Georgia foster care, as a reference.

Thinking about fostering

Getting started

• Can I foster if I…?
• How long it takes
• Foster to adopt?
• DFCS vs. private agency

Licensing

• The home study
• NTDC training
• Document checklist
• Home safety checklist
• Training that counts

Foster parents

First days

• The placement call
• First 72 hours
• Initial clothing allowance
• Free stuff for a new placement

Money

• Per diem
• What the per diem covers
• Foster care & taxes
• WIC, SNAP & CAPS

Everyday decisions

• What you can decide without asking
• Babysitting & overnights
• Traveling with your foster child
• Photos, social media & privacy
• Discipline policy

Health and school

• Finding a therapist
• Georgia Families 360°
• Foster child health insurance
• Psychotropic meds
• IEP basics
• Immediate enrollment & school of origin

Court and your case

• The dependency timeline
• Your right to be heard
• DFCS case plan
• CASA vs. GAL vs. child's attorney
• Supporting reunification
• Termination of parental rights
• Adopting your foster child
• When a placement ends

Rights and problems

• Foster Parent Bill of Rights
• The grievance ladder
• If your home is investigated

Rest and support

• Respite care
• Respite & a real break

Relatives raising a child (kinship)

• Kinship care
• Do relatives get paid?
• Can grandparents get custody?
• Guardianship, custody & adoption

Caseworkers

• Field cheat-sheet

Community and helpers

• Become a CASA
• How to find a foster family to support
• Give things that actually get used
• For churches & groups

Young people and aging out

• Aging-out toolkit
• Foster care records