Touching the lives of children and families one by one"

CHILD PLACING SERVICE
Through foster care services AVCYFS provides support and treatment for children and families by assisting them in finding supportive, positive and caring foster parents who are able to provide mentoring, guidance and spiritual growth to children at-risk.

Foster Care
Definition: Foster care is a temporary residential service to children and families. Services are provided when children can no longer remain in their home. While the child is in placement, the natural parents are also provided services. It is the goal, that, whatever problems existed in the family can be resolved and that the child can be reunited as soon as reasonably possible. If this is not possible, other options are pursued in order to ensure that the child grows to adulthood with a sense of belonging and permanence. Some of these other options are adoption, guardianship, long term foster care and preparation for independent living.

The Role of The Foster Parent
Foster parents provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment, which addresses the developmental and emotional needs of the child.

Foster parents, work together with AVCYFS to keep to a minimum additional trauma with the hope that some level of healing can take place in the childs life.

 

Who Qualifies

Prospective foster parents must:

be at least 25 years or older
possess some background knowledge or experience in working with children
have a high school diploma or equivalent
have a valid Texas drivers license
have a reliable automobile with valid proof of automobile insurance
be able to speak and read the English language
not have persons with a criminal record living in the home
not have a physical ailment/handicap that could hinder their ability to care for a child
have a church home affiliation
have a primary income source other than foster care
have an available bed for each foster child
have adequate space for an additional child
be self-motivated
be clear about their motive for wanting to foster a child
be flexible and able to work with a team
have total agreement among all household family members about fostering
not be a licensed daycare provider

Steps to Becoming A Foster Parent with AVCYFS
 

Step 1: Complete and submit an agency profile sheet

Step 2: Successfully pass a pre-selected group interview

Step 3: Successfully pass a pre-selected individual interview

Step 4:Complete/submit an official agency foster care application

Step 5: Successfully pass a pre-selection foster family evaluation

Step 6: Attend and complete the foster parent pre-service training

Step 7: Attend and complete the foster parent pre-service orientation

Step 8: Successfully pass a home study

Step 9: Sign foster parent agreement

Step 10: Receive foster care verification certificate


Foster Care Information Sessions 
Month/Date
Training April 4th 6:30-10:00pm Connecting w/AVCYFS Foster Care Training
Training April 4th 6:30-10:00pm Teamwork Toward Permanency
Training April 8th 6:30-10:00pm Meeting Developmental Needs
Training April  8th 6:30-10:00pm Meeting Developmental Needs: Loss
Training April 11th 6:30-10:00pm Strengthening Family Relationship
Training April 11th 6:30-10:00pm Meeting Developmental Needs: Discipline
Training April 15th 6:30-10:00pm Behavior Intervention/Part I
Training April 18th 6:30-10:00pm Behavior Intervention/Part II
Training April 22nd 6:30-10:00pm Documentation Training

 
Training
Foster parents are required to complete a total of 50-hours of in-service training annually for a single parent and 30 hours annually for each spouse of a married couple.
 
"Help us strengthen families by touching the lives of children"