Foster Parent FAQs

Requirements

  • The following are the requirements for becoming a foster parent:

    • Must be age 21 or older.

    • All adults in the home providing supervision and care for foster youth must become  certified foster parents or supportive caregivers for the home.

    • All adults living in the home must pass a criminal history check.

    • All drivers in the home must have an Oregon driver’s license, safe driving record, auto insurance, and availability to transport a youth if necessary.

    • The home must have a separate bedroom for youth in foster care.

    • Foster parents must demonstrate financial stability that is separate from the stipend paid for providing foster care.

    • Prospective foster parents must be able to attend up to three full days of in-person training (trainings typically occur on Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm).

    • Foster parents must be able to attend ongoing trainings the third Tuesday of every other month from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Trainings occur in person and online.

  • No, Boys & Girls Aid foster programs only serve the Portland metro area of Oregon in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. We prefer that our foster parents live within a 20-mile radius of Portland.

  • Foster parents must have a separate bedroom in their home that has a door and a window.

  • Yes, you can be a single provider and foster full-time or provide respite at Boys & Girls Aid! Several of our foster parents are single providers. Boys & Girls Aid does require that full-time foster families in our Nest program be two-parent households, with one parent having a flexible or part-time schedule.

  • Absolutely! Many foster youth are separated from their siblings and benefit from having sibling-type connections in their lives. Fostering can also benefit your own children by giving them perspective and allowing them to create bonds with youth. 

  • Foster parents have little to no contact with a youth’s family of origin. Minimal contact may be requested in order to coordinate visits or facilitate phone/video calls. In very limited instances and at the discretion of the foster parents, parents of origin have had visits in their home.

  • Foster parents work with our certifiers to make sure their home meets Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) safety regulations before receiving a foster placement.

Training & Support

  • The tax-free stipend varies depending on the program and starts at $2,250 per month. Our respite programs range from $75 to $116 per night.

  • The process takes between three and six months depending on how quickly the household completes paperwork and trainings. During this time, our certifiers get to know our families in depth to ensure they will succeed as foster parents.

  • Boys & Girls Aid offers the following supports to help foster parents effectively care for youth:

    • Professional staff to help parents navigate the foster care system

    • Comprehensive training and individual coaching

    • Two days paid respite per month

    • 24/7 support line foster parents can call for after-hours needs

    • Supportive Caregivers - friends, family, and neighbors of foster parents can receive a mini-certification through Boys & Girls Aid and provide up to 48 hours of respite care per week (no more than two consecutive overnights). Our foster parents may have as many supportive caregivers as they need to build a support network.

  • We require 36 hours of training   before providing care for youth, which includes:

    • Pre-Certification Training (8 hours)

    • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute, CPI) (8 hours)

    • First Aid/CPR (8 hours) Online training (around 8 hours)

    • Program Orientation meeting (2 hours)

    • Policies and Procedures Overview meeting (2 hours)

The Youth

  • We always start with one placement. Foster parents who are certified for two placements take a second youth as soon as they are ready. If full-time foster parents also provide respite care, there may be a third placement on a short-term basis.

  • We serve youth ages 4-21. The majority of youth are ages 8-18.

  • School attendance for youth varies. Many attend alternative schools to best meet their educational needs. If a child is not rooted in a school, they attend a school near the foster  home. 

  • Our youth have experienced significant trauma in their lives. Trauma impacts how the brain develops and can cause long-term effects on attachment, physical health, and emotional regulation. In general, youth may exhibit behaviors such as aggression, post- traumatic stress injury (PTSI), depression, and difficulty managing strong emotions. 

  • Foster parents are permitted to travel with youth within Oregon state lines. Any out-of- state travel requires pre-approval from Boys & Girls Aid’s program leadership and the youth’s ODHS caseworker.

  • Absolutely! Many foster youth are separated from their siblings and benefit from having sibling-type connections in their lives. Fostering can also benefit your own children by giving them perspective and allowing them to create bonds with youth. 

  • After school, youth go to our program sites where they receive individualized case management, homework assistance, and recreational activities. Some youth attend school through the summer for varied amounts of time each day. Youth also have access to fun outings with our staff such as summer camp and swimming.

  • Yes, all youth in foster care have coverage for mental and physical health care through the Oregon Health Plan.

Don’t see your question here? Get in touch!

Contact Daisy Pesak, Foster Parent Recruitment & Certification Coordinator at
daisy@boysandgirlsaid.org or 503.258.7932