Become a Foster Parent

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.  
2. At least one applicant in the home must be able to read, write and speak English or be able to effectively communicate with any child placed in their home and with the recommending agency.
3. May be single, co-parents, or legally married.
4. Must show the household has an income sufficient to meet the basic needs of the household and make timely payment of shelter costs.
5. Must be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition which would endanger a child or seriously impair the ability of the foster caregiver or applicant to care for a foster child.
6. Must have a medical statement on all household members 
7. No person in the household over age 18 may have been convicted of or pleaded guilty of any of the offenses as defined in section 5103.0319 of the Revised Code.  Some exclusions to this may be found in rule 5101:2-7-02 of the Administrative Code.
8. Must obtain an approved inspection by a certified state fire safety inspector or the state fire marshal’s office certifying the home is free of conditions hazardous to the safety of foster children.
9. Must complete all pre-placement and continuing training.

1. Contact us today by email here.
2. We will send you information to review
3. Fill out an application to become a foster parent
4. Attend 25 hours of pre-service training
5. Complete all required paperwork.
6. Complete the home study process. This is the family assessment where you meet with our assessor to help us get to know you and walk you through the paperwork process.

Foster parents are required to have 36 pre-service training hours. The training covers:

1. The legal rights and responsibilities of foster caregivers
2. Advantage’s policies and procedures regarding foster caregivers
3. ODJFS requirements for certifying foster homes
4. The effects placement, separation, and attachment issues have on children, their families, and foster caregivers
5. The importance of maintaining meaningful connections between the child and parents, including regular visitation.
6. Foster caregivers’ involvement in permanency planning for children and their families
7. The effects of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and substance abuse on normal human growth and development
8. Behavior management techniques
9. Effects of caregiving on children’s families
10. Cultural issues including cultural diversity training
11. Prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases.
12. Community health and social services available to children and their families.
13. The substance of section 2152.72 of the Revised Code which deals with the information required to be shared with a foster caregiver when a child who has been adjudicated a delinquent child for the commission of certain violent crimes is placed in a foster home.
14. The reasonable and prudent parent standard as described in division (C) of section 5103.162 of the Revised Code.
15. Preparing adolescents for independent living if the prospective family foster caregiver will be providing care for a youth expected to remain in foster care until the youth’s eighteenth birthday
16. Issues concerning appropriate behavioral intervention techniques, such as de-escalation, self-defense and physical restraint techniques and the appropriate use of such techniques.
17. Education advocacy training.
18. A first aid and a child and adult CPR training program such as those training programs offered by the American red cross, the American heart association, or the equivalent.
19. Medication administration.
20. Procedures for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code.

Click the links below to download the forms.

• Application
• Child Characteristic Checklist
• Financial Statement
• Fire Inspection
• Medical

• Criminal Background Check – BCI/FBI – each foster parent and adult member in the household 
• References – each foster parent needs 2 unrelated references and 1 related reference
• Copy of Driver’s License – each foster parent & adult member of your household
• Copy of your current auto insurance card – each adult driver in the household
• Copy of Social Security Card – each foster parent & adult member of your household
• Copy of your marriage certificate/divorce decree/separation
• Copy of your last tax return or W-2
• Copies of pay stubs – most recent 2 months – for each employed foster parent
• Copies of utility bills – electric, gas, phone, water
• Copy of rent/mortgage payment
• Pet vaccination records
• Signed Offense Form – each foster parent & adult member of your household 
• Minor Notification Form – applies if you have a minor 12-18 years old in your household
• Babysitter-Approved Caregiver Form
• Crib Acknowledgement Form
• Evacuation Plan
• Medication Acknowledgement Form
• Well Water Acknowledgement Form