Resource Family Approval qualifications are as follows:

• 18 years of Age or Older
• Male or Female
• Single or Couple
• Retired or Working
• Homeowner or Renter
• "Sufficient" Income (Must be able to demonstrate your ability to meet your financial needs.)
• Must reside in San Diego County, with the exception of relatives and non-related extended family members under a specific criteria.
• MUST BE WILLING AND ABLE TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

If you meet the above qualifications, have a strong desire to make a positive impact in a child’s life, and are willing to open your home and provide a nurturing, loving and supportive environment, YOU can be a Resource Parent.

Becoming a foster/adoptive Resource Parent is a simple procedure, but takes time and determination to complete. All requirements for becoming a Resource Parent are intended to provide safety and security for both child and foster and adoptive resource parent. The steps are:

1. Attend a Resource Family Approval (RFA) Orientation meeting through an FFA Agency listed below.

2. Complete and Submit RFA Application forms

3. Complete Background Assessment and Home Environment Assessment

4. Complete 12- Hours of Trauma Informed Pre-Service (TIPS)

5. Complete First Aid and CPR certification

6. Complete Permanency/Psychosocial Assessment

7. Receive Approval and Written Report

Upon completion of the Resource Family Approval Process, you will be eligible for child placement.  However, completing the Resource Family Approval process does not guarantee immediate child placement.

It is important to keep in mind the goal of foster care is to provide temporary care for a child in a family setting until the foster child and parents can be reunited. If this goal cannot be achieved, another permanent plan for the child is developed. If the child becomes available for adoption, their current Resource Parents are typically given priority consideration.

Families receive the following support and resources:

• A monthly reimbursement for food, shelter, clothing, and recreation for each child.
• Medical and dental coverage for each foster child through the Medi-Cal program.
• On-going training to enhance their knowledge and skills so they can provide the best possible care to meet the unique needs of children in foster care.
• Support and supervision from agency workers.
• The satisfaction of knowing they have reached out a helping hand to children when it was so desperately needed.
• The reward of knowing there is something of themselves remaining with every child long after they have left the home.
• The knowledge their own lives have been enriched in some way by each child.

Generally not. Families and their foster children obviously enjoy having pets. We would only be concerned if there were issues of safety, cleanliness, or health factors, i.e.. a child’s allergies.

Yes. We understand that foster parents need a social life of their own. Rules regarding babysitting will be shared with you in your pre-placement training.

Yes. However, you must make arrangements with the social worker regarding any out-of-county travel and in most cases, the court must approve.

Yes. Law prohibits foster parents from using any form of physical punishment. The use of positive discipline, combined with warmth and caring attention is encouraged in educating the child to conform to the standards of your family and our society.  Various strategies are explored during Trauma Informed Pre-Service (TIPS) training.

Yes, to the extent that information is available and relates to meeting the needs of the child in foster care.  We encourage Resource Parents to ask questions to support making an informed decision about their ability to meet the needs of a child once placed in their home.

Yes. Foster parents have the right to accept or decline a child offered for placement.

In many cases, yes.  Age, gender identity, as well as "goodness of fit" are taken into consideration when determining the appropriateness of bedroom sharing and placement of a child in foster care. 

In order to maintain ties between parent and child where reunification is the goal, a visitation plan is required. As a member of the team, you will be expected to assist in helping support reunification. The child’s social worker will discuss with you the specific plan at the time of placement.

It depends on the particular child and his parents’ situation. Every effort is made to reunify parents and children as soon as possible. Some children live in your home for a few days, or even several months, while others may live with you for longer periods of times.

Generally, the foster care payment is considered reimbursement of the expenses, not income. You should contact a tax consultant if you have any questions.