WELCOME TO THE DC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM!
The Board of Child Care's foster care program in the District of Columbia has several adoptive parents and former foster parents on staff who clearly see the need to have a variety of support systems both inside and outside of the agency. Daily, we hear stories from foster parents and the children who have been shuffled around the foster care system. Many of the children have been traumatized by serious abuse and neglect. Being separated from their birth families and often their siblings, their schools, and their communities can cause additional trauma that leaves deep wounds.
Foster parents play a major role in that healing process.
Foster parents are encouraged to increase their circle of supports as “seasoned” foster parents who are able to empathize with the successes and challenges they face. When children return home, it is their foster parents who prepare them for this transition. For those foster parents who have had a child reunified with their birth parents, they are the best persons to understand what this experience is like for those foster parents who have yet to experience this loss. When a child cannot return home to their birth parents or be placed with birth relatives, it is their foster parents who walk the child along a path to adoption either with them or with another family.
Although foster parents provide love, nurturing, guidance, stability, and a loving home, sadly, this is not enough. For many complex reasons, foster children often do not get the services they need for additional medical, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive special needs due to trauma. Many times it is only the foster parent who cries out for attention to these needs.
Thank you for considering being a part of the BCC team to help children and families!
Listed below are the supports that BCC offers:
1. On-staff education specialist to assist with the educational needs of the children;
2. Twice-monthly home visits to highlight and address concerns to avoid placement disruption;
3. Annual foster parent appreciation luncheon;
4. Parents’ support group offered through South Washington Collaborative, www.swwr.org; and Kayla's Village, www.kaylasvillage.org
5. Monthly newsletter in which you are able to make contributions;
6. Buddy system to help new foster parents get acclimated to the agency and fostering;
7. Pre-service training held at our office with other BCC prospective foster parents so that you can begin to build additional supports from the start;
8. Restaurant gift card incentive to those prospective foster parents who complete the home study process in less than six months;
9. Free trainings – in which you are encouraged to select topics so that your needs are met – as well as information about other relevant trainings in the community;
10. Birthday and anniversary cards sent to foster parents;
11. Foster parent manual;
12. Annual Christmas party;
13. Opportunities for foster parents to evaluate the licensing process as well as an annual speak-out as an avenue for your concerns to be heard and addressed;
14. Annual children’s appreciation event; and
15. Directory of foster parent resources and recommendations.
There is additional information to be found in Board of Child Care’s foster parent manual which you will be given during the initial home study visit.
All of us at BCC are looking forward to meeting you!
Click on any of the links below to find out more about the DC Foster Care's Parenting programs, history, monthly orientation class schedules, or to get directions and contact information.
Orientations, Trainings, and other Events
Directions to DC Foster Care (Google Maps) or Written Directions
