How to Become Foster Parents in West Virginia

Foster care provides a temporary home to children who are not able to live with their families for a period of time for a number of reasons. Foster care can be a short- or long-term process for the foster family and the foster child. West Virginia allows individuals over the age of 21 years old to become foster parents, regardless of their martial status. Foster parents can be renters or home owners, as long as the home provides ample space and safety for the foster child.

Instructions

    • 1

      Visit the West Virginia Health & Human Resources web page, and click "Become a foster parent" in the "How do I" section.

    • 2

      Complete the "Foster/Adoptive care inquiry" form that appears on the next page. The information provided on the form will be given to a foster homefinder in your county. A foster homefinder is the individual who will assist you with becoming a foster parent.

    • 3

      Complete the pre-service orientation. The pre-service orientation is a training class that provides you with information about becoming a foster parent. Your foster homefinder will provide you with a list of locations and dates for the pre-service orientation from which you can select.

    • 4

      Complete a home interview with your assigned social worker. The social worker will visit your home and conduct an inspection to be sure that it is suitable for a foster child. Your social worker will also interview each person living in the household be sure that the family is suitable for foster care. You will also discuss what type of foster child or children you would be interested in caring for.

    • 5

      Provide personal information for each adult in the home to your social worker for the criminal background check. You will be required to provide information including the birth date and social security number for each adult over the age of 18. The background check is performed by the Health & Human Resources department.

    • 6

      Submit to fingerprinting through the Health & Human Resources office. Each person over the age of 18 living in the home with the foster child or children must be fingerprinted.

    • 7

      Provide your social worker with a medical report showing that you are well enough to care for a foster child. This medical report must be completed by your doctor or another health care professional.

    • 8

      Provide your social worker with the name and telephone number of three references. These references will be verified by the Health & Human Resources office to ensure that your family is suitable for accepting a foster child. After all your information is verified and you have completed the required training, your home will be approved as a foster home.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Reasons Why Parents Place Their Children in Foster Care
      Parents can request to place their kids in foster care if they feel they can no longer provide or care for them, but in most instances, the state removes children from their parents and places them in foster care until negative issues in the home are
    • Grants for Foster Children
      There are two types of grants available for foster children: grants that enable foster parents to provide for children in their care and those payable to foster children themselves. Grant Definition A grant is money given to a group
    • Qualifications for Becoming a Foster Parent
      Foster parents provide a much-needed service to children in times of crisis or transition. Becoming a foster parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences for qualified parents. The qualifications to become a foster parent vary from state to st