FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
The following information is designed as a brief overview of Bill Wilson Center’s foster care and adoptive services. More in-depth information is provided during the process or from one of our staff members.
THE FIRST STEP
Your journey begins with the family study, our mutual assessment of the needs and characteristics of a child (or children) that would best suit your family and your goals. The family study is a series of personal meetings with a Bill Wilson Center social worker.
We take the time to learn about your history, relationships, parenting experiences, and your goals. There are few things that prevent someone from being a potential match for a child. We are less interested in what happened in your life than how you handled it and what you learned from it.
Once the interviews are complete, you and our social worker agree on the age range, gender, background and other characteristics of the child. The study is written and reviewed by our Social Work Team, which will then go to work to create a match with a waiting child. Family studies are strictly confidential.
TYPES OF FOSTER CARE
Treatment foster care: Provides a temporary home to a child where they can feel safe enough to welcome a permanent home. This care can last as little as a few months, but most last up to about a year. During this time you will be involved with our therapist and often with the school as an equal member of our treatment team.: Staff members are available around the clock in case of emergency, and each family has a case manager. Therapy and support groups are available for children.
Reunification foster care: Provides temporary homes for two months to about a year, while the birth parents are working hard to make their home safe for the child to return. We do not expect the children to need adoption. Only you together with our social workers can decide whether there is contact with the birth parents.
Intensive Foster Care: Provides a higher level of services by our agency, and the skills, dedication and support provided by the foster parent(s) to successfully contend with the possible behaviors of the child. Intensive foster parents have experience providing foster or adoptive care, are health or allied health professionals, or are experienced parents with strong and proven parenting skills.
ADOPTION
Following an adoption orientation, prospective parents will complete applications and then have an interview scheduled with a social worker. Parents undergo 25 hours of training, and then complete state requirements, such as child abuse and criminal background checks. During the 6 to 12-month child-search process, homes will be inspected and social workers will conduct in-home interviews.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Initial Orientation: (2 hours) Open to everyone who is interested in becoming a BWC adoptive or foster parent, and is required before you can submit a formal application. The application is provided at this meeting. Areas covered in orientation include:
• An overview of the child welfare system in California.
• Descriptions of the children commonly in need of families.
• An overview of our agency and a review of legal requirements and applications.
Family Preparation: (23 hours) “Preparing to Parent with Love and Skill” is our primary training for prospective foster and adoptive families who have completed the application process and are awaiting the placement of a child or children. It is usually held on three consecutive Saturdays, plus a 1- to 2-hour weekday evening. Attendance is required.
Intensive Program Training (ITFC): (60 total hours) This training equips foster parents with the tools to care for a host of behavioral issues that could arise with their foster child. After completing the initial 23-hour Family Preparation training, you will receive 16 hours of training on de-escalating and intervening in intense behaviors. The remaining hours are devoted to special classes offered through our agency or in the community, pertaining to parenting or behaviors. Our social work team and you decide upon the curriculum.
Ongoing Education after Placement: (Minimum 12 hours annually) We offer a range of state-mandated educational sessions after the child has come to your home, including:
• Monthly Support Groups led by experienced parents.
• Seminars on topics chosen by our families.
• Opportunities to attend adoption-related conferences.
FINANCIAL HELP
Families are paid from $800 to $1,200 a month per child depending on the age of the child and the severity of the trauma.
THE NEXT STEP
Call the Bill Wilson Center at (408) 243-0222 to speak with a staff member and schedule an orientation meeting.