How to Become a Foster Parent in Vermont
The Vermont Department for Children and Families is in desperate need of more parents and volunteers to help the many kids in foster care. When kinship care and other family members aren't available for a child in state custody, the next step is to find a suitable foster family.
You can help provide these children and teenagers with the love and support they deserve when you learn how to become a foster parent in Vermont.
Getting your license may not be as difficult as you think. Here's what you need to know about the process.
Quotes about foster care
How to Become a Foster Parent in Vermont
Close to 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system, and the numbers are on the rise. Yet, the path to becoming a foster parent in Vermont can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Vermont agency to simplify becoming a foster parent.
HOW TO FOSTER: A SIX-STEP GLANCE
There are six steps to complete before you can bring a child into your home as a licensed foster parent in Vermont:
- Request Information About Fostering –
FosterUSKids puts the Vermont foster care and adoption agencies at your fingertips. - Attend an Orientation Meeting for Foster Parenting –
Learn more about the foster parent journey: how to become a foster parent, the characteristics of kids in foster care, and state foster care rules and regulations.
- Submit a Foster Parent Application –
Your agency’s social workers will help you with the required documentation, background checks, personal references, and state-specific criteria.
- Attend Pre-Service Training –
Around 30 hours of formal parent training cover essential topics from what to expect to trauma-informed foster care.
- Complete an Assessment and Home Study –
This vital process includes a home visit and interviews with social workers to ensure you are a good fit and ready to be matched with a foster child.
- Receive Your Foster License –
The typical 3 to 6-month process results in getting your foster family license and then welcoming a foster child into your home!
Parenting is a rewarding journey marked by commitment and growth. For foster children in Vermont, the search is not for a perfect parent but someone they can count on for love, care, and a stable home – a foundation that will make a life-altering difference.
We at FosterUSKids are grateful you are on the path to learning more. For detailed guidance through every step, contact a Vermont child-placing agency now.
Requirements to Foster in Vermont
The Vermont Department for Children and Families and foster associations sponsor workshops for new parents. For instance, the Kin, Foster, and Adoptive Family team trains parents on trauma-informed care, being interculturally responsive, and more.
Even if you have zero parenting experience, you'll learn much of what you need in your training sessions. It will also benefit you to take advantage of other resources for foster parents, such as support groups and educational articles, to continue growing as a caregiver.
Contact your local DCF office or the nearest child-placing agency to access and complete many of these courses for free.
You can get a membership with the Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Alliance to gain access to a community of foster parents and advocates, learn important news on foster laws, find enrichment activities for kids, etc.
Check your area to find any foster parent support groups. Connecting with other foster families helps you build your network and learn more about Vermont foster care.
Parents who need a break can also access respite care, which is when a foster family temporarily watches over another family's foster child. Respite care is a valuable resource for parents when they need a break or must address an emergency.
Foster FAQs for Vermont
As a new parent, you likely have many questions about fostering. We can't cover all the answers here, but we can address some common ones.
Do I Need to Be Married to Foster a Child?
No, you don't have to be married to foster. You can be single, married, living with a partner, divorced, or joined in a civil union and still apply to foster. You can also be straight or LGBTQ+.
The key requirement is that if you're in a relationship, it must be a stable one. Additionally, you must have a reliable income and be financially capable of providing for a child.
Do Foster Children or Parents Get Any Perks?
In addition to the support options mentioned above, foster parents and the kids in their care can get specific perks.
Youth in foster care can get a free season pass to Vermont state parks. Some non-profits also provide educational programs, enrichment activities, and scholarship funds.
Foster kids are covered by state insurance. Doctor's visits, therapy sessions, medically necessary equipment, prescriptions, etc., are all covered.
Parents receive a daily foster care stipend to reimburse them for costs such as food and board. These payments vary slightly based on a child's age and needs.
Can I Foster a Baby?
Although some infants may enter the foster care system, far more older children need temporary housing. Younger children may enter the system, though usually as part of a sibling group. In many cases, the agency will attempt to keep sibling groups together.
To foster a specific age group, speak with your foster care agency. They'll tell you more about what to expect, the most common age groups, and more.
Foster a Child Today
Now you know more about how to become a foster parent in Vermont. However, we can't cover everything you need to know in this guide. That's why it's crucial to contact a foster care advocate who can answer your questions and provide more information.
We're ready to answer your questions and help you along the path to getting your foster license. Please click the link below to find you local agency.
Foster agencies in Vermont
General Foster FAQs
General Statistics About Foster Care
1,054
Children in Vermont foster care in 2021
266
Vermont children awaiting adoption
8
The average age of a child in Vermont foster care
15
Month is the average time a child will spend in Vermont foster care
You don't have to be perfect to become a foster parent. These kids just need someone willing to provide love and support.
If you're not sure whether one person can make a difference, take a look at the latest statistics for Vermont's foster care:
- There are 1,054 children and teens in foster care
- 591 entered care in 2021
- 266 kids are awaiting adoption
- 179 awaiting adoption have had parental rights terminated
- Kids spend a median time of 14.8 months in care
- 18% spend 1-5 months in foster care
- The median age of children in care is seven years old
- The case plan goal in 66% of cases is reunification
- 25% of cases aim to find an adoptive family
- The median age of kids awaiting adoption is eight years old
Many of the children that enter foster care come with their siblings. As such, there's a demand for any foster families willing to take sibling groups and older kids or teens.
Support Services for Foster Parents in Vermont
If you're interested in becoming a foster parent, your first choice is deciding whether you want to go through the state or a private foster agency.
You'll need your foster license, and either option can help you achieve full licensure. Those interested can contact the Vermont Department for Children and Families or find an approved private agency in their area.
The basic requirements for parents, according to Vermont foster laws, are as follows:
- Parents must be 21 years old or older
- You live in a safe and stable home
- You're financially secure and have a reliable income
- Your home passes all safety requirements
- You complete the necessary parent training
- There's enough room for a foster child in the house
- You complete the home study process
Private foster agencies may have different rules from the Vermont DCF. For instance, some may have different age requirements. Be sure to do your research and learn about any rules and applicable fees when considering your choice.
Whether you rent or own your home, there must be enough space for each child. Foster children in Vermont need their own beds and a dresser or storage space for clothing. No child older than two years old can share a room with an adult.
Once you contact a foster care agency, you'll speak to an advocate who will tell you more about what to expect. The next step is to attend an orientation, where you can ask questions and learn more about the system. You can always attend more than one orientation if you're unsure which one fits you best.
After the orientation, you'll proceed with the rest of the licensing process, including fingerprinting and background checks, providing character references, etc.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Vermont
Every day in Vermont, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Vermont kid needs a soft place to land and a place to call home. Whether you can offer temporary care or become a forever family, your interest could mean a brighter, more secure future for a child in Vermont.
Still undecided? An Vermont child-placing agency is here to guide you, providing answers about stipends, coaching, therapy resources, and foster parent training.
Take the next step: Begin your parenting journey by fostering an Vermont child today.
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