse and abandonment. Parents of these children are unable to provide a safe, healthy environment for them. Some families lack the means to help themselves.

As a Foster Parent

You may be married, single, or divorced.

You may have other children.

You must be at least 18 years old to foster.

You may own or rent your house or apartment.

You will receive training to help you parent children that have been separated from their birth families.

You and a social worker will determine your parenting strengths during home study.

You will usually receive financial aid to help meet the child’s daily living needs.

What is involved

Orientation

Home study

Licensing Guidance and support

Ongoing training

Adoption

Although the primary goal for children in Foster Care is Reunification with their Birth Family, at times this is not possible. In this situation it may be determined that the best interest of the child would be permanency through Adoption. In fact, there are thousands of children available for adoptions in the State of Ohio. If you are interested in Adoption, please visit AdoptUSKids to learn about and view profiles of children available for adoption in Ohio.

For more information, please contact the adoption staff at Williams County Department of Job and Family Services.