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Kinship, Foster, Adoptive Program
For specific information on becoming a Kinship/ Foster/Adoptive Parent or Respite Care Provider for Fremont County please contact:
Fremont County Department of Human Services
Foster Care Certification
172 Justice Center Road
Canon City, Colorado 81212
719-275-2318
dhs@fremontco.com
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Table of Contents
- Family First
- Non-Relative or Foster Care/Fost-Adopt
- Should you become a Kinship/Foster/Adoptive Parent?
- Basic Requirements
- The Role of a Foster Parent
- Certification Process, Expectations, and Information
- Licensing Requirements for Foster Family Homes
- Pre-certification and On-Going Training Requirements
- Home Safety Inspection Checklist
- Tools and Resources
Family First
The goal of the Fremont County Department of Human Services is to reunite children with their families. If a child cannot be returned to their primary caregiver, every effort will be made to place that child with appropriate relatives or other caring adults in their life. If after all relative options have been exhausted then we place children with a foster or foster-adopt family.
Non-Relative or Foster Care/Fost-Adopt
Today, Fremont County Department of Human Services has approximately 20 certified foster homes (non-relative) to care for children and youth of our community. Often times our foster homes are full, which requires that children who come into care must be placed outside of our community/county away from their schools, friends, neighbors and extended families. It is traumatic enough to tell a child we have to place them with people they don’t know, but if the only foster family available is in another community/county, it only adds to the child’s anxiety and fear.
Should you become a Kinship/Foster/Adoptive Parent?
Some things to consider:
- What are your beliefs and attitudes about the Fremont County Department of Human Services?
- What are you beliefs and attitudes about Child Welfare or Child Protective Services?
- What are your beliefs and attitudes about foster care?
- What are your beliefs and attitudes about adopting from the child welfare system?
- What are your reasons for becoming a foster or foster/adopt parent?
- Are you ready emotionally and is your home ready?
- What impact might fostering have on your own family? What if you end up adopting a child?
- What age and behaviors of children vs. your own children would be the best match?
- Have you talked to your own children and/or family about fostering?
- Is it realistic for you to become a foster parent? Is it realistic for you to become an adoptive parent?
What is Foster Care?
Foster care means the placement of a child into the legal custody or legal authority of a county department of human/social services for physical placement of a child in a certified or licensed facility.
Foster care is intended to provide a substitute family for children for a temporary period of time, during which the family can work towards the goal of reunification.
Foster care is not a punishment for behavior and children in foster care are not bad. Children in foster care may have a variety of behaviors as a result being abused and/or neglected; such as differed appearance due to physical abuse (bruises/cuts, low weight), parent-like behavior, hoarding food, shy and reserved, very talkative, etc.
Children and Youth may need foster care placements for a variety of reasons:
- They have been emotionally, physically, or sexually abused
- They have been neglected medically, educationally, or a parent fails to protect them from abuse or neglect
- The physical or mental incapacity of their parent(s) creates an unsafe situation
- They have been abandoned
- The drug, alcohol, or other chemical abuse by their parent(s) has created an unsafe environment for the child
- Injurious environment
- Youth in conflict
- When a child has been deemed beyond the control of his/her parent(s)
Basic Requirements
The following are basic requirements for the certification process:
-Are at least 21 years of age
-Are single, married, divorced, widowed, or in a stable domestic partnership
-Own or rent your home
-Have a valid driver’s license and car insurance
-Willing to transport the children to and from appointments to include school, visitation, and medical/dental appointments
-Willing to get your CPR/First Aid Certification and maintain it through the life of certification
-Willing to participate in the Family to Family Model (TDM’s, Icebreakers, keeping kids in their home communities and schools, etc.)
-Have adequate financial resources to sustain your household independently
-Demonstrate an adequate level of physical fitness and stamina to care for active children.
-Demonstrate personal characteristics/strengths needed to meet the challenges of parenting children with varying emotional and behavioral needs associated with trauma, grief and loss
-Are open to learn
-Can work in partnership with our county agency and are open to consult with others on a child’s professional team
-Can remain open to and maintain safe and appropriate connections with a child’s extended family of origin.
The Role of a Foster Parent
Foster parents are caring, and committed individuals who open their hearts and home to meet the needs of children who must be placed in out-of-home care in order to be safe. A foster family provides the child with an emergency or temporary home and a supportive, stable family environment while the birth family addresses the concerns or situation that prevents them from parenting their child. Typically, foster parents care for the child until reunification with the birth family occurs, there is an adoption or guardianship with kin, or the child is legally available for adoption. Sometimes foster parents become the permanent home for the child through adoption.
