WELCOME TO H.O.P.E., INC. FOSTER PARENT INFORMATION PRESENTATION

Foster parenting is about changing lives one child at a time. It is about believing and investing in the future. As we present you with information to assist you in making an informed decision about becoming a foster parent with our agency, a foster parent with our agency, we hope you will seriously consider making that investment.

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION The purpose of this presentation is to inform you of the following: The challenges and opportunities of foster parenting. The characteristics of children placed with HOPE. The requirements to become a foster parent with HOPE. The role of foster parents with this agency. Overview of the foster home approval process. Information on Orientation and Pre-Service Training.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The children who come into your home will present both challenges and opportunities. The children who come into your home will present both challenges and opportunities. The challenge is parenting children who have begun their lives under difficult circumstances. The challenge is parenting children who have begun their lives under difficult circumstances. The opportunity is that they are children for whom the consistent care and support of committed foster parents can make a huge difference. The opportunity is that they are children for whom the consistent care and support of committed foster parents can make a huge difference.

CHALLENGES Adjustment to the placement of a new child into your home. Adjustment to the placement of a new child into your home. Working with and remaining non-judgmental towards biological families. Working with and remaining non-judgmental towards biological families. Transportation to a variety of appointments. Transportation to a variety of appointments. Dealing with a withdrawn or hostile child. Dealing with a withdrawn or hostile child. Parenting children who might not share your values. Parenting children who might not share your values. Parenting a child who is involved with drugs/alcohol. Parenting a child who is involved with drugs/alcohol. Parenting a child with a history of sexually acting out or delinquency. Parenting a child with a history of sexually acting out or delinquency. Dealing with child and school personnel regarding problems in the school setting. Dealing with child and school personnel regarding problems in the school setting.

OPPORTUNITIES Opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.Opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. Opportunity to give a child a stable, nurturing home.Opportunity to give a child a stable, nurturing home. Opportunity to be a role-model.Opportunity to be a role-model. Opportunity to help a child manage and/or change their behaviors.Opportunity to help a child manage and/or change their behaviors. Opportunity to help a child avoid a life of crime.Opportunity to help a child avoid a life of crime. Opportunity to help a child achieve permanency.Opportunity to help a child achieve permanency. Opportunity to help a child return to biological family.Opportunity to help a child return to biological family.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN PLACED Ages 0-18 with the primary ages between Ages 0-18 with the primary ages between Male and Female Male and Female Affected by family and neighborhood violence, drug abuse, criminal activity and extreme parental and family dysfunction. Affected by family and neighborhood violence, drug abuse, criminal activity and extreme parental and family dysfunction. Many are sexual and physical abuse survivors Many are sexual and physical abuse survivors DSM-IV diagnosis (ie. Depression, ODD, Bi-polar) DSM-IV diagnosis (ie. Depression, ODD, Bi-polar) Some with Attachment Disorders. Some with Attachment Disorders. This means that children in care may be very challenging. Just being a good person and assuring a safe home for them will, by themselves, not be enough. This means that children in care may be very challenging. Just being a good person and assuring a safe home for them will, by themselves, not be enough.

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT WITH HOPE, INC. Be at least 24 years of age. If married, spouse must be in agreement to become foster parent and be will be required to attend Orientation and Pre-Service Training. Pass criminal records check – all household members age 18 & up. Pass a CPS background check, all household members age 14 & up Have adequate income to meet the needs of your family. Satisfactory DMV record. Be in good health. Provide names, addresses and phone no. of 3 references. Complete 37 hour Pre-Service Training.

ROLE OF THE FOSTER PARENT Provide the day-to-day care of foster children in your home, including adequate diet, clothing and sleeping accommodations Provide the day-to-day care of foster children in your home, including adequate diet, clothing and sleeping accommodations Establish well-defined rules, set expectations and limits that are consistent with the child’s age Establish well-defined rules, set expectations and limits that are consistent with the child’s age Assist in meeting the child’s permanency goal to include visits with biological parents. Assist in meeting the child’s permanency goal to include visits with biological parents. Attend and provide transportation for child when applicable to all treatment team meetings, therapy sessions, trainings sessions, court, medical, dental, school, and FAPT community meeting Attend and provide transportation for child when applicable to all treatment team meetings, therapy sessions, trainings sessions, court, medical, dental, school, and FAPT community meeting

FOSTER HOME APPROVAL PROCESS Attend Orientation (both spouses should attend if married) Attend Orientation (both spouses should attend if married) Complete extensive application package and acceptable reference checks. Complete extensive application package and acceptable reference checks. Complete Pre-Service Training, CPI, CPR, First Aid Training Complete Pre-Service Training, CPI, CPR, First Aid Training Complete 3 home consultation visits. Complete 3 home consultation visits. Complete home inspection. Complete home inspection. Might be asked to complete interview beyond the 3 required to clarify information. Might be asked to complete interview beyond the 3 required to clarify information. Acceptable DMV, CPS and Criminal History background check. Acceptable DMV, CPS and Criminal History background check. Acceptable child care arrangements if applicable. Acceptable child care arrangements if applicable.

Home Inspection Working smoke detector in sleeping areas. Working smoke detector in sleeping areas. Fire Extinguisher. Fire Extinguisher. Fire Escape Plan Posted Fire Escape Plan Posted Emergency numbers, and daily schedule for the kids, with list of household expectations posted. Emergency numbers, and daily schedule for the kids, with list of household expectations posted. Working landline phone Working landline phone Working light in each room, hallway, stairway Working light in each room, hallway, stairway Working heating system Working heating system First Aid Supplies First Aid Supplies If private well used for water supply – well tested within past twelve months. If private well used for water supply – well tested within past twelve months. Safe storage of cleaning materials and poisonous materials. Safe storage of cleaning materials and poisonous materials. Pets, must have current rabies vaccination. Pets, must have current rabies vaccination. Firearms and ammunition separate location, out of the reach of children, with trigger lock engaged. Firearms and ammunition separate location, out of the reach of children, with trigger lock engaged. Lock box or locked cabinet for medication. Lock box or locked cabinet for medication. Housekeeping standards. Housekeeping standards.

ORIENTATION & TRAINING. ORIENTATION & TRAINING LOCATION Denbigh Church of Christ 205 Denbigh Blvd. Newport News, Virginia *Class Scheduled for October 27, 2005 will be held at the HOPE office 3057 George Washington Highway Hayes, Virginia

ORIENTATION ThursdaySeptember 22, :00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PRE-SERVICE TRAINING 37 Hour Schedule Includes Pre-Service, CPI, CPR, First Aid FridayOctober 14, 20056:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. SaturdayOctober 15, 20059:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. SundayOctober 16, 20051:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. FridayOctober 21, 20056:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. SaturdayOctober 22, 20059:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. SundayOctober 23, 20041:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Thursday*October 27, 20056:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m. Tuesday November 2, 20056:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m Tuesday November 2, 20056:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m UPCOMING ORIENTATION AND PRE-SERVICE TRAINING

If you still have questions or if you desire additional information, please feel free to call me or me at the address listed below: Thank You For Viewing Our Presentation Rosa Johnson, MA Foster Parent Trainer or website: Questions & Answers