Next Steps

TRACK 1

I am new to foster care and adoption.

1. Attend a foster care/adoption orientation.
2. Select an agency. A list of agencies will be provided for you at the orientation. At Christian Family Care, we license and certify Christian families and provide ongoing support and prayer for our families. If you would like more information about Christian Family Care’s process please contact Julie Mohline at 602.562.0359 or jmohline@cfcare.org
3. Start the licensing and/or certification process. This process usually takes 4-6 months and includes five classes, background checks, and a home study. Your agency will walk you through this process.
4. Once you have started attending classes and your agency has done your background check please contact the child’s Youth Advocate to learn more about the child’s more specific needs and current situation.
5. When your home study is complete please send your home study to the Youth Advocate and he/she will review it with the DCS case manager.
6. If you and the child’s team believe you may be a good fit for this child, a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the child’s history, needs, and strengths in more depth.
7. If the team and your family are both in favor that your family and the child will be a good match, an initial visit will be set up for your to meet the child. Thereafter, visits will continue (average 4-8 visits) until the child is ready to move into your home.
8. Christian Family Care will refer you to Wrap Services to support you and your family through this transition. A family coach will meet monthly in your home for support and education on parenting kids who have endured trauma.

(Due to confidentially there is limited information we can provide families about a current child unless they have been through the state-required process of being a foster or adoptive parent.)

TRACK 2

I am a current foster and/or adoptive parent with a home study.

1. Have your licensing/adoption worker send your home study to the child’s Youth Advocate.
2. The Youth Advocate will contact you and your licensing worker for more information and provide you with more details about the child and his/her current situation and needs. The Youth Advocate will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the child you are interested in.
3. The Youth Advocate and DCS case manager will review your home study.
4. If you and the child’s team believe you may be a good fit for this child, a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the child’s history, needs, and strengths in more depth.
5. If the team and your family are both in favor that your family and the child will be a good match, an initial visit will be set up for your to meet the child. Thereafter, visits will continue (average 4-8 visits) until the child is ready to move into your home.
6. Christian Family Care will refer you to a Family Coach to support you and your family through this transition. A family coach will meet monthly in your home for support and education on parenting kids who have endured trauma.