FireFly Children & Family Alliance
A DEDICATED TEAM OF ADVOCATES FOR INDIANA FOSTER CARE
Many Indiana children need a safe home and nurturing family. A foster parent is someone who provides a stable, supportive living environment for a child who cannot live with biological parents due to family disruption, abuse, or neglect. Some children stay in foster care for weeks, some for years.
There is no “ideal” foster family. Foster parents help children heal and find stability while acting as role models for the biological family. Some foster homes become adoptive homes, sometimes, they help children achieve independent living. There are specific requirements for Indiana foster parents, but the most essential requirement is the desire to love a child in need.
Firefly Children & Family Alliance empowers Hoosiers through various support programs and resources. Learn more.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Adoption
Requirements to become a foster parent
Foster parents in Indiana have access to a variety of services and support. These services include:
Support Payments
As a foster parent, you will receive a daily payment from DCS to help cover the costs of caring for a foster child. The amount varies depending on the age and needs of the child, but payments start at $18.88/day.
Foster parents are also eligible for an initial clothing expense payment of up to $200.00 and an Annual Personal Allowance of up to $300.00 per child per year. This payment becomes available when the child has been in placement for at least eight days.
Additionally, DCS provides a Special Occasion Allowance of up to $50.00 on
child’s birthday and during the December holidays.
Medical and Dental Coverage
In Indiana, children in foster care are entitled to receive Medicaid coverage for their medical and dental needs.
However, it is the responsibility of the foster parents to schedule and attend all medical and dental appointments for the child. This means that foster parents must make sure that the child receives proper medical care and attends all necessary appointments to maintain their health and well-being.
Training and Support Groups
Foster parents have access to ongoing training and support groups to help them navigate the challenges of fostering. Support groups provide a space for foster parents to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of fostering.
Indiana Foster Care Statistics and Outcomes
Understanding the statistics and outcomes of foster care in Indiana can help you better understand the need for foster parents in the state.
As of 2021, there were over 13,000 children in foster care in Indiana. However, there are only 6,200 licensed foster parents. Most children in Indiana foster care are between ages 8 and 16. On average, they stayed an average of 14.3 months in foster care.
Sadly, children who exit foster care have a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration than their peers who did not experience foster care.
As a foster parent, you can help break this cycle. You could inspire troubled child to excel and reach their true potential.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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Jul 29, 2022
This has been one of the worst experiences I have ever had to work with. The staff was beyond rude the actual 2 times I was able to speak directly with someone. I was polite and was simply asking questions to understand how everything worked as we were transitioning from the Learn Build Grow Scholarship. I have left at least 3 voicemails in the past 2 weeks and not once has my calls been returned. Emails are hit or miss if they get addressed or not. The 2 times I was able to physically speak with someone i had called through 211 and they were able to get someone on the phone. I was given an unprovoked attitude each time from simply trying to understand what was going on. It was a huge inconvenience for them to spend 5 minutes on the phone with me getting issues/concerns resolved and answered. So disheartening that this is how people get treated when looking for answers.
Jul 02, 2022
Very beautiful facility! Lovely front desk staff.
Dec 09, 2021
I worked there for 2 years. In that time I started an office in Plainfield, provided coverage for Boone County, and maintained my work duties in the Indianapolis office. Children's Bureau bought Families First and they are now the same company.
Despite all of this, they always wanted more. They wanted me there 50-60 hours a week. I was written up for not meeting productivity when I went on a medical leave for 3 weeks. I'm not sure how I was supposed to have 80 hours of direct contact time in the 4th week of the month, all things considered.
I have since left, and reached out to HR to make arrangements to have my documentation for Public Service Student Loan forgiveness completed.
They refused- even with all that I gave them. They would give me no follow up contact information, and offered no way to help me. It was "no" from the VP of HR and that was it.
Don't waste your time here as an employee. They won't appreciate you in the way you deserve, and they will under pay you significantly There are other more organized and ethical agencies that need help too.
If you are a client referred by the courts, perhaps consider asking for a different provider if at all possible. The focus was on billing, and I had groups that they placed no cap on in terms of attendance. For about 1 month there were 35 people in IOP, and there were several sessions where myself and several clients had to stand for 3 hours. The counselors aren't given a choice in how they do their jobs and cannot enforce ethics as governed by the state and national licensing agencies.
Nov 05, 2021
This place does a great job supporting kids and family’s.
Jun 27, 2021
Great place to work! So many amazing people who care and go above and beyond.