Arizona Foster Care Regulations
How to Become a Foster Parent in the State of Arizona
A general overview of the Arizona state regulations and requirements for family foster homes.
Currently, Arizona “leads the nation in the number of children per capita in group or shelter care,” according to Arizonans for Children, Inc., with children being removed from their homes at the growing rate of 600 per month. The need for foster families in Arizona is enormous. If you are a resident of Arizona and desire to become a foster parent, here is an overview of the steps and requirements for licensing in your state.
Foster Family Requirements
- All members of the household must agree to the decision to provide foster care- even the biological children of the applicants.
- Fingerprints will need to be obtained from all adult household members.
- All family and household members will need to have a background records check conducted by the Arizona Child Protective Services (CPS).
- All household members will need to submit a Physician’s Report of Health from their physician.
Foster Parent Requirements
- May be married or single. If married, the couple files jointly and both spouses must meet all of the licensing requirements.
- Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
- Two individuals who wish to share the responsibilities of foster parents (mother/ daughter, sister/ sister, roommates) may apply jointly. Both individuals need to meet the licensing requirements, and the stability of the relationship and commitment to parent jointly will be assessed.
References
Each applicant must submit at least five references. This is a breakdown of the reference requirements:
- Two of the references must be related by blood or marriage.
- Three of the references should be personal references.
- References cannot be from the same household of the applicants.
- If there are school-age children in the home, references form a teacher is also needed.
- Applicants will need to show that they have sufficient income.
Training Requirements
Each applicant is required to complete pre-licensing training. Each session is three hours in length and usually takes ten weeks to complete.
Must be certified in First Aid and CPR.
Documents Required for Verification
- Arizona Drivers License
- Social Security Cards (for all household members)
- Birth Certificates (for all household members)
- Proof of Auto Insurance
- Marriage Licenses and Divorce Decrees
- Immunization Records
- Adoption papers or Legal Guardianship papers (if applicable)
- Documentation of Rabies vaccination
- Animal Licenses for all dogs (if applicable)
The Home Study Process
A home study is done in order to determine the character of the persons living in the home, suitability to parent, and the ability to care for a child with special needs. The agency will also evaluate the home itself to ensure that the environment is safe and suitable for placement of foster children.
Prior to the interview process of the home study, a Family Assessment Guide will need to be completed. Interviews will be conducted with each household member separately, as well as with the family unit as a whole.
The home study, start to finish, takes approximately three months to complete.
Home Inspection
The Department of Economic Security (DES) will inspect the home. The licensing agency may conduct a courtesy inspection of the home prior to the DES inspection to help the applicants get their home ready and be sure they are in compliance. Some of the things the DES will look for are:
- Are all medications and toxics are to be locked up?
- Is there a 2A10BC fire extinguisher on the premises?
- Are smoke detectors located in the sleeping areas of the home?
- Are exits from the home easily accessible?
- Is the home generally clean and free of hazards?
- Do the applicants practice safe food storage techniques?
- Are there fences around any pools or bodies of water on the premises?
Your licensing agency should supply you with a complete regulations manual for your reference.
Steps to Getting Started
Those wishing to inquire further about becoming licensed for foster care in the state of Arizona, may contact an agency that provides foster care services in your area, or the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) at 1-877-KIDS-NEEDU.
Reference: Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Children, Youth and Families- Foster Care and Adoption.
