Working With Foster Care Agencies During COVID-19
While life has certainly changed for all of us during COVID-19, the need for foster families in West Virginia remains the same. We at MWV continue to be here for those interested in becoming foster parents. We are here to provide you support and get you linked a provider in your community who can certify you as a foster/adoptive parent. If you have been waiting to become a foster parent, we urge you to take the first step today.
Mission West Virginia is your first step in learning about foster care in WV. We explain the process of certification, answer any questions, and provide support from initial contact to foster care certification. Our team will guide you through the initial process and provide you with a detailed foster care information guide, giving you both knowledge and confidence to engage with an agency that serves your county. There are 11 private foster care agencies in the state but not all 11 cover every county. Along with your information guide, we will send you a list of agencies that serve your county.
During COVID-19, agencies are offering many ways to support families through the pandemic. As a potential foster family, you will be amazed and reassured at what the agencies in WV are doing to support families through the certification process and making fostering itself as safe as possible. Agencies are currently accommodating families by providing pre-service training online so that you can get the certification process started from home. In addition, you can communicate with agencies online or on the phone throughout the process who would be happy to explain their COVID-19 accommodations in detail.
After choosing your agency the certification process usually takes between 3- 6 months. if you are ready to become fully certified and receive placements as soon as possible many agencies report certification completion at around 3 months. However, the foster parent certification process can many times be flexible for families. Life can seem a bit unpredictable right now, so if you need to slow down the fostering process due to falling ill or your child’s schooling is taking up your time, agencies are very understanding and most will work with you at your own pace.
Getting certified with one of the 11 foster care agencies in the state includes an application, training and a completed homestudy. A home study or family assessment is the process by which information is gathered and evaluated to assess a family’s ability to provide care for children who may be placed in the home through foster care. This assessment includes evaluating the physical environment of the home for safety and to determine adequate space, the family’s capacity for parenting, as well as the family’s motivation and commitment to providing a safe, caring environment for children.
Change is rarely easy, especially during a national pandemic. However, agencies have not let this strange year stop them from reaching the community; so much so that many agencies have implemented several virtual accommodations for families in the certification process. For example, agencies have switched to virtual training, virtual interviews, and porch hand offs for materials. PRIDE Training is currently being offered virtually through ZOOM or Microsoft Teams. Foster care training classes are also being offered at various times to accommodate different schedules. Some agencies can accommodate families that do not have the ability to attend virtually or have good internet service. If a family would prefer face to face interaction where contact remains minimal, agency staff are following social distancing protocol and wear personal protective equipment.
If you are hesitant about taking placements, you will have time during the certification process to speak with your agency and discuss your overall comfort level. Several agencies are willing to certify you and place a hold for a time until you are ready for placements. Attending training allows you the opportunity to connect with many other families who have gone through the process before or are in their beginning steps of fostering just like you which may help you feel more comfortable about the process.
If you are interested in a short-term placement, many agencies are in need of respite care for children. Respite Care is providing short care for foster children. Respite care may be needed when the current foster family has an emergency that requires them to ease their fostering responsibilities such as a family illness. It also is sometimes used to give foster parents a break when they need a short rest from caregiving duties.
Most importantly, foster care agencies are putting the safety and support of the entire foster/adopt family as a priority including birth children in the home. Active families are offered COVID-19 testing, support for schooling of all children such as tutoring or offered learning resources, and home-based family activities such as a family scavenger hunt. In addition to a supportive agency, one of the most valuable assets going through foster care certification is the supportive network of foster families you will meet along the way.
Please consider opening your home and your heart to a child in need of a loving family, especially during this time where many children are feeling alone. You can get started by visiting our website and requesting our digital information guide. You may also request our guide by calling 304-512-0555. Our detailed foster care guide shares information about qualifications, questions to ask agencies and more. We will stay in touch throughout the certification process to provide assistance and you can call or email us if you have questions.