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FAQS
WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GEORGIA SAFE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM?
WHAT IS THE GEORGIA SAFE PROGRAM?
WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOSTERING AND ADOPTION?
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENT WITH THE GEORGIA SAFE PROGRAM?
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SAFE, NURTURING AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO A CHILD, WHAT ELSE WILL BE REQUIRED?
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BECOMING AN ADOPTIVE OR CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENT?
HOW LONG IS MY FOSTER CARE CERTIFICATION GOOD FOR?
WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED AFTER MY INITAIL CERTIFICATION?
WHAT REASONS COULD PREVENT ME FROM BEING RECOMMENDED FOR FOSTERING?
CAN I CLOSE MY HOME AT ANY TIME?
WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLACED IN MY HOME COME FROM?
WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?
HOW OLD ARE THESE CHILDREN?
WHAT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR DO THESE CHILDREN HAVE?
HOW LONG WILL A CHILD BE PLACED IN MY HOME?
HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN I HAVE IN MY HOME?
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT HOME TO PLACE CHILDREN IN?
CAN I ASK THAT A CHILD BE REMOVED FROM MY HOME?
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AFTER A CHILD IS PLACED IN OUR HOME?
WHAT TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WOULD I RECEIVE FOR FOSTERING?
WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GEORGIA SAFE PROGRAM?
Georgia SAFE provides 24/7 crisis support services from qualified, on-call staff.
In-Home case management services
FREE, ongoing training with flexible scheduling
On-Site licensed therapist and clinical professionals
Competitive reimbursement rates per day
Family Consultants who provide professional support to the Therapeutic parent and the child
Foster to Adopt Conversion Services
Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment
WHAT IS THE GEORGIA SAFE PROGRAM?
SAFE stands for Specialized Alternative Family Environments. Georgia SAFE is a therapeutic foster care agency licensed by the state to recruit foster families and place children with those families. We serve children who have often suffered greatly in their short lives, and who can no longer live at home due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Sadly, these children have often been moved from home to home within the child welfare system. Georgia SAFE strives to provide them with a place to call home until their biological parent(s) are able to care for them or until they become eligible for adoption.
The Georgia SAFE mission is to maximize the potential of children. We focus on the strengths of each child rather than his or her maladjustment. Georgia SAFE believes that behavior is learned and if a child is provided with positive learning experiences, then the child will learn and exhibit appropriate positive behavior. Each child's treatment plan is individualized and "needs specific" and emphasizes the future rather than the past. We believe strongly that children are capable of change.
WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE?
Therapeutic foster care is administered in a foster family home by skilled parents who are continually trained to deal with treatment needs. These parents work as part of a professional team for youth who have problems, which require ongoing treatment apart from their birth home.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOSTERING AND ADOPTION?
Adoption is a lifelong commitment to a child. Families who adopt are making that child a part of their family, not only by residence, but legally as well. Fostering is designed to be a short-term placement while the child's birth family and the child work on the issues that brought the child into care. Although some foster placements can last years, a foster home is designed to be a temporary placement for the child.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENT WITH THE GEORGIA SAFE PROGRAM?
You must be at least 21 years old.
A resident of the state of Georgia.
You must have a valid Georgia driver's license.
You must have proof of and maintain auto liability insurance on each automobile you own.
You must have a family income that is sufficient to meet your household obligations.
Foster parents can be single, or married. If married, provide documentation of the marriage and any divorces.
Anyone over 18 in the home must submit to a background check by the state police and a check of the state abuse registry.
You must provide the Georgia SAFE program with personal as well as professional references.
You must submit a health statement.
You must commit to the pre-placement training and attend yearly re-certification training.
You will be required to allow Georgia SAFE personnel to visit your home and cooperate with the completion of a home study as is required.
You must maintain a working telephone.
You will be required to install a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors if not already in place.
You must, if you have guns and other weapons in your home, keep them locked with the ammunition in a different locked area.
You must provide a standard bed (no cots, hide a beds, etc.) for the child placed in your home.
You must commit to use alternative forms of discipline, corporal punishment is strictly prohibited.
You must maintain your home in a safe, clean, and comfortable manner.
You must provide the Georgia SAFE, program with any and all information required.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SAFE, NURTURING AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO A CHILD, WHAT ELSE WILL BE REQUIRED?
You will commit to transport the children placed in your home to medical appointments, school functions, therapy/counseling appointments or other appointments as may be required.
You will be a member of the child's treatment team; your input is valuable and needed. You will attend Treatment Plan meetings and follow through with support and direction in helping the child to achieve their goals.
Foster parents will be required to use the reimbursement they receive to provide their foster child with all needs and necessities, i.e. food, shelter, clothing, recreation, school supplies, and personal hygiene items. You are not responsible for any medical expenses incurred. If there are special financial needs for the child, they will be reviewed on an individual basis.
There is a defined amount of daily, monthly, yearly documentation that will be required for each foster child during their placement in your home. It will be expected that this be done in a timely, efficient and complete manner.
You will be asked to provide and share with your case manager all relevant information about the child placed in your home.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BECOMING AN ADOPTIVE OR CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENT?
You must complete an application
You and anyone in your house over 18 must submit a release for a background check
You must submit a statement of health.
You must participate in the home study process and submit all documentation required.
You must complete the pre-placement training.
