+ If I live outside of San Diego County, can I become a Resource Parent with Angels?

We require all our Resource Families to reside in San Diego County. If you live outside of the County of San Diego, we encourage you to find an agency located near you.

+ Can I foster with one or more agencies at the same time?

No. In San Diego, families may only foster with one agency at a time.

+ Can single people, same-sex couples, military families, couples without children, employed parents, or multigenerational households become approved to care for a child in foster care?

Absolutely! Angels welcomes individuals, couples, and families who meet the qualifications to become an Angels Resource Parent/Family. We currently have a diverse mix of people who are successfully supporting young children in the foster care system.

+ What are the requirements for becoming an Angels Resource Parent / Family?

A person / family must:

• Be 18 years of age (our preference is 25 years old).
• Willing to commit to care for the child(ren) until the Juvenile Court or County decide the outcome.
• Reside for a minimum of two years in San Diego County to complete the training / approval process and see the case through completion.
• Have sufficient bedroom, living and storage space to care for a child. Space requirements depend on the age, gender of the child(ren) coming into your home along with the age and gender of any children already living in the home.
• Attend an information session held by Angels Foster Family Network.
• Submit / sign an application (online).
• Submit a criminal record statement disclosing any prior arrests, criminal activity even if never charged or convicted. Please note if you have any prior arrests, charges, or convictions in the past five years this most likely will preclude you from becoming an approved Resource Family.
• Initiate a background and child abuse index check via Live Scan (fingerprints), which must include all residential addresses for the past five years. If you have lived outside the State of California in the past five years an out-of-state clearance request will be required for each state where you lived.
• Medical doctor's approval to care for young child(ren), evidence of a current TDAP vaccine, and current TB test.
• Be certified in adult / child / infant CPR and first aid.
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) printout, current auto insurance, and driver's license
• Successful completion of our pre-approval training program.
• Complete a family written report / psycho-social evaluation (aka home study) which requires several in-depth interviews of the applicant(s) and family members.
• Successful demonstration of the ability to provide trauma informed care through temporary respite care (up to 14 days) to a child currently in care with Angels.
• Conduct weekly visits with the parents of the child(ren) in your care.
  

+ Can we have grandparents, roommates, or a nanny living in our home? What are the rules about having them participate in childcare?

Any other adults living in the home or visiting frequently must be approved through a vetting process which includes but not limited to: Live Scan fingerprinting, First Aid CPR, and required vaccinations.

+ We have a renter who occupies a building on our property, will they have to go through the training and approval process?

Any adults living on your property who reside at the same physical address as you must complete the requirements for other adults living in the home or visiting frequently which includes but not limited to: Live Scan fingerprinting, First Aid CPR, and required vaccinations.

+ What are your guidelines for having pets in the home?

Generally, all types of pets are accepted if they have no prior history of biting or other dangerous behavior towards people (especially young children).

+ What if our family situation changes while we are caring for a child in foster care? If a parent/relative/friend comes to live with us or if we get pregnant, will that affect our status as a Resource Family?

If your parent(s), relative(s), or friend(s), come to live with you, they will have to follow the same vetting process as other adults living in the home or frequently visiting. A pregnancy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with your FFA Social Worker.  In most cases when a Resource Family is expecting the arrival of a child (through birth, adoption, guardianship), they will be able to continue caring for the child(ren) already in their home.

+ How long will a child stay with us?

Returning to live with family is the primary goal for every child in foster care.  Each case and family situation is different.  The child’s parent(s) will be working with their County Social Worker and the courts on a plan to reunite with their child(ren). We ask that our Resource Families commit to caring for the child(ren) until a final placement decision is made which may take up to two years, but most often happens in 10-12 months.

+ Can we remain active in the lives of the child(ren) we have cared for after they are reunified with their family?

Many Angels Resource Families enjoy lifelong friendships with the child(ren’s) families. Once the child reunifies, decisions about visitation are made by the child(ren’s) parents. Some families form close connections - often babysitting or having overnights with the child(ren), but sometimes they do lose touch. However, no matter the outcome, you will have made a life-changing impact on a child(ren).

+ Can I care for a child in foster care who is older than children already living with me?

We ask our Resource Families to only care for children who are younger than the children already living in the home so as not to disrupt the existing birth order.

+ Can we take the child(ren) in our care on trips / vacation with us?

Yes, travel and vacations are possible, however, there are a variety of requirements and approvals that must be obtained and met before the trip may occur. Travel outside of San Diego County with an overnight stay requires court approval which must be requested several weeks in advance. Travel must not impact or delay progress towards reunification with the child’s family. We have many Resource Families who obtain approval to travel with the child in their care and many where the child is not allowed to travel depending on the current status of the case. When a child is not able to travel with a Resource Family, respite care is provided by other Angels families. Please note that Resource Parents are never allowed to take a child(ren) outside the country.

+ Can a child(ren) we are caring for attend out of home daycare if I / we work?

Yes, children in care may attend out of home daycare, however, we require children 18 months of age and younger, to receive the consistency of care from one adult in approved Resource Family home.

+ How long does the process take to become an approved Resource Family with Angels?

On average it takes nine to twelve months to become approved as each family / parent situation is different. The approval process is largely self-paced - families who make completion a priority are often able to become approved in significantly less time.

+ What type of training will we receive and how long does it take to complete?

Each Resource Parent will receive 27 hours of pre-approval training. All Resource Parents in a home must attend the training at the same time. Trainings are held monthly and are delivered over a 5–6-day period through a combination of virtual, self-paced and in person sessions.

+ Is childcare provided for the in-person training sessions?

No, childcare is not provided for the in-person training sessions.

