FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
Become a Foster Parent Today!
Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption
The children we care for at St. Joe’s have endured trauma, but our team of experts are giving them the emotional support they need, so that we can find the perfect family for them.
There is a crisis of child maltreatment in Kentucky as the state is currently ranked sixth in the nation for child abuse and neglect. As a result, many children in Kentucky are being placed into foster care. Oftentimes, their biological parents cannot care for them because of financial hardship, loss of employment, mental health, or substance abuse. If the circumstances improve, the child may reunite with their parents, but if the child is unable to return home, adoption is the next step.
At St. Joseph Children’s Home, it is our privilege to connect a child with the right family, whether it is a temporary placement or their forever adoptive family. St. Joe’s provides therapeutic foster care services to children in our Residential Treatment program up to age 21. These services are also available to those who do not live on our campus. Our dedicated staff recruit and train community members to become certified foster parents while providing ongoing support for families who decide to foster a child.
St. Joe’s provides individual and family therapy as well as 24/7 support to the families we serve. We offer extensive training, competitive reimbursements, additional year-round support such as clothing and school supplies, holiday needs, and crisis support.
Unfortunately, there are more children in need than there are available foster families. St. Joe’s kids need families interested in both fostering and adopting—especially those interested in sibling groups, older children, teens, children with behavior problems and children with special needs.
Getting Started
If you are willing to share your love and home with a child in need, consider becoming a foster parent. Think you can’t do it? Almost anyone can foster.
- You can be single/married with or without kids of your own.
- You can be any race or religion.
- You can be a working parent, stay-at-home mom, or retiree.
- You don’t have to be rich. You only need enough income to care for your current family.
- You don’t need to be a homeowner, but you must have a safe residence with enough space for a child. Also, you must live in Kentucky within 60 miles of our location.
On my adoption day I was absolutely happy and excited because I had to wait so long for it to happen. I was also nervous to be adopted because I had no clue what to expect. But at the end of the day I was overjoyed and I could not believe that it was finally happening for me.
—SJ Kid (14 yrs old)
Other Benefits
- You will receive monthly compensation per child.
- Medical and dental expenses for the child, or children, are completely covered.
- We assist with placement needs such as school clothes and supplies.
It has been said that fostering a child is the toughest job you’ll ever love, and the most rewarding experience a person or family can have. If you’re ready to make a difference in a child’s life, contact us at (502) 893-0241 or send an email to Lisa Barber Atwell at lisab@sjkids.org. Also, gain some insight from some of our St. Joe’s families who have been featured on SJ Stories, a new monthly blog designed for those who are considering foster care and adoption.
Training and Info
Information for Certification
Learning more about foster care and adoption in Kentucky requires no commitments and only an hour of your time! Sign up for a virtual info session today and learn more about the process of becoming certified as a foster parent or respite provider. Informational meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m. at St. Joseph Children’s Home.
We can offer virtual meetings if preferred but will be holding in-person meetings this year.
Please RSVP to Lisa Barber-Atwell at info@sjkids.org. For more information, please email info@sjkids.org or call (502)-893-0241.
Information for Certified Families – Upcoming Events
Foster Parent Appreciation – 5/23/2024
Back to School Bash – 7/16/2024
Halloween Party – 10/24/2024
Christmas Party – 12/19/2024
Foster Care / Adoption Requirements
Basic Requirements For Therapeutic Foster or Adoptive Parents
There are several requirements to become a prospective foster/adoptive parent. These include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Must be at least 21 years old or of an age to have naturally parented the ages requested.
2. Must be a resident of the state of Kentucky and live within 50 miles of our agency to ensure that the needed support and supervision are provided to maintain a successful placement.
3. If married, be married at least two years* and demonstrate marital stability.
4. Complete the orientation and interview process.
5. Complete criminal history check and child/spouse abuse records check.
6. Successfully complete 28 hours of pre-service training, in addition to CPR & First Aid.
7. Have an approved home-study completed by St. Joseph’s, indicating the condition of the home to ensure the health, safety, well-being, privacy and comfort of each member.
8. Be willing and able to maintain accurate daily logs detailing the child’s activities, behaviors, problems and progress.
9. Be willing and able to accept an intense level of supervision and involvement from the Foster Care Specialist. This includes being available for weekly or bi-monthly supervision, ongoing monthly training and monthly treatment team reviews. If fostering, participate in an average of 24 hours of training per year.
10. Be able to provide supervision of the child placed in their home.
11. Have an income sufficient to meet present family needs and obligations.
12. Have a reliable means of transportation.
13. Have a plan for childcare developed prior to the time a child is placed in their home.
14. Provide a statement of health from a physician verifying that all household members are free from communicable diseases, and that the prospective adoptive/foster parents are physically able to care for a child.
15. Not be certified as a foster parent with any other agency.
16. Not have a licensed child care facility in the home.
The next step in the process is to schedule an informational meeting OR attend our monthly informative meeting held the first Tuesday of the month at 5:45 p.m. To schedule an informational meeting, either email St. Joe’s at info@sjkids.org or call (502) 893-0241.
Staff
Lisa Barber-Atwell
