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4 Questions About Kinship Foster Care

Do you have family members or friends who are receiving services for their developmental disabilities? If so, there are times when it would be beneficial for both the child and their family if they are temporarily placed in the home of an immediate family member or close friend. At RISE Services, Inc. Oregon, we call this Kinship Foster Care or Host Homes. There are usually many questions surrounding this type of foster care. Keep reading to learn answers to some of the most common ones.

4 Questions About Kinship Foster Care

1. What Is Kinship Foster Care?

When a family is struggling to raise their children, family members, like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close family friends, will often step up and open their homes to these children. This is not something new and has been taking place for many decades, even centuries. The difference between Kinship Foster Care and Kinship Care of the past is that Kinship Foster Care host homes today need to be licensed by the state of Oregon. 

2. What Are the Benefits of Kinship Foster Care?

Some of the most common benefits of Kinship Foster Care include placing the child in a home with which they are already familiar. The transition is less stressful for the child, the biological family, and the host home. In traditional foster care, many children may lose contact with other family members or friends. With Kinship Foster Care, our Host Homes provide a safe alternative for children in a home with family members or friends where they already feel safe and secure.

3. How Do I Get a Kinship Foster Care License?

To get your Kinship Foster Care license and qualify as a Host Home through RISE Services, Inc. Oregon, you must be licensed by the Oregon Department of Human Services. Our primary goal is to make the licensing process as simple and stress-free as possible, which is why we help you through the entire process, from start to finish. Plus, RISE Services, Inc. Oregon licenses both single and two-parent households and welcomes any applicant regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

4. Will I Receive Support as a Kinship Foster Care Home?

The answer is yes! We don’t simply help you get your license and then let you care for the children on your own. You will have a Direct Support Professional who provides short- and long-term support for as long as you have children in your home. We assist all Host Homes with the following services:

  • Weekly skills training
  • Monthly home visitations
  • 24/7 on-call and emergency support
  • Professional behavior services
  • Respite opportunities
  • Ongoing training

Compassionate Services for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

At RISE Oregon, we place the individuals we serve first and provide them with person-centered support that will lead them towards independent and productive living. Contact us today to learn more about our Kinship Foster Care and Host Homes. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Source: “What Is Kinship Care?” Blog article. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. 06 Feb. 2014. Web. 22 Aug. 2022.