Fact Sheet about Foster Care


foster child

Number of Children in DHS Custody (as of September 2011): 557
231 – 0 to 5 years 
151 – 6 to 12 years 
  77 – 13 to 15 years
  64 – 16 to 17 years
  34 – 18 + years

Who Are the Children?
330 African-American/Black
162 Caucasian/White 
  14 Hispanic/Latino 
  02 Asian
  49 Other
   
289 Males
268 Females

Special Needs of the Children:

  • Developmental Delays
  • Emotional and Behavioral Problems

Licensed Regular Foster Parents:   162
33  Black Couples
52  White Couples
 0   Hispanic Couples
 5   Biracial/Other Couples
52  Black Singles
16  White Singles
  3  Hispanic Singles 
  1  Biracial/Other Single 

Number of County Emergency Shelters: 1 – Wake House for 6 adolescent boys, ages 10 and over

Our Needs:
We need foster homes for children of all ages, but particularly for teenagers, sibling groups, preschoolers, children with special emotional or physical needs, and children from various racial or cultural backgrounds, especially for African-American children. At any given time between 50–60 children are waiting to be adopted.

Who Can Be a Foster Parent?
There is not a single type of person who becomes a foster parent. Wake County foster parents represent all walks of life and all races, economic backgrounds and religions. Foster parents need to be caring individuals who understand the special needs of children who have been separated from their families. You do need to have extra time and extra patience to help a child adjust to your home and to the changes he or she is experiencing.

Information On Licensing:

Agency Requirements:
Foster parents must be at least 21 years of age. Foster parents should be in good enough health to meet demands of maintaining their own home and parenting a new child in their care. Foster parents must also be financially stable, have adequate sleeping space for a child (according to State guidelines based on the number of children in a bedroom) and have a working telephone. References and criminal background checks (including fingerprint checks) are obtained on all applicants, as well. If you are receiving temporary financial assistance as your primary source of income, you may not be eligible to become a foster parent at this time.

Training:
Prospective foster parents need to attend a preparation group. This training is designed to help you learn more about foster care and the needs of the children. This information will help you decide whether or not you are ready to make the commitment to be a foster parent. If you are married, both husband and wife must attend the group. The meetings are generally held one night a week for ten consecutive weeks (from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.). Saturday classes may also be scheduled.

We are looking for couples and individuals who can provide a child with extra time, patience and love. We need families that can become a part of a professional team with our agency.

Other Qualifications and Skills

  • Desire to be professional parents
  • Patience and time to give to children
  • Communication skills
  • Willingness to work with birth parents and agency
  • Ability to be flexible, open-minded

Things to Remember

  • Foster parents can be married or single.
  • Foster mothers can be employed full time outside of the home.
  • Foster parents do not make money caring for children. They are partially reimbursed for the expenses they incur while caring for children in their homes.

Board Rates:
Foster parents do not receive a salary for caring for the children in their homes. They do receive some reimbursement of expenses. For children birth to 5 years of age, the board allowance is $475 per month, $581 for 6 to 12 years old, and $634 per month for children 13 and older. Medical care is generally covered by Medicaid.
For more information, please contact Vanessa Clifton at 919-212-7474.