Overview
What is Therapeutic Foster Care?
Foster Parenting is caring for a child until the child’s guardian can resume this responsibility or a permanent home can be found. It is a commitment. Foster parenting involves providing a home and stable family for a child and giving that child a chance to heal, grow and develop. The time frames can vary; weeks, months and even much longer- whatever is necessary to meet the needs of a particular child.
Which Foster Care Services Are Offered by Pathways Of Arizona?
Therapeutic Foster Care
Our 24-hour care is designed for children with serious emotional problems who may otherwise require institutional treatment. We recruit, license, and train, professional foster care parents to care for children for lengths of stay ranging from 30 days to over 1 year with therapeutic interventions. Children in therapeutic foster care, often referred to as HCTC, need providers with experience working with children who can support them emotionally and behaviorally. Providers offering this level of care receive additional training and support to assist them in the care of children placed in their care.
Respite Foster Care
This service is provided in licensed homes to give families, children, and care givers planned breaks from their current situation. Respite is available to children in both regular and therapeutic levels of foster care, with an ultimate goal to provide rest and relax to prevent more intensive levels of care. We accept referrals from community agencies for our overnight respite services.
Basic Licensing Requirements
Therapeutic Foster Care
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You must be 21 years of age or older and legal resident(s) of Arizona.
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You and all persons living in your home for 21 days a year or more that are 18 years of age or older must have a fingerprint card and pass a criminal history background check.
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You are required to attend 30 hours of pre-service training provided through Foster Parent College. In addition, you are required to complete 18 hours of the Arizona Therapeutic Curriculum.
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Your home must pass an Office of Licensing, Certification and Regulation fire and safety inspection.
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You must provide names, addresses and phone numbers of five references.
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If you provide direct care to any foster children, a physician’s statement will be required for any household member 18+ years of age who resides in the home for more than 21 days.
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You must complete all required paperwork prior to licensing.
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You must work cooperatively with the licensing agency. The agency must agree to and support licensing the family for the type of license requested.
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You must provide current copies of your driver’s license, auto insurance and registration, proof of income, dog’s rabies vaccination and any prior marriage divorce decrees or legal separation papers.
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You must provide information about prior work experience with children, motivation for requesting licensure and any previous experience as a licensed foster parent in any state.
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CPR and First Aid Certified
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You must have one year experience as a licensed foster parent and/or a Bachelor’s degree in the Behavioral Health Field.
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Access to transportation for appointments and emergencies
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For applying couples, it is preferred that one of the two of you is not working out of the home at all times, available to the child throughout each day.
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Your home must safeguard weapons and alcohol appropriately.
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You must agree to and comply with a contract to provide Therapeutic Services as an Independent Contractor with Pathways of Arizona.
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Each parent is required to complete additional training as directed by the agency. Including but not limited to; Trauma Informed Care, Behavioral Interventions, and other regulatory agency required training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be married?
Our foster parents are single, married and/or partnered.
Do I have to live in Arizona?
Yes, we can only license homes in Arizona. However, our parent company Pathways provides forster parent licensing in a number of states, gives us a call and we may still be able to connect to a Pathways Family location.
Do I have to own a house?
No you can own or rent your home, apartment or condo. The state will conduct an inspection of your home to determine the appropriateness of licensure.
How old do I have to be to be a foster parent (age to be licensed)?
You must be 21 to be a foster parent and 18 to adopt.
Will I have to provide medical insurance for the foster child?
No, the children placed in your home will be covered by state insurance and in some cases private insurance.
I provide licensed day-care in my home currently, can I still be a licensed foster home?
No, your home may only be licensed for one service.
Do I have to own a car?
No. However, you must be able to prove that you can provide reliable transportation for all the children in your own. Additionally, if your current vehicle(s) are not equipped to provide seats for all the children in your care you must again prove abilty to transport in case of an emergency.