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Hello everyone! I'm very new. I have just started thinking about becoming a foster parent, and hopefully adopting down the road. I'm a single woman in my early 30s, without any children.
If I have a significant other who come over to visit, will they have to do the same preliminary research about him, even though he will not be the foster parent? Or will they only check the basics, such as criminal background check and making sure he was never involved in abuse/neglect?
If he moves into my home, will that change anything? Will they require more research and pre-qualifications?
Or if I get a roommate?
So basically my question is, who do they do extensive checking on? Just the person who will be the foster parent, or anyone who is a frequent visitor and who lives in the home?
Thank you!
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We are currently in the process of getting our license.
Just a heads up that every agency will be run a little different so I can only tell you how MY agency is...
For our agency ANY adult (over 18) that lives in the home must be background checked, fingerprinted, medical checkup and TB tested. So even our daughter who is 18 years old has to be checked.
As for overnight guests it would depend on the frequency of the visits and would be up to the case worker/agency.
I would think that if the relationship was serious enough to warrant overnight visits that they would require fingerprinting/ background checking. This is to make sure that the children are not placed in harms way.
Best of luck on your journey!
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Hi Starr80,The exact rules vary from state to state. I'm in WA and here they do check anyone who is expected to spend more than 12 nights (or maybe it was 14? thereabouts, anyhow) in your home. So you wouldn't have to worry about, say, your Aunt from out of town who is coming to stay for the holidays, but a SO who is going to be present pretty regularly would probably need to go through some documentation. Anyone who lives under your roof, whether a roommate or a moved-in SO or your adult kid will have to be vetted. Your agency should be able to give you the full scope on what the regulations are for your area & situation.Good Luck!
We are in the beginning stages as well, our agency requires that anyone who stays over 2 nights a month be completely run. So yes, an SO or a roommate would definitely need to be checked out. Also, with our agency I know that they want to know if any "life" changes have been made within the last year, including someone new moving in or new relationships. Oh and I'm in Texas :)
Thank you so much for your responses. Could you specify exactly what they would check. Could you please explain what a medical check up entails for the person who will not be the foster parent? I know they do a financial check on the foster parent, asking for pay stubs, taxes filed, bank statements. But do they ask the same of the other people in the home? Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your replies!
I have two more questions in regard to other people in the home.
I know they ask for financial records, paystubs for the foster parent, but do they also ask the same of everyone who is in the home or visiting the home frequently?
What exactly is involved in the physical check-up? Besides TB and drug testing, what else do they check? Because if one of the members of the family or a friend who visits or lives here receives disability, but will not be the foster parent, is this a problem???
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The only people they are going to check the financial statements on will be those who are in charge of caring for the child(ren). If it's a relative just visiting, it's none of their business what they make or if they are on disability or not. If they are living there, I'm not sure you'd have to speak to the agency in regards to that.
starr80
Thank you so much for your replies!
I have two more questions in regard to other people in the home.
I know they ask for financial records, paystubs for the foster parent, but do they also ask the same of everyone who is in the home or visiting the home frequently?
What exactly is involved in the physical check-up? Besides TB and drug testing, what else do they check? Because if one of the members of the family or a friend who visits or lives here receives disability, but will not be the foster parent, is this a problem???
The person who receives disability will not be the foster parent. It is someone who visits frequently or stays in the home. He receives disability for back problems and depression, therefore not fit to care for children. Will they require a medical testing even though he's not the foster parent? Will this disqualify me, even though he is not the foster parent applicant?
I wouldn't think so, but your agency should be able to answer for sure. As I understand it, as long as YOU qualify and aren't planning to leave the kids in his care, it shouldn't be an issue beyond checking to make sure that he's not a danger to kids (prior convictions, serious mental illness, or drug use). I would guess just a TB test and a criminal background check.
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My adult daughter can do respite. She has certain trainings, CPR, criminal background, FBI background, TB testing, physical, child abuse background. As a transporter, her vehicle and insurance is also turned in. My adult son cannot even babysit (his choice). Still has criminal background, FBI background, and child abuse background run. He also had a TB test and physical.But they live here. However, I'd guess an SO who would be around regularly, possibly babysit or provide respite depending, etc would do similarly.The agency has nothing regarding my kids incomes or anything like that.