Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Maintain an emotionally, physically, and financially stable household with a spare bedroom
• Have one adult in the home full-time or available as needed to provide care for children
• Enjoy the challenges of working with children and youth in your home
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check

Ready to get started?

Qualifications

Pre-Service Training

Complete 36 hours of pre-service training. Topics covered in this training include:

• Maple Star Program Principles And Licensing Requirements
• Becoming a Member of the Service Team
• Managing The Impact Of A Foster Placement On Your Family
• Understanding Family Systems and Family Mapping
• Managing Loss and Separation
• Understanding the Social Integration Model
• Serving As A Community Guide And Advocate
• Partnership With Birth Parents
• Suicide Prevention
• Documentation Requirements
• Review of Policies and Procedures
• First Aid and CPR Certification
• NCI Training- This interactive training has been developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute. The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program is facilitated by Maple Star staff and covers such topics as crisis de-escalation, avoiding power struggles and how to respond effectively to the warning signs that someone is beginning to lose control as well as how care providers can deal with their own stress, anxieties and emotions when confronted with these challenging situations.

Home Study

A Certifier will come to the home and complete an extensive interview with each family member. This gives Maple Star staff members the opportunity to get to know you and your family.

• Home, Health and Safety Check – during the home study, a Certifier will complete a home, health, and safety check to determine if your home is suitable to provide care and if not, what corrective actions can be taken.

Additional Documentation

Personal Reference Checks – You will need to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of 4 people who have known you for at least 2 years and can speak on your behalf regarding your ability to provide care. At least 3 of the 4 references must be unrelated to you.

Professional Reference Checks – If you have done foster care in the past, or worked or volunteered for an organization that cares for children or adults, or a closely related field you will need to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least one reference from each agency or organization who can speak on your behalf regarding performance.

Criminal Record Check – Anyone over the age of 16 living in the home will need to be fingerprinted and consent to a state and federal criminal records check.

Proof of Insurance – You will need to provide proof of auto and homeowner’s/renter’s insurance in the following amounts:

• Automobile bodily injury liability insurance limit, per person: $100,000
• Automobile bodily injury liability insurance limit, per accident: $300,000
• Automobile property damage liability insurance limit, per accident: $50,000
• Homeowners/Renters personal liability insurance limit, per occurrence: $100,000

Vaccination Records – Rabies vaccination is required for all dogs in the home. Cats are required to have rabies vaccination in Multnomah County.

Medical Waiver – You may be asked to provide a medical waiver if you have any medical conditions that may impact your ability to provide foster care.

Resume – We will request a copy of each parent’s professional resume.

Ready to apply?