State, CYS set strict guidelines for foster parents
A hot meal, shelter and someone who genuinely cares for your well-being are needs that many people take for granted.
Foster parents and mentors who are providing such needs temporarily to more than 400,000 children across the nation are being recognized in May during National Foster Care Month.
This year’s theme, “Building Blocks Toward Permanent Homes,” aims to raise awareness of those involved in supporting children and youth in foster care and building strong, permanent families.
Fayette County has 156 children placed with foster parents, according to Debbie Hager-Pyle, foster parent recruiter at Fayette County Children and Youth Services (CYS).
Hager-Pyle noted that foster parents are now being referred to as resource parents.
Foster care is a temporary living arrangement made through the local courts or a service agency for children ages newborn to 18 whose biological parents are unable or unwilling to care for them.
A child in foster care is matched with a resource or adoptive family based on the child’s individual needs and generally placed in their home school district.
Efforts are made to place siblings together and in as close proximity as possible to their family’s neighborhood.
Children in foster care are usually removed from their biological homes because of circumstances involving physical or sexual abuse, neglect, physical or mental illness of a parent, death of parents or emotional/behavioral problems.
“Our biggest problem today is definitely (drug and alcohol) addiction, and that’s what contributes to neglect and abuse,” said Hager-Pyle.
For the most part, settings are generally provided outside of the home in a safe and stable environment, but also can include group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters and supervised independent living.
The state limits the number of foster care children a parent can take care of in their household to six, which includes the family’s biological children.
The state Department of Public Welfare reported that in 2013 the state had 14,000 children in foster care; 6,292 of them ages 13 and older.
The role of a foster or resource parent includes meeting the physical, emotional and developmental needs of a child until they can return home, be adopted or live independently.
Foster care also includes kinship care, in which a child is placed with an immediate family member or other relative.
Hager-Pyle said state law requires that foster parents must be at least 21 years old and undergo a criminal background check and child abuse clearance, along with any other person living in the home older than age 14.
An in-depth family evaluation is also conducted by the local placement agency to make sure there is adequate space for a child in the home and that all safety and residence requirements are met.
Some agencies such as CYS also require first aid and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Foster care parents also must be licensed by participating in 15 hours of approved training while following up each year with a minimum of six additional hours of training.
Although foster/resource parents receive reimbursement, they are required to have sufficient regular income to sustain their family.
Foster/resource parents are responsible for the daily care of a child or children, including visitations and appointments. Medical and dental costs are covered by the state.
Each year, about 24,000 youths “age out” of foster care when they turn 18, without a permanent legal family, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In Pennsylvania, youths can remain in foster care from ages 18-21 if they are working toward a high school diploma; enrolled in post-secondary education; employed for at least 80 hours a month or receiving medical treatment.
Under the Affordable Care Act, youths who aged out of foster care are eligible for Medicaid until they reach the age of 26, provided that they turned 18 while in foster care and were enrolled in Medicaid at the time.