Become a Temporary Emergency Foster Parent
Provide Emergency Foster Care Placement
Help a Child in Need
Sometimes, children rescued from abuse and neglect don’t have a home immediately available. As an emergency foster parent, you can provide a temporary foster home for a child while a suitable foster home is sought. Being part of this crucial initiative with Knotts Family Agency allows you to aid in the temporary placement of a child and make a real difference in their life.
About Emergency Foster Care Placement
Emergency foster care placement or short-term foster care involves training families who are willing to provide temporary emergency placement services for children and non-minor dependents (NMD). The county and foster family agency will search for a suitable placement match during this time. When children are initially removed from a home, matching them to a placement that can meet their needs within a reasonable period can be challenging.
For this reason, emergency foster care placement programs allow foster parents to provide temporary shelter for these children. Placements are for a minimum of one day to a maximum of 15 days. Typically, children in temporary emergency placement do not have visitation with biological relatives, and you may not have all the responsibilities associated with regular foster care. As a result, serving as a temporary foster parent might be ideal if you are interested in short-term care but do not want to commit to full-time foster parenting.
Emergency Kinship Placement for Relatives
If a child you’re related or close to has recently entered the foster care system, the state of California may turn to you to provide kinship care. Kinship care has several emotional and psychological benefits for children, in addition to providing financial support to caregivers.
In times of emergency, it is crucial to provide children with a familiar and secure environment as soon as possible. In situations where a child’s safety is at risk, emergency placements may be necessary. If a relative or close family friend passes initial safety assessments, they may temporarily care for the child. This provisional arrangement allows the child to stay in a familiar environment while the caregiver completes the remaining requirements of the resource family approval (RFA) process.
How to Become a Temporary Foster Care Parent
To become an emergency foster care parent in the State of California, you must meet the basic requirements:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have at least one extra bedroom in an owned or rented home
- Have no criminal history that will prevent you from being a foster parent
- Be able to manage your expenses
- Possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance
Becoming a foster parent involves an application, background check, training, interview and agency approval. It can take as soon as two weeks to be approved. From there, your file will be submitted to your county for final clearance so you can begin emergency fostering.
Support Services for Short-Term Foster Care Parents
As a resource parent in our temporary foster care program, you will receive comprehensive support and resources to help you manage a fulfilling foster care process. When a child is placed, you receive the full level of care (LOC) payment the child requires for the duration of their stay, which can amount to $2,400 a month.
As a foster parent with Knotts Family Agency, you are also automatically enrolled in our Very Important Parent (VIP) program. This program includes personalized services for your family, such as:
- Concierge services.
- Assistance in converting your home into a smart home.
- Personal nutrition and dietician services.
- Access to health and fitness programs.
- Reimbursement for spa or massage services.
Knotts Family Agency focuses on Parent Delight — a dedication to ensuring resource parents are happy as they care for children in nee.
Testimonials
In the Emergency Placement program, I can designate one (1) or up to six (6) beds for temporary placement. The agency then gives me a monthly stipend per month for each bed even if the bed is not used. I really invite others to join this program, because as a VIP parent, I get a Smart Home Hub like Amazon Alexa and plus I get one spa treatment per quarter.
Almira Truss
I opted to participate in the Emergency Placement program because I felt a calling to care for children who had experienced trauma, including those who had been sexually abused or exploited. The program is attractive because resource families not only receive additional support from a variety of experts, but the additional bonus is that we receive a guaranteed stipend or reimbursement even if a child was not in our home during the month.
Lu Ann Brown
Children should be safe from abuse and exploitation. That’s why I asked to be a part of CSEC. The program is ideal because I only need to have one bed for one child. I take pride in caring and protecting a child who was previously exposed to trauma and because they tend to be school or high-school age children, I can have an impact in their lives during their formative years.
Jennifer Morgan
I am told there is a need for families who are willing to open their home to one child. While regular foster parents have up to six children, I’m able to provide quality care to one single child in the CSEC program. A very attractive feature is that resource parents are guaranteed payment even if there was no child placed in their home, as long as we are willing to take in one child when needed.
Martha Villalobos
