Main Office: 1616 E Wooster St Unit #3 Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
Columbus Office: 64 Dillmont Drive Suite B12 Columbus, Ohio 43235
Cleveland Office: 5005 Rockside road, Suite 600 Independence, Ohio 44131
Foster Parent Requirements
You must be 18 years of age
You can be married, single, or co-parents
You must provide proof of a stable income to meet household expenses
Your home must pass a fire safety inspection
You and everyone in your household must have a physical exam.
You and everyone over the age of 18 in your household must pass a criminal record check
You must have a reliable source and/or method of transportation
As prohibited by the Multiethnic Placement Act, 42 U.S.C. 1196(b) (1196), as amended (MEPA), agencies may not deny any person the opportunity to become a foster caregiver on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the person, or of any foster child or children involved.
The Licensing Process
The first step of the licensing process is the Orientation Meeting. We will discuss the application process and the home study, explain how we work with you as a team throughout the certification process, and provide you with a better understanding of the children we serve and the services we provide. This meeting is focused on your questions, and our goal is to provide you with the information necessary to make an informed decision about becoming a foster parent.
An Application for Child Placement must be completed, as well as 24 hours of pre-service training to become licensed. This training may be completed at our agency or another facility that offers pre-service training, such as a county agency.
During the licensing process, our Licensing Specialist will contact you to schedule a convenient time to come to your home, conduct the home study, and get to know you and your family. A safety audit, fire inspection, references, and background checks are just a few of the tasks that need to be completed prior to becoming licensed.
Maintaining Your License
A foster parent certification is valid for two years from the date of licensing. Every two years, foster parents must go through a re-certification process. This process entails our Licensing Specialist returning to your home to discuss any changes in your home, family, etc. She will ask you about any problems or concerns you may have with the agency, as well as any praise or suggestions for improvements that can be made.
After becoming licensed, individuals who are licensed as a Family Foster Home are required to complete 40 hours of continuing training every two years to maintain their license, and those who are licensed as Treatment Foster Homes are required to complete 60 hours of continuing training every two years. Foster parents may complete 1/3 of these hours through online training or books and/or video training. The remainder of continuing training hours must be held in a classroom setting with an instructor present.
Kids Count Too provides continuing training for our licensed foster families and foster parents who may be licensed with other agencies. Our training topics are determined based on the needs of our foster parents at the current time, and the information that is provided on the foster parent training needs assessment forms, which are completed upon foster parent re-certification every two years. Foster parents may choose to attend outside training at other facilities with the approval of the Administrator of Kids Count Too.
Kids Count Too also offers our quarterly live synchronous training sessions to assist current foster parents with obtaining their continuing training hours.
Contact us to learn more
Business Hours: Mon -Fri: 9 am -5pm | Sat - Sun: Closed
Cleveland Office
Crown Centre Building 5005 Rockside road, Suite 600 Independence, Ohio 44131
Cleveland Office: 216-573-3705