The 7 Step Journey to
Foster Parenting

Step 1: Get in touch with us.

Step 2: Attend a New Foster Parent Orientation meeting.

Step 3: Complete the application.

Step 4: Attend foster parent trainings.

Step 5: Participate in the Home Study process.

Step 6: Wait out the approval process.

Step 7: Prepare for a child to be placed in your home.

Step 1: Get in touch with us.

Once you’ve decided that foster parenting is right for you, a quick call or email to Guenevere Kalal, Damar Foster Care Services, at 317.856.5201 or gueneverek@damar.org is all it takes to initiate the process. A few days later, you will receive a Licensing Application Packet in the mail. This packet includes standard policy forms and other important documents, and must be completed in preparation for your first Home Study visit.

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Step 2: Attend a New Foster Parent Orientation meeting.

A New Foster Parent Orientation meeting gives a prospective foster parent an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a Damar Foster Care Services case manager to more thoroughly discuss foster parenting requirements and expectations, and to openly discuss the foster parenting process and experience. We will answer any questions that you may have and assist you in registering for the trainings required for licensure.

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Step 3: Complete the application.

The Licensing Application Packet is critical to the foster parent process because it helps us assess your ability to care for a foster child(ren). Be open, honest and thorough in completing the application forms and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns along the way. We are here to support you in any way possible.

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Step 4: Attend foster parent trainings.

As you gather all of the information needed to complete the Licensing Application Packet, you can begin the Foster, Adoption, and Kinship Care Training (FAKT) required for licensure. Indiana requires foster parents to complete 20 hours of pre-service training, as well as First Aid, Infant/Child/Adult CPR and Universal Precautions training, for licensure. However, in order to ensure that you are adequately prepared to meet the challenges of foster parenting, Damar also requires that you participate in an additional 10 hours of pre-service training before becoming licensed. We feel strongly that this extra training will give you more valuable information that will result in better foster care outcomes for everyone.

An additional 20 hours of in-service training is required each year to maintain your foster parent license.

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Step 5: Participate in the Home Study process.

As you continue your training, a Damar Foster Care Services case manager will arrange to make 2-3 visits to your home to interview you and any other family members or residents in the home. The information provided in your Licensing Application Packet, interviews and Home Study visits allow us to:

• Complete criminal background checks on all adults (18+) living in your home;
• Ensure that your home meets Indiana fire and safety requirements and provides enough space to accommodate a foster child(ren);
• Understand your motivations to become a foster parent;
• Ensure foster parenting is the right fit for you and your family;
• Assess your financial stability to ensure that placing a child(ren) in your home will not create a financial hardship for your family;
• Gather background information about you and your family and talk with the personal references you provide;
• Ensure you are able to provide a safe, nurturing home to the youth.

We understand that the home study process may seem intrusive or awkward to you and your family at first, however it is critically important that we do all we can to ensure the safety and security of the foster children and families we serve. It is also important to ensure that our foster parents are adequately prepared to support and provide for the children and youth entrusted in their care.

Upon successful completion of your training classes and Home Study, you will have an opportunity to review and discuss your application with your Damar Foster Care Services case manager.

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Step 6: Wait out the approval process.

This is often a time of waiting for prospective foster parents, as it can take a while for your case manager to complete your background check or other paperwork before your completed application packet is submitted to the Indiana Department of Child Services for licensing approval.

Sit tight! Whether you realize it or not, the process is still moving along. Your Damar Foster Care Services case manager will provide regular updates on the status of your application. Now might be a good time to connect with a local foster parent group and attend a meeting.

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Step 7: Prepare for a child to be placed in your home.

Upon approval of your license, Damar Foster Care Services will search for a foster child(ren) match based on your family’s dynamics, strengths and interests and the child’s needs. Working with you, we’ll arrange for a pre-placement visit between you and a foster child(ren) considered to be good fit. If the match seems right, the child(ren) will come to stay with you until birth family reunification occurs or other permanent placement arrangements are made.

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Ready to begin the journey? Please contact Guenevere Kalal, Damar Foster Care Services, at 317.856.5201 or gueneverek@damar.org