How The Foster Care Process Works

This post is sponsored by Catholic Community Services. Call Catholic Community Services at 253-999-9144 and start your road to discovering where you fit into the foster care story.

The words foster care often evokes a variety of thoughts, concerns and questions, such as:

Fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear that, “I don’t have what it takes.” Fear of stepping out of your comfort zone.
Questions. Questions about how to get started. Questions about the level of support you will receive. Questions about how it will affect your life.
Hope. Hope that YOU can make a difference. Hope that a child will have an opportunity to heal and continue on with their childhood while their family works to stabilize.

What thoughts, concerns and questions do the words “Foster Care” create for you?

Foster care can seem so big and vast when you hear of the many children in need. It can make you feel overwhelmed and unsure of how you can make a difference. That is why Catholic Community Services is here. Our staff is ready and waiting to answer your questions, help you and your family navigate the process of becoming a licensed foster family and support you through your foster care journey.

Ask Questions. We are here to answer them. Call us at 253-999-9144. We are here Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00.

Here are some of our most common questions and concerns.

Why do children enter foster care and for how long?

There are many different reasons a child comes into care, but no matter the reason every child still deserves a safe, loving, and stable home for the duration they are in foster care. The average length of stay in a foster home is 15 to 18 months.

How do I begin the process? How long does the licensing process take?

Before you are licensed we provide free trainings to help expand your knowledge. This training is called Caregiver Core Training. You will learn about the foster care system and learn more about children’s needs when they enter foster care. Some agencies require that families pay for the licensing and adoptive process. Our agency offers all of this at no charge. At CCS our average time to license a home is 90 days, but like most things, sometimes there are things we cannot control and the process may take a bit longer.

Are there different types of foster care?

In Washington there are three different types of foster care, and at CCS we license for all three.

Receiving Care. Receiving care homes support a child when they first enter care. Children stay in their receiving care home for a maximum of 30 to 60 days while reconciliation or family is sought.
Long-term Care. In long-term care children could be in your home anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years as their family stabilizes and participates in services.
Respite Care. Respite care is a licensed home that provides breaks for long-term families, so if a long-term family has an emergency or goes on vacation the respite home will watch the child for them.

We want you to succeed! Our staff is here and ready. Our job is to provide one on one support to your family as you are getting licensed. After you are licensed you will continue to receive ongoing 24/7 support. Call us today at 253-999-9144 or visit us online.

If you feel the tug in your heart to investigate becoming a foster home, simply start by asking your questions. We will help you discover where you fit into the foster care story.