ADOPTION
Adoption is the method provided by law to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who are not so related by birth, with the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between children and their birth parent. The primary purpose of adoption through our agency is to help children whose parents are incapable of assuming or continuing parental responsibilities to become part of a new family.
Eligibility:
Criteria for Families who want to Adopt:
Financial Guidelines:
Special Information:
FOSTER PARENTING
For more information about becoming a Foster Parent, email or call 828-426-8281.
What does it mean to be a foster parent?
Foster parents provide temporary care for children until they can be successfully reunited with their birth parents. They work with children who have been removed from their birth families because of abuse and neglect. The foster family, DSS and the birth family work together to return children to their own home as soon as possible. Foster parents participate in Shared Parenting with birth parents and meet with them to support reunification.
Foster parenting is emotionally demanding parenting, but very rewarding if you can be flexible, patient and work well with others.
Buncombe County DSS has created a wonderful foster parent recruitment video featuring country music singer, Jimmy Wayne. They have graciously approved the video to be used by all NC foster care agencies for foster parent recruitment. You may access this video by clicking on the link below.
How do I become a foster parent?
Our agency is continually looking for good, nurturing families to provide temporary care for children in foster care. We are especially interested in recruiting homes for teenagers, teenage mothers and their babies, and sibling groups. A good foster parent is someone who copes well with change, works well with teams, has patience for imperfect behavior and can give without expecting immediate rewards.
1. The first step to become a licensed foster parent is to complete the on-line orientation for prospective foster parents. The NC Division of Social Services has launched a new resource to support foster parent recruitment and training. In partnership with the Jordan Institute for Families at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work, the NC Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, and representatives from public and private agencies, the Division has developed an online orientation that sends a helpful, consistent, and inspiring message to families considering providing therapeutic or family foster care.
This orientation is:
Brief. This 15-minute course shares basic information about foster care, describes the children in need of foster homes, introduces the foster home licensing process in North Carolina, and connects families with potential supervising agencies. The orientation can be found by clicking the link below.
Accessible. To take the online orientation your computer must have: (1) external speakers or headphones; (2) broadband Internet access; (3) the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.
Interactive and Fun. The orientation uses short video clips, handouts, web links, and activities that engage people in what is being taught. At the end, learners are asked to print out a certificate of completion to share with the supervising agency they select.
Required. If prospective foster parents haven’t already completed the orientation before attending class, they will be asked to complete the orientation on a computer at our agency. Your certificate of completion will be placed in your training record.
2. Contact our Foster Home Licensing Social Worker Valerie Ackerman at (828) 426-8281 or email. She will be willing to answer any questions about how to become a foster parent and mail you an information packet and application.
3. An initial home visit will be scheduled at your family’s convenience to discuss any further questions that you may have and to help you get started on the process.
Caldwell County DSS is now offering the TIPS-MAPP curriculum, which stands for Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting. The TIPS-MAPP focuses the necessary skills to prepare families to become a foster family. The classes are a requirement to become a foster/adoptive parent and are being offered free of charge. Each class will be held at the Caldwell County Department of Social Services (Health and Human Services Building) in Lenoir. There are 30 hours of training involved in each series of foster parent (TIPS-MAPP) classes.
The foster family must be willing to conduct Shared Parenting meetings with the child’s birth parents and/or other relatives. Foster Parent and State Trainer Donna Foster defines shared parenting in the context of foster care and explains how this practice benefits children and facilitates family reunification. Click on the link below to watch her video. Donna Foster describes how to overcome some of the common barriers foster parents experience when trying to engage in shared parenting with birth parents.
Special Information
A foster home license is good for two years. Ongoing training and support is offered through scheduled in-service trainings, home visits and child and family team meetings. If the family remains in good standing with the Agency, their license can be renewed if they have completed their training requirements.
You may click here to download the Foster/Adoptive Parent application in a PDF format.
Does being a licensed foster parent in NC mean I'm approved to adopt?
Who is who in NC’s foster care program?
How does court work for foster parents in NC?
Where can I get the training credit I need for relicensure?
You can find answers to these and other questions commonly asked by resource parents on FosteringNC.org's Frequently Asked Questions page. Check it out!