· Foster homes in the District, so kids who must leave their birth homes

can remain in their own neighborhood.

· Adoptive homes where children or teens become family members.

Foster children are temporarily separated from their families due to abuse or neglect;

abandonment; or incarceration, illness, or death of a parent. In some cases, these children will

return home when their parents are able to protect and nurture them.

Adoptable children cannot return to their birth families and

desperately need the commitment and security only a permanent

home can provide. Through no fault of their own, many have had

turbulent lives where family difficulties led to abuse or neglect.

Among CFSA’s many wonderful foster and adoptable children

are significant numbers of:

· Older children, ages 6 to 17, including teen moms and

their babies.

· Youngsters with disabilities.

· Brothers and sisters who want to stay together.

Parent Qualifications

Foster and adoptive parents . . .

· Must be at least 21 years old.

· Can be married or single, with or without birth children in the home.

· Can be of any race, creed, or national origin.

· Need to be in good physical and mental health.

· Must be able to support their household financially.

· Cannot have a history of child abuse/neglect or criminal activity.

· Watch “Wednesday’s Child” with Barbara Harrison during WRC-TV (Ch. 4) news at 5 p.m. every Wednesday.

· Visit www.adoptuskids.org or www.nac.org on the Internet.

The most successful foster and adoptive parents enjoy children, like to parent, value family

relationships, and have a strong personal support system. Many are motivated to make a

positive difference in a young person’s life or to contribute to the community.

CFSA invites people interested in fostering or adopting to attend a two-hour orientation session offered twice a month. This is the place to get introductory information, ask questions, and learn about the challenges and rewards of foster care and adoption.

For people who decide to become foster or adoptive parents, CFSA provides free of charge:

· Application processing.

· Thirty hours of comprehensive pre-service training (two three-hour sessions a week for

five weeks).

· Fingerprinting and background checks.

· A home study, including an in-depth interview of every person living in the home.

· A license (for foster parents only) that must be renewed every two years.

Foster and adoptive parents do not “go it alone.”

· CFSA has two units of professional social workers and support staff dedicated to serving

foster and adoptive parents and addressing their issues and concerns.

· Foster parents receive monthly payments designed to cover the costs of room and board

for each CFSA child in the home. CFSA also pays for medical and dental care, clothing,

and other necessities for foster children. Each child’s social worker ensures that he/she

receives necessary services, such as counseling and tutoring. Federal funds cover the

cost of college tuition for all District foster children who qualify and want to attend.

· Financial subsidies are available to people who adopt some children from CFSA. These

monthly payments are designed to cover the cost of caring for adopted children with

disabilities or other special needs.

· To retain their licenses, foster parents get 15 hours of in-service training annually

through CFSA. Varied course selections refresh and enhance parenting skills and

suggest new ways to guide, nurture, and discipline children and teens. n

D.C. Child and Family Services Agency § 400 Sixth Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2753