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1. Can I choose the age and sex of the child that I would like?

Yes, foster parents inform the agency of their desired age group and sex of the child.

2. How long is "temporary"?

A child's stay in care may be as short as overnight or as long as it takes to achieve a permanent plan for the child. CYF's focus is on reunification of the family. When – for reasons of safety or other considerations – children cannot return to their birth homes, adoption and subsidized legal custodianship offer opportunities for long-term stability and nurturing, with kinship or foster parents.

3. May a single person become a foster parent?

Yes. There are no regulatory requirements governing marriage as a prerequisite to becoming a foster parent.

4. Must foster children have their own bedroom?

No. However, children who are five years of age or older may not share the same bedroom with a member of the opposite sex. Additionally, the number of children living in any foster family is limited to six children, which includes the foster family's own children.

5. What are some of the children's special needs?

Special needs include:

• Infants with special feeding and medical problems
• Children with special emotional or behavioral needs or disabilities
• School-aged children who need extra help in school work, feeling good about themselves, and getting along with others
• Teenagers who need extra patience and commitment

6. What are the rewards of becoming a foster parent?

While a stipend is provided to foster parents to help them in caring for the foster child, the reward is knowing that you have helped give a child comfort, guidance, security and a loving home

7. What type of support is available to the foster family?

Several types of support are available:

• A caseworker works with you in regards to each foster child placed in your home.
• All new foster families are assigned a "buddy" who is an experienced foster parent.
• Respite services are provided.
• The agency pays a daily rate for each foster child in your home as well as clothing, medical and dental needs. Foster families also receive mileage reimbursement when transporting children to appointments.
• There is a Foster Parent Association that meets monthly from September to June, during which training is offered and network opportunities provided.

8. Who are the children in care?

Children are from Chester County, ranging in age from infancy through adolescence (0 to 21 years old). They are from every socioeconomic and culturally diverse group, siblings who should stay together, and children who need families that are sensitive to and respectful of their culture.