Becoming A Foster Parent

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s been just over a week since WCBI first reported that a former Palmer Home house parent has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls under the age of 12.

This recent case now raises the question, what is the vetting process to becoming a foster parent?

There’s a dire need for foster parents in the Magnolia State.

However, Rescue 100 is now looking to help change that.

Rescue 100 is a program with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, so their vetting process is a little different than that of Palmer Home, which is a private entity.

According to MDCPS, there are nearly five thousand children in Mississippi who are in foster care.

“Right here in Lowndes County we’ve got 124 children in care and only 23 non-relative foster families to care for those kids, so yes, we definitely need more foster families,” said Sabrea Smith, Director of Rescue 100.

Smith said most of the children who are in foster care have gone through a lot.

As a result, Rescue 100 performs extensive background checks to find foster parents who are willing to love and work with the children, and help them heal through this traumatic time.

“The first step is orientation which is just a one hour meeting to come and just learn more about the process,” Smith explained. “Learn about the type of kids that we have in care and what steps to take after that if you want to continue to become a foster parent.”

In the training process parents take online and face-to-face classes were they learn about things such as, the traumas the kids are going through, child development, behavioral management, and how to deal with the child if they’re angry or upset.

Once the training is complete the parent will be assigned a social worker will come in and conduct a home study

“A home study is where a social worker comes into the home and does a walk-through, a check, and make that sure everything is like it should be, as far as having a child in your home,” said Samantha Crimm, Assistant Director with Rescue 100. “There are certain regulations that we as a state agency have to have someone to pass, and the social worker has a list of questions that they ask and it’s submitted to the supervisor, and then after that, if it’s approved, they’re a licensed home.”

Now that everything is approved and someone officially comes a foster parent, a social worker will frequently check in on the child and foster parent to make sure things are progressing and going well in the home.

“It’s a really tough job but it’s one that is very necessary,” Smith expressed. “Our kids in care have been through a lot and what they need now are people who are willing to love them and help them work through this traumatic time so that they can heal themselves.”

In order to be a foster parent in Mississippi one must be at least 21 years or older, have no more than four children, and be able to support themselves financially, just to name a few.

If you’re interested in being a foster parent and want to learn more, visit 
https://www.mdcps.ms.gov/rescue100/ for more information.