Child & Family Focus Website : Services

Therapeutic Foster Care Program

Therapeutic Foster Care applicants and Respite Care applicants undergo the same application and approval process.

Step 1:

Initial contact – You can reach us by calling toll-free (866) 240-3010 or by emailing fostercare@childandfamilyfocus.org

Step 2:

Further information - A Child & Family Focus, Inc. (CFF) staff member will follow up with you to further discuss our Therapeutic Foster Care program, and answer any questions you may have. At this time, we will arrange to mail to you an informational packet, including an application. You may also obtain this information by:

1)	Clicking on the appropriate links below and printing out the documents (in MS Word or pdf format).
- OR -
2)	Emailing your name, address, & phone number to fostercare@childandfamilyfocus.org with "TFC packet request" in the subject line.

Initial Paperwork:

		Application – entire application must be completed and mailed to the address listed.
		Secondary Provider Application (where applicable) – to be completed by the applicant’s spouse or other adult residing in the home, who will be co-fostering a child, and then returned to CFF.

Step 3:

Application review - We will review the submitted application(s) and contact necessary references.

Step 4:

Initial Home Study Visit - If the above goes satisfactorily, a CFF staff member will contact you to arrange an initial home study visit.

Step 5:

Paperwork Collection - We will work with you to discuss and collect the following forms and documentation:

FORMS to be completed - Please follow specific instructions regarding where to mail each form.

A.	*PA Child Abuse History Clearance – Section I must be filled out and returned to CFF with your Therapeutic Foster Care Application (CFF will mail the form, along with the $10 processing fee, to the PA Department of Public Welfare). Results from the DPW will be sent to your home and then must be forwarded to CFF.

B.	*Request for Criminal Record Check – art I must be filled out and returned to CFF with your Therapeutic Foster Care Application. CFF should be specified as the requester, which establishes that the results be sent directly to CFF. (CFF will mail the form, along with the $10 processing fee, to the PA State Police).

C.	FBI Identification Record Request – If an applicant has resided in PA for less than one year, an FBI Identification must be obtained. Please contact a Therapeutic Foster Car Coordinator at 1-866-240-3010 for further details.

D.	Foster Parent Applicant Registration Form – Side I must be completed & sent to CFF. CFF will then complete Side II and send the registration to the PA DPW.

E.	Physical Form for medical clearance – must be completed by your primary care physician during an office visit, and then provided to CFF.

	* Each member of your household age 14 & over, as well as your alternates that may care for the foster children, must submit this form. Each clearance/record check costs a non-refundable fee of $10.

DOCUMENTATION – copies of the following must be sent to CFF for all adults (18+) living in your home, where appropriate.

A.	Car insurance policy
B.	Driver’s license
C.	Homeowner’s/Renter’s insurance policy
D.	Water Potability test results (required for applicants using well water).
E.	Fire Safety Inspection letter from your local fire department, sent directly to CFF.

TIP FOR A SPEEDY APPLICATION PROCESS: Please understand that the above paperwork is required for ensuring the safety and welfare of our foster care children, and does take time to complete. With this in mind, feel free to turn any of the above paperwork in with your application, or at the time of the initial home study, in order to speed up your application process.

Step 6:

Follow-up Home Study visit.

Step 7:

Comprehensive Review

A.	The CFF Therapeutic Care team will review compiled paperwork & home study information to determine foster parent approval.
B.	If the applicant(s) meet(s) all qualifications, he/she/they will be notified; Step 2 (below) will follow.
C.	If the applicant(s) fail(s) to meet all requirements, he/she/they will be notified and given recommendations as to what services better meet his/her/their qualifications.

Step 8:

Acceptance Meeting - The CFF Therapeutic Foster Care team and Executive Director will hold a meeting to officially approve and welcome the applicant(s), and to provide answers to any questions.

NOTE: Any CFF-approved Therapeutic Foster Care providers without experience will be required to start out providing short-term Respite Care for the agency. This will allow providers to become familiar with both the children that we serve, and their own capabilities in meeting the needs of the children. At the same time, these respite experiences will allow CFF to more planfully match qualified providers with specific children, once the need for a therapeutic foster care placement arises.

Resources:

Pennsylvania’s Manual for Foster Parents

Mandated Reporting in Pennsylvania