Foster Care and Adoption

The Face of Foster Care

Do you remember your childhood? The laughter? Your family? A sense of "home"? Now imagine that you have been taken away from all that. You have no idea where you fit and unsure of where you will be from one day to the next.

There are hundreds of children in the Central Florida area that experience this displacement on a daily basis. But in most cases their childhood consists of neglect, abuse and tragedy. It is our purpose to unite these children with families that have an open heart, an understanding nature, and can partner with ISI to provide them with a safe home.

Foster parents have a very special role to play in the life of these children. They are:

The role model for a healthy relationship.
Representation of a warm, safe, and stable environment.
A place free from fear that encourages laughter, love, and growth.
A great source and example of generosity.

Whether you prefer the excitement of a child or the maturity of a teenager, there is someone that is in desperate need of care and affection.

For more information about becoming a foster parent in Orange, Seminole or Osceola Counties, please contact us at 407-468-6978 or recruit@isifl.org. For information about becoming a foster parent in Brevard County, please contact us at 321-639-1224 ext. 103 or recruit@isifl.org.

The Program
Rewards
Adoption
FAQ's

The Program

Intervention Services, Inc has a simple goal to make a difference in the life of a child. The foster care program is licensed through the Department of Children & Families. We work closely with DCF to develop our training.

Our Mission:
To provide high quality, innovative services to assist children and families to achieve their maximum potential for emotional well being, self reliance and stability in the home, school and community.

The Team:
The "TEAM" approach is an important and exciting element to our program. It is critical for the growth and development of the child and for the support of the foster parent(s).

Elements of the "team" may include:

The child
The foster parent(s)
The case manager
The therapist
The behavior analyst
The biological parents

The team comes together on a regular basis to pool their knowledge about the strengths and needs of the child. Working together, a behavior plan is developed to help the child thrive in their new environment. Behavior analyst professionals and therapists are available to work with the foster family to help the child gain confidence in their new environment and build life skills that will make the placement a success.

The Training:
We encourage you to contact us for more information. Our first session of the MAPP (Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting) training class is an informational meeting. So whether you are sure that fostering is for you or you have some unanswered questions it is our goal to assist with this process in every way possible. To register for the training/orientation or to have any of your questions answered, please contact our recruitment coordinator:

Rewards

There are many rewards to becoming a foster parent!

A sense of involvement and connection to community.
The potential to open your heart and home to a variety of diverse children or a child with specific qualities that will blend with your family.
Information on the "foster-to-adopt" track.
The power to choose what type of fostering fits your lifestyle, long-term or short-term (respite).

The commitment you make when you open your home to a child in need is recognized and rewarded:

Personalized service from the ISI staff to walk you through the licensing procedure and provide ongoing support.
Free training throughout the year – including the MAPP program, which is the state required training for all foster care parent(s).
Foster Family activities – holiday parties, picnics, and support meetings.
Child/family support – Medicaid for foster children, WIC benefits, compensation for expenses.
$200 referral bonuses for foster parents that refer a family to us that become licensed and foster a child through ISI.

These rewards start with your first call to ISI!

Adoption

There are children of all ages who are waiting to be adopted. At Intervention Services, our primary goal is to ensure that every adoption gives each child a permanent, loving home for life. Our experienced, professional staff will guide you through the counseling process. We will get to know you well and we want you to know us well, too. You will have many opportunities to share your feelings about adoption and will discover many new insights about parenthood. It is important to us, that through this thorough process, you feel comfortable with your decision.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming an adoptive parent please contact us at 321-639-1224 or adopt@isifl.org

FAQ’s

Q: What are the financial costs of fostering a child?
Foster parents receive monthly financial support for each child in their home. The amount varies with the child's age and level of need. The medical and dental expenses of most foster and adopted children are covered by Medicaid, and additional financial assistance may be available for children with special needs.

Q: What is the difference between Traditional and Therapeutic foster children?
A traditional foster child functions normally for the trauma they have been exposed to. A therapeutic foster child may have more challenges in dealing with their traumas or have medical conditions that require medications. However, not all children that are on medication are therapeutic. For more information please contact our office in your county.

Q: How long will the licensing process take?
Depending in the structure of the training course (MAPP) that you decide on and how quickly the home study/background check is completed, the process can take between 4-6 months.

Q: Who are the children in need of foster care and adoption?
Foster and adoptive children range in age from newborn to 18 and are from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Many have been abused or neglected and may suffer from emotional, behavioral, physical or developmental problems. Many are teenagers or sibling groups, the hardest groups to find homes for.

Q: How long will a foster child stay in my care and why would they leave?
The average length of stay for a foster child is approximately 18 months; however, each case is unique. Children generally leave their foster homes for more permanent placements, including reunification with the child's own family, becoming legally independent and adoption.

Q: What issues will I encounter when fostering a child?
A child's troubled background usually manifests itself in a variety of ways. Foster and adoptive parents should be prepared to deal with behaviors like bed-wetting, lying, and rebellion. With time, you will see these behaviors change and receive the joy of knowing that you helped change the course of that child's life and all who they will touch.

Q: Is it possible to adopt a foster child?
Often, adoption is an option for foster parents. In fact, about one-fourth of the children placed in foster care are later adopted by their foster parents. Once the decision is made to adopt, ISI will guide you on the process of adoption.

Q: How long before a foster child can be available for adoption?
There is no one answer to this question. Each child’s case is different. Since re-unification with the biological parents is always the goal, termination of parental rights (or TPR), is decided on a case-by-case basis.