What Does It Take to Become a Foster Parent?

Experience in taking care of children/adults with Intellectual and/or developmental disabilities preferred

Home Visits/Interview (two for single applicants, three for couples, at least one of which must be conducted in the home)
Forms and Verifications. If all paperwork is not completed and submitted within two (2) weeks after TN-KEY is completed, the Home Study MAY not be completed or could be delayed.

Income
Employment
Marriage
Divorce
Adoptions
Birth
Health
References
Home safety (firearms/pets/smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors/fire extinguishers)

Background Checks

Fingerprints
Local police records check
National Sexual Offender Registry Clearance
Child Abuse Registry Clearance
DCS Records Check

Potential applicants cannot be approved if they have felony convictions for any of the following:

Child abuse and neglect
Spousal abuse
A crime against a child, including child pornography
A crime involving rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but including physical assault or battery

Potential applicants cannot be approved if they have felony convictions in the last five years for and of the following:

Physical assault
Battery
A drug/alcohol related offense

Participants must complete all 8 modules in the curriculum within 60 days from beginning TN-KEY.

Informational Meeting
Navigating the Child Welfare System
Exploring the Impact of Trauma
Roadmap to Resilience
Rerouting Trauma Behaviors
CPR/FA
Medical Resources & Information
Mutual Assessment Process meeting with the TN-KEY Trainer

CPR/First Aid and Medical Resources & Information must be completed every two years.
Roadwork must be completed by each participant after each module (All roadwork should be submitted to the trainer at the beginning of TN-KEY the following week)
No more than one session may be missed. Each missed course must be made up. If more than one course is missed, applicants must begin the TN-KEY process again.
Annual Training: All approved foster homes must complete a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education classes annually.

All approved foster homes must be reassessed biennially (every two years). The reassessment process consists of reviews of the following:

Discipline Policy
Oath of Confidentiality
Oath to Report Child Abuse or Neglect and to Abide by Child Safety restraint Laws
Monthly Family Financial Income and Expenditures
Foster Home Mutual Reassessment
Annual Foster Parent Medical Self Report
Home Safety Checklist
HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices