Initial Contact and Information Session (Orientation)

Your call, internet query, or email will notify us that you are intresested in starting the process. 

Our Director will meet with you individually in your home or as a part of a group at a local church to talk with you about the role of foster parents, the needs of the children and youth we serve, and the requirements for approval. You will be free to ask any questions you have to gain a thorough understanding of this incredible opportunity to serve God by providing a home for children and youth in Georgia's foster care system.

GBCH&FM staff will meet with you to discuss the state requirements for foster parents and to review the required documentation with you.  This documentation will include background checks (criminal, child protective services, drug screens, motor vehicle records, etc.)  It is important for you to complete all of the required documentation to expedite the process. If you’re determined to get licensed in a timely way, we will work with you step by step to make this process as easy and smooth as possible for you.  As you work through gathering and completing the necessary documentation, you may begin to attend foster parent training classes. 

Once you have made a fully informed decision to move forward in the process, you will complete the state-required pre-service training (NTDC) designed to equip you to meet the needs of the children and youth who will be placed in your home. Every foster parent is required to attend approximately 30-40 hours of pre-service training classes (NTDC and CPI).  In these classes, you will learn what foster parenting is all about, expectations, obligations and the rewards and challenges of being a foster parent.  You will learn how to work with the biological parents; how to help the youth adjust; parenting and family dynamics and more. The course is designed to help you fully understand the foster care process including— policies and procedures, trauma-informed care, behavior management and everything you need to know to properly equip you for the journey ahead.

*Note: Successful completion of all foster parent training classes is required to have your home approved and opened as a foster home.

GBCH&FM is a Sanctuary-certified agency, and we will provide you with additional training regarding working with children who have experienced trauma. Because we understand that overcoming trauma, stress, and adversity requires creating an environment that promotes safety and healing, Sanctuary utilizes interactive tools to change the way we go about working together, thinking together, acting together, and living together. Training will continue throughout your foster parenting journey, as our goal is to equip you to handle any situation appropriately, to help promote the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of the youth placed in your home.

The home study process will begin toward the end of your training and will involve at least three visits to your home. We will talk individually with each member of your household so we can really get to know your family's strengths and lifestyle. We will talk you through the process of collecting and completing necessary documents and ensuring your home is safe for the placement of a child. All the information we gather during the home study process will help us to make the best possible match when we place youth in your home.

We understand that the home study process may seem a bit intrusive or feel a bit awkward to you and your family at first, however it is critically important that we do all we can to ensure the safety and security of the foster youth and families we serve.  The more we know about you and your family, the better we will be able to match youth to your home.  It is also important to ensure that our foster parents are adequately prepared to support and provide for the children and youth entrusted in their care.

Once you are certified, we will begin to look for a youth who is a good fit for you and your family.  If the match is right, the youth will come to stay with you until they can be reunited with their biological family or a relative or kinship caregiver. 

If neither of those options are available, the youth may be permanently adopted by your family (if you choose) or another family.  We will talk to you about visitation schedules with birth parents and siblings and will continue to support you as you foster the youth. As a private Child Placement Agency (CPA), we maintain smaller caseloads, which allows us to provide additional attention and support to you and the youth placed in your home. We will have frequent contact, both in person and by phone, and are available to you 24 hours a day, should you experience any kind of crisis. We believe in providing support to you as a caregiver and will work with you to make this a positive experience for your family and the youth placed in your home. 

We will help you develop relationships with churches and individuals in your community who can assist you in meeting the needs of the youth and provide support for you as well.