How fostering is similar to parenting your own children?
- they need daily care and supervision
- they need their basic physical and emotional needs met
- you’ll work with schools, medical personnel, and other professionals to meet their needs
- help guide the child’s development in all areas: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, etc.
- provide structure, rules, and discipline
- teach values and self-direction
- model appropriate family relationships
How fostering is different from parenting your own children?
- Must be able to recognize that a child in care may have a variety of developmental levels which may or may not match his/her chronological age.
- Only having a limited time to work with a child and his family.
- Understanding and accepting agency/department involvement and responsibilities.
- Comply with certification standards.
- Must keep records.
- Must work with biological children to support reunification (if appropriate).
- Will be able to make only limited decisions.
- Must respect confidentiality.
- Must report changes in family household to the department.
- Must be able to offer flexibility and work with the objectives of the case plan (visitation, therapy, etc.).
How is fostering similar to a job?
- Have specific duties and responsibilities
- Held accountable
- You work closely with professionals in a child’s life.
- You keep records
- Maintain confidentiality.
How is fostering different from a job?
- It involves your entire family.
- Requires a warm environment, involving love and commitment.
- On duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Fostering is not a source of income or a form of employment.
Basic expectations of a foster parent:
- Support reunification when it is in the best interest of the child.
- Healthy communication with a child’s treatment team.
- To ask for support when needed.
Types of Foster/Adoptive Homes Fremont County needs:
Traditional Foster Care homes for youth ages zero to eighteen years of age.
Homes for sibling groups of all ages
Homes for Teens (both boys and girls)
Homes for Teen moms and pregnant teens
Respite homes
Certification Process, Expectations, and Information
For specific information on becoming a Foster Parent or Respite Care Provider for Fremont County please contact:
Fremont County Department of Human Services
Foster Care Certification
172 Justice Center Road
Canon City, Colorado 81212
719-275-2318
Licensing Requirements for Foster Family Homes
| Step 1 Family Will Complete |
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Step 2 |
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Step 3 |
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| Step 4 S.A.F.E Homestudy DHS Will Complete With Family |
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S.A.F.E stands for Structured Analysis and Family Evaluation It is a comprehensive homestudy that looks at the social history, background, personal characteristics, and values of a family. It also attempts to understand problem solving and communication skills, parenting skills and family preparation, children and other people living in the home, family relationships and family support networks, and physical and social environments.
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| Step 5 Both DHS and Family Complete |
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| Step 6 DHS Will Complete |
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Pre-certification and On-Going Training Requirements
Per Volume VII 7.708.65 the certifying authority shall have a comprehensive written plan for orientation, pre-certification training, certification and on-going training of foster parents.
Pre-certification Training
As part of the pre-certification process families are given a handout and instructions for attending Foster Parent Core Training. This meets the 12 hours of the required Foster Parent Core training.
The additional 15 hours of pre-certification training is met as follows:
2 hours Monthly Foster Parent Meeting
2 hours Video: The Road to Adoption and Foster Care
Paper: During each section of the video any thoughts on how this video
applies to you, concerns brought up, questions
1 hour Video: Foster Parenting in Rural Colorado
Paper: During each section of the video any thoughts on how this video
applies to you, concerns brought up, questions
1 hour Complete Foster Care and Adoption Self-Assessment Guide
1 hour Family to Family Video
Paper: How can information presented can be used in your work with
biological Families
1 hour Child Welfare System and Dependency and Neglect Materials
Follow up questionnaire and sign form (read, agree and received a copy)
2 hours Love and Logic
Applicant choice of read book or watch video
Summary paper of thoughts, concerns, questions
Sign form (read/watched and agrees to follow model)
2 hours Volume VII Rules and Regulations
Initial, date reviewed and copy for provider and provider file
Sign Rules and Regulations form (read, agree and received a copy)
1 hour Fremont County DHS Foster Parent Handbook (Policies and Procedures)
Initial, date reviewed and copy for provider and provider file
Sign Foster Parent Handbook form (read, agree and received a copy)
2 hours Review of FCDHS forms (monthly reports, journaling, discipline policy,
Mandatory Reporting, Confidentiality, Memo of Understanding, how reimbursement works/roster, fire drill record, corrective actions, investigations, medical and dental requirements/forms, placement packet and records of admission/placement agreement).
On-going Training
Per Volume VII the foster family home must have 20 hours of On-going training per year.
FCDHS will require that 10 of those hours be classroom training.
