WELCOME HAMILTON COUNTY FOSTER PARENTS!
As a foster parent, you have the power to change the life of a child! Programs don't change lives, people do. Focus on Youth, Inc. invites you to join our foster parents to change the lives of children in southwest Ohio.
Responses to Frequently Asked Questions from Foster Parents
Hamilton County assists foster parents with childcare fees if they do not qualify for child care vouchers. Will your agency consider providing such assistance?
Yes, Focus on Youth, Inc. provides a higher per diem to help offset expenses incurred for those needing to utilize childcare and other services. We will work with a family to explore the availability of childcare funding.
Do you assist with transporting foster children to appointments if their foster parents are working or otherwise unable to transport them? Would you consider?
We currently have case assistance help for families who absolutely cannot transport a current child placed in the home. We will work with families to plan transportation strategies for placements. We feel children do best when transported by the foster family for appointments, visits, etc. However, we realize there are times families do need assistance with transportation for visits.
What is your respite care policy? Can a foster parent provide respite care for a foster parent in another agency?
Focus on Youth, Inc. works with foster families to approve respite providers the family knows and trusts. Additionally, Focus on Youth, Inc. will utilize our licensed foster homes and respite providers to arrange respite care services for youth when requested by our foster parents. We have also utilized or assisted foster parents from other agencies when an agreement can be reached between the two agencies.
Does your agency provide support workers?
Yes, Focus on Youth, Inc. provides a Licensed Social Worker, (the Youth Specialist) to every foster home. The Youth Specialist provides all services to the foster family including, weekly or bi-weekly home visits; recertification of the foster home; all licensing compliance issues; support to all the children placed in the foster home; and support to the foster parent(s). Each worker has a supervisor who is also familiar with each youth and family and will provide additional support when needed.
Does your agency have a mentoring program for foster parents?
Yes, the Ohio Administrative Code allows foster parents to serve as a mentor to other foster parents. Focus on Youth, Inc. also has a Foster Parent Advisory/Support Group that provides encouragement and support.
What is the training policy and when are trainings?
Focus on Youth, Inc. is a certified training site. Focus on Youth, Inc. requires licensed family foster homes to successfully complete 40 hours of on-going training per recertification period. Our treatment foster homes are required to complete 60 hours of on-going training per recertification period. Focus on Youth, Inc. is licensed for family foster homes as well as treatment foster homes; therefore a family transferring from the county as a family foster home will not be required to complete additional training hours to transfer to Focus on Youth unless that family wants to change their license to be a treatment license. If a treatment license is desired, we would recommend this be done after the transfer is completed to allow the transfer process to move more smoothly and quickly. Our training policy is available by request.
Each family will be required to complete 4 hours of rules and policy training within 30 days of transferring.
To best accommodate the varying schedules of our foster parents, trainings are provided on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays during morning and afternoon hours.
What is the transfer policy? What are the steps to transfer?
Focus on Youth, Inc. follows the Ohio Administrative Code Rule for the transfer of family foster homes or treatment foster homes (OAC 5101:2-5-31). Once signing a release of information with Focus on Youth, Inc., we will take care of the whole transfer process for you. You do not have to gather information from HCJFS...we will do it for you. The transfer process will include, at a minimum, one visit to your home and the completion of state required paperwork.
When are per diem payments made?
Focus on Youth bills the county for per diems on the first day of the month following care provided. For example: if a foster parent has a child from Feb 1 to Feb 28, Focus on Youth will bill the county on March 1 for all February days and pay foster parents on March 25th for February days. Our "pay day" is the 25th of each month and per diem checks may be directly deposited into your bank account. Additionally, foster parents attending our 3 hour monthly foster parent training /meeting (on the 3rd Thursday of every month) may receive their per diem check early.
Will board rates remain the same as HCJFS?
In most cases, the HCJFS rates are lower and families will receive a higher per diem rate once the transfer is complete. This higher rate will help defray child care costs and transportation.
What is the alternative caregiver policy?
All alternative care must be approved by Focus on Youth, Inc. and all providers must meet local, state, and national back ground checks. We follow the Ohio Administrative code for alternative care, available upon request.
Do you have local offices?
YES!! Focus on Youth, Inc. is a locally founded agency dedicated to making a difference for children and youth in southwest Ohio. We are conveniently located just outside the I-275 loop near Sharonville in West Chester, OH. This is our only office and is where the agency conducts training, team meetings, and therapy appointments.
Focus on Youth, Inc. is licensed for:
- Ø Family (Traditional) Foster Care
- Ø Adoption
- Ø Foster-to-Adopt
- Ø Treatment Foster Care
