INITIAL SCREENING AND TRAINING

FOR POTENTIAL FOSTER PARENTS

Lighthouse guides potential foster parents through a screening process with the

primary purpose of discovering their parenting skills, abilities, experience,

motivations and potential. LFN foster parent applicants receive training that will

inform and enable them to care for the children. This knowledge along with

compassion and consistent discipline will enhance positive, healthy relationships

with foster children who may exhibit serious emotional and/or behavioral problems.

The training also helps them understand the need for supervision and direction, and

prepares them to participate as informed members of the treatment team.

The screening process for potential foster parents includes:

· At least 21 years of age and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or

other qualified aliens as defined in 8 U.S. C. 1641(b).

· LFN Orientation (Information) Meeting

· Pre-Service Training (includes LFN Foster Parent Handbook Policies

and Procedures training, Child Development, etc.)

· Preliminary Technical Training (First Aid; CPR; Management of Aggressive

Behavior Restraint; and Psychotropic Medication)

· In-depth Home Study Interview with all members of household.

· Reference Checks (including Adult Children of potential foster parents)

· Criminal History Record Check / Child Abuse Report (CANRIS) Check

for each household member 14 years or older.

· FBI Fingerprint screening, for each household member 18 years or older.

· Physical Facility Checklist (regarding health and safety of the home)

· Recent TB test results for each household member 14 years or older.

· Household and Discipline Information such as House Rules, Daily

Schedules, Consequences and Rewards, Emergency Plans, etc.

· Etc.

This is not an exhaustive list of requirements but it is a large portion of those from the

TDFPS Minimum Standards for Child-placing Agencies.