How To Become A Foster Parent In The State Of Illinois

The need for foster families is great, and becoming a foster parent isn’t that difficult to do. The state of Illinois partners with families to provide safe care for children who have been placed in DCFS, until they can reunite these children with their birth families. While every state is a bit different, here is some information on becoming a foster parent in the state of Illinois.

Who Fosters?

Foster parents must be at least 21 years old. They can be single, married, in a civil union, separated, or divorced. The candidate may have children of their own or may be new to parenting altogether. While anyone who meets these requirements can apply, the candidate must follow a list of guidelines before a child can be placed in the home.

Is It Right for You?

Fostering a child takes flexibility, commitment, and an understanding that some children may come to you with disabilities or emotional trauma. If you feel that you are ready and able to commit to the responsibility of an extra person in the home, then you may be a good candidate.

While you may fit the criteria on paper, fostering may not be the right decision for you or your family. Some people have an idealized way of seeing foster parenting as playing the role of “hero.” For those that value their freedom and ability to come and go at will, fostering may not be for you.

What’s Next?

Foster parent candidates must participate in a home assessment to ensure that the environment is safe for a child to live in. They must also cooperate with a social assessment and history, which includes a criminal background check for all household members, proof of financial stability, complete health screening for all household members, and verification of immunizations for pets and household members. Next, the foster parent candidate must complete 27 hours of training that focuses on foster care and foster children.

Interested parties can contact Camelot Care Centers for more information on fostering a child.

Your New Life

Once you have a foster child in your home, everything changes. The child will need extra guidance, empathy and understanding, especially in the first few days while becoming acclimated to his or her new home. Be prepared for challenges. If you come across any ill behavior or concerns, you can contact your caseworker for help.

While fostering can be unpredictable, it can also be extremely rewarding. Creating a bond with a foster child is one of life’s most beautiful gifts. If you make the choice to foster, know you are doing your part in helping to care for and raise a child in need — which, in turn, helps to make the world a better place.

Every child needs and deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. At Camelot Care Centers, we specialize in higher-level foster care for children and adolescents that need extra support. We partner with our foster parents/homes to provide trauma informed care and additional services, including in-home counseling, parent support and training, tele-psychiatry, and therapeutic mentoring, to maintain children at the least restrictive, yet most appropriate level of care. Camelot Care Centers (“Camelot”) is a Child Welfare Agency licensed by the State of Illinois, a member of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).