- 4 Hours Semi Annual Safety Training
- 2 Hours Rules and Regulations Training
- Additional 4 Hours met through approved classroom training
Additional 10 hours of training can be met through:
- Self Tests
- Newsletter Tests
- Resource library
- Family choice
Home Safety Inspection Checklist
Following is the Home Safety Inspection a Certification Caseworker will complete during the certification process. This check list is not for you to complete on your own.
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Outdoor fenced or supervised play space, 75 sq ft/child-ages 1 to 5 years |
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Plastic bags, matches, lighters, cigarettes locked/inaccessible |
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Indoor play area – 35 sq ft/child |
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First Aid supplies available |
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Sleeping area-under 18 mo may be with adult; under 5-same floor as adults or monitoring system; 40 sq ft/child |
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Lawnmowers, snow blowers, chainsaws, and other hazardous tools & gasoline stored properly and /or locked |
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Adequate heating, lighting, plumbing, refrigeration |
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Furnace, hot water heater free of flammable materials |
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Mobile homes must be skirted, anchored permanently and 2 exits |
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Electrical outlet covers, if needed; No worn or exposed wiring |
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Child over 4 years of age does not share room w/ child of opposite sex |
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Gates on stairways for toddlers; handrails on stairs if 5 or more; deck railings |
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Child must have own bed and place to store clothing |
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Garage safety discussed |
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Home neat/clean w/adequate trash storage; exits clear of obstacles |
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Safe storage of knives, scissors, and other sharp items discussed w/provider |
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Food preparation area clean |
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Firearms and ammunition stored and locked separately |
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Individual towels, cups, toothbrushes, comb/brush |
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5 lb Type ABC fire extinguisher accessible |
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Liquor/alcoholic beverages – safe storage/locked |
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Fire extinguisher has not expired. |
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No hazardous business on premises |
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Smoke detectors on each floor near sleeping areas; optional carbon monoxide detectors |
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Daily routine and care of children discussed |
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Fireplace/wood burning stove screened properly |
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Written medication log |
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Firewood stored/stacked in a safe manner |
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Medicines, vitamins, etc. Locked or in safe storage |
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Window well covers as needed |
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Car seats for children less than 4 yr. & under 40 lbs.; all others must be maintained and in safe operating condition |
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Evacuation plan written, posted and practiced |
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Proof of valid driver’s license and adequate car insurance all vehicles must be maintained and in safe operating condition |
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Safety procedures discussed re: swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, trampolines |
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Basement has 2 exits |
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Well water tested yearly copy of certificate; well is covered |
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Safety latches on cabinets and drawers as needed (based upon age of child) |
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Escape ladders as needed |
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Current pet vaccinations |
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Swing set anchored; no protruding bolts |
Tools and Resources
Annie E Casey Foundation webpage http://www.aecf.org/
Colorado Department of Human Services https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs
CDHS Academy Training Webpage www.coloradocwts.com
Colorado State Foster Parent Association http://www.csfpa.org
National Foster Parent Association http://www.nfpainc.org/
Foster Parent College http://www.fosterparentcollege.com/
Love and Logic http://www.loveandlogic.com/
Jason Foundation for Teen Suicide Prevention http://www.jasonfoundation.com/
http://co4kids.org/foster-care-and-adoption
Colorado Medicaid www.colorado.gov/pacific/hcpf/colorado-medicaid
Colorado Kinship Connection http://cokinship.org/
The Piton Foundation http://www.garycommunity.org/piton/eitc
Adoption Exchange www.adoptex.org
Adopt Us Kids http://adoptuskids.org/
National Capitol Poison Center http://poison.org/
Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Familites http://www.cocaf.org
Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center https://www.adoptex.org/the-adoption-journey/post-adoption-services/colorado/
Local Links:
Canon City Daily Record http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/
Canon City Public Library http://ccpl.lib.co.us/
Road conditions www.cotrip.org
Heart of Colorado CASA www.hoccasa.org
Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments http://www.uaacog.com/
Community Partners:
Rocky Mountain Behavioral Health http://www.rmbh.org/
West Central Mental Health http://www.wcmhc.org/
Women, Infants and Children http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
Colorado Workforce Center http://www.yourworkforcecenter.com/
New Horizon Ministries http://www.newhorizonsministries.net/
Fremont County Family Center www.echo-familycenter.com
Star Point http://www.starpointco.com/
Parents As Teachers http://www.parentsasteachers.org/
School Districts:
http://www.canoncityschools.org/
http://www.re-2.org/
Local Law Enforcement
Colorado State Patrol: http://csp.state.co.us/
Fremont County Sheriff: http://www.fremontco.com/sheriff/
Official Page for Florence, CO https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/florencecolorado
Official Page for Canon City, CO http://www.canoncity.org/
Resources/Forms for Current Licensed Providers
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