What are the requirements to foster a child in Alabama?

Sarah Jernigan, LBSW | ABCH SOCIAL WORKER

If you ask a child in foster care what it takes to be a foster parent, they might say, a clean house, good snacks to eat, someone to play with, and a place they feel safe. If you ask a foster parent what it takes, they may say, extra patience, a community of friends, family, and neighbors to help support you, and good snacks to give. All those things and so much more are needed to become a foster parent. With Alabama Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries, we want to guide you through the process and help you understand all that it takes to become a foster parent.

You may have thought about becoming a foster parent for a long time, but you don’t know where to begin or what is required. You may be in the early stages, just now beginning to discover what foster care and foster parenting is all about. You may personally know a foster family and have walked alongside their journey. You may have heard someone at your church talk about foster care and that has sparked an interest to know more. It can seem overwhelming at first, and when the questions begin to form, they can seem endless.

FOSTER PARENT TRAINING CLASSES

Each foster care organization requires training of their parents, and classes vary from state to state. In Alabama, the major component to becoming a foster parent is the required completion of the 30-hour Trauma Informed Partnering for Permanence and Safety (TIPPS) curriculum. This is usually done for three hours each week over a 10-week period in a classroom setting.

Our classes at ABCH are taught by a Social Worker and a Foster Parent with years of experience. This is where the process starts to become less overwhelming as you learn about the child welfare system and develop the necessary skills to become a successful foster parent.

Each class covers a range of topics, information, case scenarios, and real-life examples from a foster parent. This is a great time to ask those questions you’ve been pondering and praying through to help you make an informed decision about becoming a foster parent. Each of our locations across the state offers these classes throughout the year. These classes are foundational for every foster parent.

HOME STUDY

As you continue to build on this foundation, another component to becoming a foster parent is the completion of a home study. This is an opportunity for one of our social workers to get to know you and your family through interviews conducted between each member of the family. This also includes a tour of your home to ensure that it meets the state-required safety inspection. It’s important that we know your family and your motivation to become a foster parent in order to best serve you.

During this process, the social worker will go over the eligibility criteria, basic requirements, and documentation needed. The requirements like CPR, medical physicals, and background checks can seem intimidating, but our social workers are there to guide you through it, explaining everything that is required.

NEXT STEPS

To make your foundation stronger as a foster parent, it is important to understand your strengths and needs. What things do you and your family do well that could benefit the needs of a child in foster care? In what areas do you and your family need to grow? It is easy to compare yourself to others and doubt your abilities; however, your family’s strengths can be exactly what a child needs to feel safe, loved, and protected.

There are so many things to consider when making the decision to foster. At our ministry, we want to help ease any anxieties, doubts, or worries you may have about becoming a foster parent. We are here to guide you through the process and the feelings of the unknown, helping you and your family make an informed decision on becoming a foster family.

If this is something you feel called to learn more about by serving through our ministry, fill out this short form below and our team will get back with you!