Navigating the System to Foster a Child

— by Lin McNulty —

A combination of curiosity, care, and concern brought approximately 25-30 islanders to the Eastsound Fire Station on a windy Wednesday night to learn how to become a foster parent.

Christina Urtasun, Recruiter Liaison from Fostering Together, an organization dedicated to finding and supporting foster families in Western Washington, along with Kari Jellison, DSHS, greeted the group, providing an overview of the system, the current needs, and answered thoughtful questions from the attendees.

Becoming a foster parent is a major life decision; Orcas and the San Juans, along with everywhere else in the country, are in great need for licensed foster homes.

To be considered for a foster care license, an applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have sufficient income to support themselves without relying on foster care payments.
• Discipline children in a positive manner without the use of physical punishment.
• Provide supervision appropriate to the age or specific behavior of the child as outlined by the social worker.
• Complete training:
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Licensing Orientation
  • Pre-service Training

Any adult living in a potential foster home must:

• Complete a background clearance check with the FBI and Washington State Patrol.
• Submit tuberculosis tests dated within the last year.

Youth ages 16 to 18 in the household must complete a Washington State Patrol check.

Washington State laws about foster home licensing are covered by the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). You can review the foster parenting WACs on DSHS’s Working with Laws & Rules page.

Training Requirements:

• Orientation – You must complete an orientation session in person or online.
• Pre-service Training – You are required to take 24 hours of Pre-service Training and a First Aid/CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens course. Training courses are offered regularly in all regions of Washington State. Local CPR class will be held on March 5, 10 a.m., – 4:30 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station. Pre-registration is required.
• Ongoing Training – All licensed family foster homes (including those licensed by private agencies and the Office of Foster Care Licensing) are required to complete ongoing training:
  • 36 hours during their first three year licensing period
  • 30 hours during their second three year licensing period
  • 24 hours during all subsequent three year licensing periods

The licensing process can take 5-6 months for approval after the initial paperwork submission. Goals of the program are to keep siblings together and to allow foster kids to stay in their own community. Because of availability (or lack thereof), kids from the islands may be sent to a home on the mainland, or mainland children could be assigned to foster care here.

It is a vital, fluid system with constantly changing needs and resources, with a life-altering potential for all families and children involved. Fostering Together and DSHS are involved in the system as advocates for both children and foster families in this challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a difference.