+ Do I have to be a citizen of the United States to become a Resource Parent / Family?

United States citizenship is not a requirement to become a Resource Parent / Family, but families must have legal status / residency in the United States.

+ I want to become a Resource Family that only provides Respite Care, is this possible?

Unfortunately, this is not possible with Angels as we need every available family to care for children coming into foster care.

+ Who will be present during visits with the child in our care and their parents / family?

Resource Parents arrange and supervise each visit along with providing a short, written summary of what occurred during the visit. For your first visit, your Angels FFA Social Worker or another Angels staff member will be present to assist with establishing the expectations and requirements for visits. Additional support is provided as needed.

+ Where will visits with the child in our care and their parents / family take place and what days and times of the week will they be scheduled?

Visits are held in a neutral, convenient location such as a park, library, community center, County office or the visit room at Angels’ office. Visits may take place anytime during the day and week that works for all involved. Visits with Angels’ families are never held at the home of the Resource Family or a child’s family home.

+ How many visits a week are required?

A typical weekly visit schedule includes two, one-hour visits with the child’s mother and two, one-hour visits with the child’s father, if both parents are involved. These visits often occur on the same day separated by 15 to 30 minutes. Visits may also happen with other adults in the child’s family when approved by the County.

+ How much support will our family receive while we have a child in our home?

Angels is here to support you every step of the way.  Our Angels FFA Social Worker are available 24-7 to offer guidance. Experienced Angels parents often mentor new families. Additional trainings and support group meetings are offered throughout the year.

+ How often will I meet with my Angels FFA Social Worker?

Your FFA Social Worker will meet with you in your home (or other convenient location) for an hour each week. The weekly meetings are focused on reviewing the development and growth of the child along with ensuring services are available and being provided to support their needs. These meetings also serve as a check-in with each family and a source of support during the fostering process.

+ What if I have an after-hours emergency with my family or the child I am caring for?

Angels has a dedicated 1-800 number where our on-call staff many be contacted after hours and on weekends to provide support in emergencies.

+ Where do children served by Angels come from?

Children come to Angels for the County of San Diego Child Welfare Services.

+ Is Angels a county-run foster care agency?

Angels is a nonprofit charity, licensed as a Foster Family Agency (FFA) (CCL #374603866) by the State of California and operates in tandem with the Child Welfare Services Department of the County of San Diego.

+ How many of the children in the care of Angels have been exposed to trauma?

Sadly, all children in foster care have been exposed to trauma. There is the trauma that caused them to come into care, along with the trauma of being separated from their family / caregivers. All Resource Families receive training in trauma informed care and are expected to care for the child in their home via trauma informed best practices.

+ Does Angels care for children who have been abandoned at the international boarder?

Children who are not citizens of the United States are cared for directly by the Federal Government and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the County of San Diego Child Welfare Services.

+ I thought only older children needed care by Resource Families, is this true?

Forty percent of the children in foster care in San Diego County are under the age of five. This is the largest, and most vulnerable, group of children in foster care.

+ I have heard children in foster care may have medical challenges. How often is this true?

While some children in foster care can have medical challenges, Angels does not place children that need durable medical hardware such as feeding tubes, oxygen, or mobility assistance such as wheelchairs. Those children are cared for by a specially trained group of parents who work directly with the County of San Diego. Children while in the care with an Angels family may develop higher-level medical needs and the family will receive additional training and support as needed.

+ Does Angels provide childcare for the children who are in foster care?

Angels does not provide childcare – childcare is the responsibility of the Resource Family. Most children in care are eligible for federally funded childcare programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, or other free childcare programs.

+ May I take the child(ren) in our care to my own doctor?

If the child(ren) in your care is currently being treated by a doctor or has a prior history of treatment of a doctor, then they should remain in that doctor’s care. However, if this is not the case and your doctor accepts Medi-Cal then you may take the child(ren) to your doctor. It is always best to check with your FFA Social Worker prior to making any changes in medical providers.

+ Will I receive compensation while caring for a child?

Resource Parents receive a monthly monetary stipend from Angels, which is funded by federal, state, and local sources to offset basic expenses, such as clothing, food, and diapers. Children five and younger in foster care are automatically eligible to receive assistance through the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program.

+ Am I able to claim a child(ren) placed with me as a dependent on my taxes?

If the child(ren) in your care has been with you more than 6 months in a calendar year, then it is possible to claim them as a dependent on your taxes. It is best always to check with your FFA Social Worker before including them as a dependent on your taxes.

+ Do Resource Families ever adopt the child(ren) in their care?

Sadly, sometimes reunification efforts are unsuccessful, and a child(ren) becomes available for adoption. When this happens, some resource families choose to adopt the child in their care, while some do not. There is no requirement to adopt a child that has been in your care.

+ If we choose not to adopt a child(ren) that has been in our care, what happens to them?

When a child becomes available for adoption and the resource family caring for them chooses not to adopt them, the child will be transferred to one of the many adoption only resource families with the County of San Diego.

+ If I solely want to adopt, should I foster through Angels?

If your sole purpose is to adopt, we are not the agency for you. We recommend you contact the County of San Diego – 1-877-792-5437.

+ May I read stories from other Angels parents about their fostering experience?

Yes, by visiting our Resource Parent Spotlight Blog. You can also head to our YouTube channel to find more stories and related videos.

+ Fostering is not for me. Can I help in another way?

A tax-deductible contribution to Angels will help us continue to place infants and toddlers in loving homes. Angels depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. Take a look at our giving overiew to learn more about contributing to Angels.

+ How is Angels funded?

Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization funded through contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. We also receive funding for basic program costs from public sources. All contribution funding received is used to recruit, train, and support Angels families and their children in care.