When a child must be removed from their parents/guardian/or custodian, Columbiana County Children Services must place the child in a licensed or approved Foster Home.
What is a Foster Home?
Foster home means a private residence in which children are received apart from their parents, guardian, or legal custodian, by an individual reimbursed for providing the children non-secure care, supervision, or training twenty-four hours a day. Foster home does not include care provided for a child in the home of a person other than the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian while the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is temporarily away. Family foster homes, pre-adoptive infant foster homes and specialized foster homes are types of foster homes.
Who can be a Foster Parent?
To be a foster parent, you must be at least 18 years of age, you may be single or live with your significant other, or be legally married. At least one applicant in the home must be able to read, write and speak English or be able to effectively communicate with any child placed in your home and our agency. The household must be able to show that it has a sufficient income to meet the basic needs of a household and make timely payments on shelter costs and utilities. The adults and children in the home must have a medical statement by a licensed doctor, or other qualifying medical professional. No person in the household over the age of 18 may have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses as defined in section 5103.0319 of the Ohio Administrative Code. There are some exclusions to this, which may be found in Ohio Administrative Code 5101:2-7-02; Appendix 1: Disqualifying Offenses for Rule 5101:2-7-02 of the Ohio Administrative Code. A certified state fire safety inspector (or the state fire marshal’s office) must give an approved inspection of your home, certifying that your home is free of conditions hazardous to the safety of a foster child. You must also complete all pre-placement and continuing training.