You must agree to abide by all of the policies of the Georgia SAFE program including the signing of our disciplinary agreement, which prohibits corporal punishment of foster children. At the completion of all these requirements, your home would be recommended for placement. There are no set time lines for the process, but every effort will be made to complete your application as quickly as possible. Georgia SAFE reserves the right to certify a home for placement.
HOW LONG IS MY FOSTER CARE CERTIFICATION GOOD FOR?
Your home will be certified on an annual basis. During that certification, there are training requirements that must be maintained.
WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED AFTER MY INITAIL CERTIFICATION?
During the first year as a Therapeutic Foster Parent, you must complete in-service training and pre service training.
The first year and each thereafter, the Therapeutic Foster Parent will be required to complete 15 hours of training to remain a certified foster parent. This applies to each therapeutic parent in the home.
WHAT REASONS COULD PREVENT ME FROM BEING RECOMMENDED FOR FOSTERING?
Providing false information during the initial process.
Members of your household who have criminal records for those offenses identified by the state as being disqualifying.
Members of your household who have medical or mental health issues that would not be suitable for the placement of a child.
Your home cannot meet the safety requirements recommended.
You do not complete the mandated training.
You do not meet any state agency requirement.
CAN I CLOSE MY HOME AT ANY TIME?
At anytime during your certification period, you may ask for a voluntary closure of your foster home. This must be done in writing.
WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLACED IN MY HOME COME FROM?
The children placed with the Georgia SAFE program are referred by the Department of Family and Children Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, public and private mental health agencies and private individuals.
WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?
Georgia SAFE serves children who experience emotional and/or behavioral problems. These children generally have experienced difficulty with the educational or child welfare system. Many of the children we serve have a history of extensive out-of-home placements.
HOW OLD ARE THESE CHILDREN?
Georgia SAFE accepts referrals for children ages birth to 18 years.
WHAT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR DO THESE CHILDREN HAVE?
Behaviors are as individual as the child; however, there are certain behaviors that go hand in hand with at-risk children. Some of the more reoccurring ones are: verbal aggression, running away, defiance of authority, sexual acting out (this is different from sexually offending), truancy, and in some cases, physical aggression.
HOW LONG WILL A CHILD BE PLACED IN MY HOME?
There is no defined time line for how long a foster placement will last. Generally, placements last from several months, to in some cases, several years.
We recruit respite foster homes also. Respite homes entail a child being placed with you for only a few days or perhaps up to a week. This service is provided for full time families who just need a "break". Respite parents provide an important function that often allows long-term placements to survive the difficult times. Respite parents often form a relationship with two or three children and consistently provide respite for these same children throughout their stay in the program.
HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN I HAVE IN MY HOME?
There are different levels of Therapeutic Foster Care. The levels differ primarily in the severity of the children served, the amount of individual psychotherapy provided to the child and the supports and supervision given to the Therapeutic Foster Parents. These levels are determined by the State based on certain criteria.
Many factors are involved in the placement decision including the severity of the functioning of client(s), how often visits to therapy are needed and the amount of contact between professional staff required with client(s) and Therapeutic Foster Parents. This is determined on a case by case basis. However, it is not uncommon to have two placements in a Therapeutic Foster Home.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT HOME TO PLACE CHILDREN IN?
When a child is being placed in a foster home, the decision on where to place the child is a well thought out team decision. Using the referral information about the child, the needs of the child are identified. Then foster homes with openings are reviewed to determine if they can meet the needs of the child. This is followed by a team meeting in which Georgia SAFE staff are allowed to discuss which of the available homes best suits the child's needs and how this child will fit into the family dynamics. This matching process is done with the intent of keeping a child in one placement. Our goal is to maintain placements. When possible, pre-placement visits occur. In the case of emergency placements, pre-placement visits are not always possible.
CAN I ASK THAT A CHILD BE REMOVED FROM MY HOME?
Yes, you can and at your request, we will do so. However, it is our first obligation to identify why the request is being made and to provide any support, direction, and encouragement necessary to keep the child in the home. If we cannot provide an alternative to your request, we will move the child. We ask that a 30 day notice be given to allow time to identify another appropriate resource.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AFTER A CHILD IS PLACED IN OUR HOME?
Every child is assigned a Georgia SAFE family consultant.
The family consultant will provide all case management services the child requires while in our program
Family Consultant will provide in-home case management.
The family consultant will meet not only with the child, but also with the parent during these sessions. They will provide guidance and direction on the case plan in general and provide support and direction for specific or unusual situations that may occur.
The family consultant is the contact person between you and the child's custodial agency.
A 24-hour/7 day a week emergency/crisis response system is in place for your support.
As discussed earlier, respite services are also provided to parents that may need a break.
WHAT TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WOULD I RECEIVE FOR FOSTERING?
Foster parents are reimbursed a daily per diem for every day the child resides in your home.
The daily rate for foster care is determined on a case-by-case basis set forth by the State leveling process.
The reimbursement is non-taxable.
This reimbursement is being provided to you for the daily needs of the child.
Medical needs are paid for through the child's medical card
Government subsidies exist to help parents adopt children.
This information in no way is a complete description of our agency, services, or children, however, we do hope it answers some of the more general questions you may have about foster care.
Should you decide to become foster parents with our agency, you will receive much more detailed information and the opportunity to ask any questions during training and the home study process.
Your interest in our program is greatly appreciated. If there is any additional information needed, please feel free to contact us at the location nearest you.
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