Do you have a passion for helping children? Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child? Are you willing to have compassion and empathy in such a way that you can commit to meeting the needs of a child? Are you ready to dive into the most worthwhile experience of your life?
Here’s how to become a foster parent in Georgia, the Peach State:
To qualify to become a foster parent, you must be 25 years or older, or if you are married, you must be at least 10 years older than the child you foster. It is also important that you have a valid Driver’s License.
Next, you need to be a part of an information session to gain more information about becoming a foster parent. If you go to the Georgia Department of Family and Children services website, it will give you information about their upcoming information sessions. There is an “Inquiry form” that they ask you to fill out and then you will be contacted with the registration details.
After the information session, you must complete the IMPACT training, which is a 24-hour pre-service course that was created by the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. IMPACT stands for Initial interest, Mutual selection, Pre-service training, Assessment, Continuing development, and Teamwork. During their IMPACT training, families will be provided with information on a variety of topics, which include helping them with the unique needs that a foster child may have, helping them understand the role that the division of Family and Children’s Services has when working with birth families, and what the roles and responsibilities of the foster family are. During these training sessions, potential foster families are also asked to consider what effect the decision of becoming a foster family will have on their life.
Potential foster families are also required to pass a drug screen, complete a medical exam, complete state and federal background checks, and provide employment and family references. You must also meet home safety requirements (a home evaluation) and complete a home study.
After all this is completed, you and the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services will decide if you are ready to open your home as a foster parent. It is a mutual decision.
In Georgia, there is an agency called Giving Children A chance (GCAC of Georgia) that
will walk with you through the entire process of becoming a foster parent. They will assist you with the paperwork and make sure that you have all the documents necessary. They run orientation interviews as well as the IMPACT training. GCAC of Georgia also offers support for you after you become a foster parent as well.
The children in the State of Georgia are waiting for you. Each day, approximately 11,000 children in the State of Georgia are in need of a foster family. These children are waiting for you to provide them with a sense of belonging and hope. Will you be the one to give them hope?
