Programs for Children
How to Become a Therapeutic Foster Parent
Benefits
PFLA foster parents are offered many benefits for their services. These include:
- Minimum of $2000.00 monthly tax-free to reimburse expenses to care for the foster child which include food, room and board, clothing, and incidentals
- $500 new foster parent referral bonus
- Respite
- Extensive support systems
- Medicaid or private insurance covers the foster youth’s medical, dental or psychological treatments
- 24 hours/7 days a week phone support and response to emergencies by clinical staff
- On-going training in the foster home
Expectations
- Completion of PFLA training during pre-placement and placement phases
- Participation in assessment of client’s skills and behaviors in the home
- Participation in the development of programs for home and community
- Implementation of home and community therapeutic treatment plans
- Communication with and training with client’s natural family (per client’s treatment plans)
- Provision of safe, nurturing and positive living environment
- Provision of opportunities for appropriate peer interactions
- Communication of information between school, home and other agencies
- Care of client’s clothing
- Maintenance of a healthy and safe environment in accordance with designated standards and regulations
- Attendance at all monthly foster care training
- Cooperation in following all PFLA and State policies and regulations
- Transportation of client to appointments
- Documentation required on a timely schedule
- Arrange appropriate respite care supervision for the foster child
- Respect and support the religious beliefs and culture of the foster child
- Respect the child’s rights and privacy
- Ongoing communication with the PFLA team
Requirements
- Must be over 21 years of age, married or single who are emotionally and physically capable to cope with challenging emotional and behavioral issues
- Completion of application, criminal background check, DMV check, medical reports and references, fire inspection, CPR and First Aid certified
- Valid Rhode Island Driver’s license
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to speak, read and write English
- Proof of residence for the last five years
- Proof of income
Request Information
To fill out an application, please click here.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a licensed PFLA home and not quite ready to fill out an application, then please contact Andrea Neri at (401)274-6310. For a fact sheet on Therapeutic Foster Care, please click here.
