Becoming a Foster Care Parent
Becoming a Foster Care Parent
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There has never been a better time to consider foster care. The need for foster parents in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton areas is greater than ever. Make a real difference in your community by exploring, supporting, or becoming a foster parent!
Training
Our comprehensive training program prepares you to succeed. We will train you and guide you on every step of your journey. See our upcoming training schedule.
Why Choose Us?
Standing behind those who stand up for kids in foster care for more than 40 years. Serving Greater Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Dayton & Montgomery County.
Our comprehensive training prepares you for success and our unique matching program connects you with the right child for your family.
We build a community around our foster parents. Our foster families support each other, build each other up, and offer a support network of people with shared experiences and unique perspectives to help every family succeed.
If you are a kinship caregiver, our Kinship Connections program offers support and resources for relatives caring for their loved ones. Find information about this program here. Kinship Caregivers caring for children in the custody of Children’s Services may be eligible for the Kinship Support Program. Contact us to learn more.
How to Become A Foster Parent
Becoming a foster family is a tremendous responsibility with an equally tremendous reward. The need for foster families has never been greater. Take your first step by contacting Calena Durel today at 1-855-787-KIDS (1-855-787-5437).
The licensing process takes approximately 3-6 months. Get started with your required classes now. Check out our Foster Care FAQ for more information.
Call 513-233-4707 or fill out our online form to inquire about our program, get your questions answered and receive application information.
Ohio requires 24 hours of pre-placement training before becoming a licensed Foster Parent. Beech Acres uses the Binti System to allow you to easily fill out your application, complete paperwork, and track your progress online.
Prepare your home and complete at least 3 homestudy meetings with one of our licensing professionals.
Once you have completed your homestudy, our Licensing Supervisor reviews it for approval and recommendation to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
Once you are licensed and approved to foster children you are eligible to receive calls about children needing placement. You decide the characteristics and number of children you are comfortable parenting.
General Requirements
Applicants must be 18 years of age
Have bedroom space for a child
Have an income sufficient to meet the basic needs of the household and to make timely payment of shelter costs, utility bills, and other debts.
All household members must be free of any physical emotional or mental condition which would endanger a child.
Top 10 Reasons You Would be An Amazing Foster Care Parent
New Inquiries
Frequently Asked Questions
See our Road Map.
To become a Beech Acres foster parent, you must attend Pre-Service Training, turn in required state and agency paperwork, and complete a home study which consists of at least three meetings with a licensing professional in your home.
The state requires that anyone applying to become a foster parent be at least 18 years of age, have bedroom space for a child, submit fingerprints for a criminal records check, and have income sufficient to meet the current needs of their household. * Link to general requirements – green box above.
Yes, many of our families adopt. Beech Acres families can be dually licensed as Foster to Adopt so they are able to adopt when a child needs a permanent home.
Beech Acres Parenting Center licenses two types of foster parents – Family Level Foster Parents and Treatment Level Foster Parents. Treatment Level Foster Parents can care for children with specialized needs such as medical needs, mental health needs, or physical or emotional disabilities. Family Level Foster Parents can care for children who are categorized as needing a traditional level of care. Our staff will work with you to understand the types and pick the right option for your family.
All the services associated with becoming a foster parent are free of charge. The Pre-Service Classes are offered at no cost to attendees and the homestudy is completed free of charge. After you become licensed you will receive a stipend for the required pre-service classes you completed.
No, you do not need to be married. There are no relationship status requirements to become a foster parent. At Beech Acres we know there is no right way to create a family, our foster families come in many different shapes and sizes.
You do not have to own a home to be a foster parent. The criteria for space are that a foster home must have bedroom space available for a foster child. The sleeping arrangements are approved by a fire inspector and by a Beech Acres staff member. You can live in any residential structure including apartments, town homes, and condos.
We serve Greater Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Dayton & Montgomery County.
If you don’t find the answer you need among our Foster Care FAQs, don’t hesitate to call Beech Acres at 1-855-787-KIDS (1-855-787-5437).
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