Guide to Becoming a Foster Parent

Follow the steps below or download the PDF.

Contact Spaulding for Children

Spaulding’s history;
Foster care & adoption informational pamphlets;
Information regarding the types of services Spaulding provides;
10 Good Reasons Why You Should Become a Spaulding for Children Parent;
The Steps to Become a Foster/Adoptive Resource Family;
Orientation Registration Form

Stacey Oakes

Phone: 248-443-0300 Ext 235
Email: soakes@spaulding.org

Attend Orientation

NOTE: All adults living in the home, i.e. husband & wife, partners, roommates etc., must attend Orientation & all trainings

Attend Pre-Service Training

Register for Foster Parent Pre-service Placement Training. Learn directly from experienced foster parents the skills & techniques needed to parent children who have been abused, neglected and traumatized.

Attend G.R.O.W.

Grow culturally responsive relationships.
Recognize children’s developmental needs and the impact of trauma.
Obtain information and resources.
Work in partnership with families to support healthy relationships.

Enroll in G.R.O.W. Training at at NO COST.

Home Assessment Process

The Home Assessment Process will be initiated at NO COST after completion of the P.R.I.D.E. Training Series.

Your licensing/adoption worker will schedule a home visit with you to begin the Home Assessment Process.

You will be provided a Checklist for Foster Home Licensing form. This form lists the documentation you must provide to your licensing/adoption specialist.

Once all of the requested documentation has been provided to your specialist and your Home Assessment is complete, your entire file is presented to the Adoption or Foster Home Licensing Supervisor for approval.

Checklist for Foster Home Licensing

Download PDF

Foster Home Licensing Approval/Placement

Upon successful completion of trainings (see Step 3) and the assessment process (see Step 4), your study along with a recommendation for licensure will be made to the State of Michigan, Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing (BCAL). If BCAL agrees with the recommendations, a foster home license will be issued and you will become an approved licensed foster resource family.

Upon licensure, you will be eligible to have children placed in your home. Expect to be contacted by the agency for the placement of a foster child or foster children into your home.

To aid in the development of your support network, all newly licensed foster parents are required to participate in a minimum of six (6) Parent Empowerment Group meetings during the first year of becoming licensed through Spaulding for Children.

Throughout your licensing experience, you will be assigned an on-going licensing specialist to assess your progress, provide you with support and help you continue developing your fostering skills.

Ready to Adopt?

If you are ready to move forward with adoption, please visit our 9 Steps to Adoption guide or contact us to discuss how we can assist you in the process.

Stacey Oakes

248 443 0300 ext. 235

SOakes@spaulding.org