• Where do I start?
• How do I know if I will qualify?
• Who are the children that need foster families?
• What type of help is offered to the children and their foster families?
• Must I take any child into my home?
• How will my own children be affected by my foster children?
• Can I adopt the child placed in my home?

• Where do I start?
• What kinds of children are in need of adoptive families?
• The term “special needs” is used in regard to adopting through the foster care system. What does that mean?
• What kind of information will I receive on the child I would like to adopt?
• Does the adopted child or family receive any benefits or assistance?
• How expensive is it to adopt through the foster care system?
• How long does the entire adoption process take?
• What happens once the adoption is finalized?

Q: Where do I start?

A: The first step to becoming a foster parent is to take a 30 hour course called M.A.P.P. Camelot offers six M.A.P.P. classes a year for your convenience.

Q: How do I know if I will qualify?

A: The following questions, will assist you in determining your eligibility to become a foster parent:

1. Has anyone in your home ever been convicted of a crime?
   If you or anyone in your home has been convicted of certain offenses, you may not be eligible to be a foster parent. Each adult member in the home will be fingerprinted, and juvenile checks will be run on all children twelve and older. In addition to fingerprinting, local criminal record checks will be conducted.
2. Do you have a history or record of abuse or neglect?
   If you have been investigated by the Department of Children and Families in the past and the report was verified, you may not be eligible to become a foster parent.
3. Do you have space in your home to accommodate an additional child?
   Each child must have at least forty square feet per child and must be provided their own bed and storage space. Children ages 0-1 may be in a crib in the parent’s bedroom; children ages 0-2 may share a room with other genders; children ages 3+ must be in a bedroom with their own gender. Foster parents or their children may not be moved out of their bedrooms and sleep on a couch in order to provide space for the foster child.
4. Can your home pass a safety inspection?
   We strive to ensure that children live in a safe and clean environment. Your home must meet the standards of the County Health Department who will conduct an inspection. This will include having working smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher, barriers to swimming pools, having chemicals and medications locked, and a home free of danger and garbage.
5. Do you have adequate income to meet your family’s needs?
   Although each child in foster care is provided with a board rate to meet their basic needs, we will verify that your family is able to meet your personal expenses without relying on that board check. You do not need to be rich, you simply need to have income that exceeds expenses.
6. Are you physically and emotionally capable of caring for children?
   Working with children who have experienced the trauma of abuse and neglect can be challenging. Children may not trust adults and may have developed coping mechanisms that manifest in difficult behaviors. Fostering requires an ongoing investment in children that requires a family who is physically and emotionally stable and can give without expectation of receiving. Part of the homestudy process will assess the foster parent’s own backgrounds and their experiences which may affect their ability to invest at this level.

Q: Who are the children that need foster families?

A: Children are placed through Child Protective Services when circumstances in their families of origin render it an unsafe environment for those children. Each placement is initially a temporary situation and each child will participate in visits with their biological parent(s), sibling(s), and in some cases, extended family. The role of the foster parent is to provide a safe, stable environment in which the child can grow and develop until it is deemed appropriate for them to return to their homes. Children are represented by all ages, races, socioeconomic status, and experiences. All have some form of trauma in common as they have been separated from their families of origin.

Q: What type of help is offered to the children and their foster families?

A: Each child has a Care Manager who is responsible for coordinating their case plan while in foster care. Examples of services can include individual therapy (mental health, speech, occupational, physical), tutoring, mentoring, and individualized education plans. Each family is assigned a Family Development Specialist who assists the family in navigating the system to provide for the child’s needs. This includes monthly visits to the foster home, monthly trainings, 24/7 on-call support, social events, and assistance with securing needed services. In addition, each child is provided with Medicaid to meet their medical, dental, and mental health needs, as well as a monthly stipend to assist the family in caring for the child. This amount does not typically cover all expenses, but ensures the family is not financially burdened as a result of opening their home to a child in the foster care system.

Q: Must I take any child into my home?

A: No. During the home study process, the family’s worker will assist them in establishing the demographics of the children who could best be served in that home. The profile of the child the family can work with will be honored and only those children will be considered for that home. At the time of placement, each family is given all available information and is encouraged to make a decision that will be effective for their home. Saying “No” is okay and will not affect our willingness to continue to call you for other children.

Q: How will my own children be affected by my foster children?

A: All children are impacted by the addition of a child to a home. If your children are included in the process and understand your expectations, it should not adversely affect them. It is important, however, to consider your children’s personalities and needs in determining what type of children with whom you will work best. Fostering can be a wonderful gift to your children as they learn to give back to our community and partner with you in providing a safe, nurturing environment.

Q: Can I adopt the child placed in my home?

A: Under Florida Statute, foster parents have the benefit to be considered first for any child in their care who becomes available for adoption. This cannot be the primary motivation for fostering, however, as reunification with the family of origin is almost always the initial goal and moving toward the termination of parental rights can be a lengthy process. Our biggest need in the child welfare system is for families who can partner with the goal of reunification while concurrently being open for providing permanence is the child cannot return home.

Q: Where do I start?

A: The first step to becoming an adoptive parent through the foster care system is to take a 30 hour course called M.A.P.P. Camelot offers six M.A.P.P. classes a year for your convenience.

Q: What kinds of children are in need of adoptive families?

A: Children needing adoptive homes generally range from 8-17 years old and they may be a part of a sibling or minority group. Occasionally younger children are available, particularly those who are of minority races.

Q: The term “special needs” is used in regard to adopting through the foster care system. What does that mean?

A: “Special needs,” by definition, refers to children over 8; children of minority races; children in sibling groups; children with emotional issues due to their abuse/neglect histories; or children with medical conditions. In reality, “special needs” encompasses any child adopted through the foster care system.

Q: What kind of information will I receive on the child I would like to adopt?

A: You will be provided with the child’s foster care history including the circumstances leading to their removal from the family of origin; medical history including birth and delivery records; any assessment or evaluations completed on the child; known family history; court records during the child’s stay in foster care; placement history; and current information on the child’s progress, daily regimen, and what type of family could best meet the child’s needs. Portions of the child’s file will be copied and provided to you for your review toward making an informed decision. All information will be released ONLY to families with approved home studies.

Q: Does the adopted child or family receive any benefits or assistance?

A: During the adoption process, each family will be assigned a Family Adoption Specialist who will assist them in navigating the world of adoption. The Specialist will complete the home study, assist with identifying the appropriate child for the family, provide support through the visitation and placement process, and will complete the post placement visits as required. Benefits to the child are outlined under the following question.

Q: How expensive is it to adopt through the foster care system?

A: There are very limited costs to adopt through the foster care system. At Camelot, each adoptive family will pay $36.00 per person for the processing of background checks. Each child adopted through the foster care system qualifies for Medicaid until the age of 18; tuition reimbursement for any Florida accredited university, community college, or trade school; and up to $1,000.00 in non-recurring adoption expenses. In addition, some children may qualify for a monthly subsidy up to 80% of their foster care board rate.

Q: How long does the entire adoption process take?

A: In most cases, the adoption process takes between 9 and 18 months to complete.

Q: What happens once the adoption is finalized?

A: Once the adoption is finalized in a Florida Court of Law, the child becomes a permanent member of the adoptive family, affording parents all rights and responsibilities like that of a biological parent. There is no requirement to maintain a relationship with the family’s approving agency post-finalization, but Camelot is always available to assist with questions, securing of needed services, and support. “We will be as far away or as close as you would like us to be.”

If you have more questions, do not hesitate to e-mail us directly at info@camelotcommunitycare.com.