Information Packet - What the Three Agencies Do
 Utah Foster Care Foundation is a non-profit organization that is contracted by DCFS to:
• Recruit and train families to care for children in foster care.
• Provide support services to help maintain quality families to care for children statewide.
• Educate the community and prospective families about the need for foster parents in Utah.
• Answer the questions of interested families and conduct initial consultations with every prospective family before inviting them to training.
• Conduct 32 hours of pre-service training in each DCFS region and track the training records of all foster parents statewide. Trainers also provide in-service training to licensed families in each DCFS region.
• Provide support to foster families in Utah through "Cluster" peer support groups, volunteers, a monthly newsletter, appreciation events, and donations to serve children in need.
Office of Licensing (OL)is a state agency under the Department of Human Services that licenses programs, agencies, facilities and treatment centers for substance abuse, mental health, adoption, day care, domestic violence, youth and services for people with disabilities. They also:
• License foster care homes for DCFS.
• Determine health and safety factors for children in out-of-home care and licenses homes to these standards.
• Regulate licensing requirements.
• License and re-license foster/adoptive families.
• Collect and maintain a file of training records, background checks, reference letters, and medical clearances for all foster/adoptive parents.
• Complete a physical inspection of the home to ensure it meets the state mandated health and safety requirements.
• Complete a Resource Family Assessment (home study). This may be conducted by an OL employee or private agency that contracts with OL to provide this service.
• Inform DCFS when a family completes the licensing process.
Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is a state agency under the Department of Human Services. Their goal is to have communities where children grow up safe from abuse, neglect, and dependency, where adults are protected from domestic violence, and where parents can be strengthened in their capacity to keep their family safe. The agency:
• Reviews the homestudy of each prospective family and determines the appropriate placement of children.
• Assigns caseworkers to each child in foster care. These caseworkers will provide background information regarding the children in your care and help you meet their needs. DCFS serves as the legal guardian for children while they're in foster care. Caseworkers and Resource Family Consultants (RFCs) provide the primary support for resource families.
• Issues the monthly reimbursements to foster/adoptive families.
• Becomes primary agency foster/adoptive families will work with after licensure and placement approval.
Terms to Know
1. Legally free– term used to describe a child’s custody status. The court has terminated the parents’ rights and the child is legally free for adoption.
2. Levels of Care– There are three levels of care: basic, specialized, and structured. These levels increase according to the child’s needs and behavioral problems. You will need additional training and experience to provide a higher level of care.
3. PMT– Practice Model Training. Every family
will complete this training after becoming licensed. Caseworkers will also complete this training.
4. Resource Family– a licensed foster/adoptive
parent who is theoretically able to foster or adopt depending on the child’s needs.
5. Licensor– employee of OL who will complete the health and safety check, the homestudy, and maintain your training record file. UFCF will report your training information to OL.
8. Caseworker– employee of DCFS who is assigned
a caseload of children in state’s custody. They will help with the placement process, inform you about the child’s background and needs, arrange home visits, and answer your questions about the child.
9. RFC– Resource Family Consultant. An employee
of DCFS who is familiar with families in their assigned neighborhood and assists with placement of
children. They also help support foster/adoptive families and Cluster groups.
10. Health and Safety Check– OL will complete a physical inspection of the home.
11. RFA– Resource Family Assessment. OL will
administer a questionnaire to be completed and returned. After it is received, they will come out to your home and conduct an in-depth interview.
12. UFAFA– Utah Foster Adoptive Family Association. A non-profit organization of peer-elected foster and adoptive families who provide both legislative and legal advocacy, as well as peer support to foster and adoptive families.
13. Initial Consultation– a meeting with a UFCF Recruiter and a potential foster/adoptive family to orient families to foster care and adoption and discuss their motivations and expectations. Together, they will decide if foster care is right for the family, and if so, the family will be invited to attend training.
14. Foster Roster– a monthly newsletter created
and distributed by UFCF for foster/adoptive families and Community Partners. This contains in-service
training schedules and community events.
15. Cluster Groups– groups of foster/adoptive families who meet on a regular basis to provide support, education, in-service training, and fun for families. Cluster groups are formed based on location or types of children placed in the home.
16. Pre-service Training– Eight classes (32 hours) of training required for potential resource families to make an informed decision as to whether or not they want to become caregivers.
Other Information Packet Pages:
Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
The Requirements
The Rewards
Adopting from Foster Care
FAQ
Fsinancial Information
Toll-free 1-877-505-KIDS
or 1-801-994-5205
moreinfo@utahfostercare.org |
