Does any one know the fastest way to become foster parents.. In the State of Texas?

Question

Want to get my foster parent license LIKE yesterday. This is something I was going to do any way but a thing came up with little people very close to me and I need to get this done like NOW !

Answer 1

you know what you should do? call 1-800-GLADNEY

and tell them you want to be a transitional care parent.  its not quite the same thing as a foster parent.  what you do is take care of babies after they are born that are going to be adopted.  the birth mom gets a few hours with them sometimes (depending on their plan).  Then when the baby is adopted you are free to take care of another.  i LOVED my transitional care mom.  she was amazing.  she was always on time and took great care of my baby.  im not sure if that is what you are looking for, but it is supposed to be a lot of fun.

Answer 2

The first step is to fill out a foster adopt interest form (or call your local DFPS) and either go to an informational meeting or stop by their offices.   http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adoption_and...

Once you are at the informational meeting or the office, make sure to request a "private vendor list" since the State of Texas also contracts out foster care to different local vendors as well as doing it in house (DFPS offices).  Find out from DFPS and vendors when their "PRIDE" or "PRIDE Plus" courses are being offered and how long it takes to get certified as a foster parent.  Many have websites and you can tell just by talking to them and reading their information which one your family would best fit with (or you can go visit them as well).  Normally, I would think at a private organization you are looking at several months at the shortest and at least 6 months for DFPS.  Most times it averages about 6 months for private and almost a year for DFPS.  You will need to complete the Pride course, the home study (where they come to your house several times to talk to you and everyone who lives with you to write up a report on you), have a DFPS home inspection, a fire inspection, first aid/cpr, finger prints, background check, home diagram (to show escape routes and prove you have sufficient room for a child/ren), and fill out lots of paperwork.  

The only exception I know of is if you are a relative of a child in question, it can go much faster (and all of the hoops that normal foster parents go through, don't need to be gone through, or minimal ones do prior to having the kids in your house quickly and complete the requirements later).  However, those detailed/specific questions would need to be discussed with the DFPS worker.  

Good luck.  It isn't a fast process, but it is very much worth it!

If you have more questions, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as fast in Texas.  If you are a resource for this child, they will usually place with you and you can take the classes concurrently.

Answer 4

There is no "fastest" way.  You have to follow the steps that are established by social services.  These include background checks, classes and training sessions, inspections, home-studies, etc.

It will take time, but in most cases can be done in 2-3 months.  Call social services tomorrow to get started.

Answer 5

If there are children involved that you are related to,  and they have been taken into state custody, you can go to social services and request that the children be placed with you as a kinship placement.  Relatives, or close family friends  usualy have first preferance when placing children.  You will probably still have to take the classes and do the background check though.