Foster Care
Do you have what it takes? Children in Jefferson County deserve safety, permanency and well-being. Are you ready to open your home and share your heart to a child in need?
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Our children need you! Sometimes things happen when kids’ safety is a concern, and they are removed from their home. Our agency searches for family/kin, but sometimes placement in a foster home is needed. Currently, Ohio is facing a shortage of foster homes. Jefferson County Children Services needs committed foster families. The goal of foster care is to provide a safe environment for children who are temporarily removed from their home. Having foster homes in Jefferson County helps children remain in a familiar environment, close to family. When a child is removed from their own home, sometimes they must change schools and move away from everything that is familiar to them. This is devastating to a child and causes additional stress in addition to being removed from their family.
Some things that foster parents assist with when a child is placed in their home:
- Helping the child process being removed from their own home.
- Ensuring that the child receives medical, counseling and education.
- Advocating for the child by attending agency meetings and court hearings.
- Preparing child for visitations with their parents.
- Preparing child for reunification.
- Maintaining a Lifebook while the child is in your care (pictures of special occasions, educational progress, milestones….)
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Want To Learn More About Foster Care
Jefferson County Children Services
Monday-Friday 8-4
Agency Phone: 740-282-0961 Ext 1826
Agency Fax: 740-282-7110
Janelle Miller
Assessor, Foster Care Coordinator
Phone 740-792-1905 or email at janelle.miller@jfs.ohio.gov
The Need for Foster Parents
Boys and girls of all ages need foster parents. Children come from a variety of cultural, ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds and are in need of foster parents who are sensitive to their circumstances.
Foster Parent Requirements
- Are at least 18 years of age.
- Married, single or divorced.
- Must have income that is adequate to meet your household needs.
- You can own or rent your home or apartment
- A criminal records check is completed on each applicant and adult household member through the Bureau of Criminal Identification Investigation (BCII) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The applicant must not have been convicted of any criminal offenses.
- A records check is completed through the National Sex Offender Public Website.
- There must be an adequate childcare plan in place for parent(s) who work or attend school.
- Complete First Aid/CPR Training
- Complete 36 hours of Pre-Service Training.
- Commitment to caring for children that are victims of abuse or neglect.
- Medical Exam
- Psychological Exam if warranted
- Complete a homestudy & safety audit with an assessor.
- Provide a list of references
- Provide financial information with proof of income
- Provide documentation of household bills
- At least one applicant 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.
Possible Causes for Denial of an initial certification:
- Criminal history
- Substantiated Abuse or Neglect
- Falsification of information during the process
- Lack of stable, safe housing
Financial & Supportive Services for Foster Parents
*Monthly contact & support from your foster child’s caseworker and foster care coordinator
*Monthly per diem to assist in providing care for the child placed in your home
*Training stipend for required licensure training
* Possible Daycare assistance for working parents
*Medical Coverage for children in care
*To come soon – Foster Parent Resource Room
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If you are ready to take the next step, please Submit An Inquiry.
Potential applicants must submit an inquiry through the Ohio Certification for Agencies and Families System (OCAF) to create an OHID. To initiate the inquiry process, please call our foster care coordinator at (740) 282-0961 ext. 1826. We will collect basic information about your family to create the account and then OCAF will send you an email with a link to create your OHID. (Add link to OCAF)