What is foster care?

• Care from a temporary, supplemental family for the child.
• For children who must be separated from their birth or legal families for a planned period of time.

Who are the children in need of foster care?

• They usually come from families with problems.
• They may have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
• They may be brothers and sisters who need to stay together.
• They may be teenagers who need a safe place to live.
• They may have health or behavioral problems and need a family to help them grow and learn.

How do I qualify to become a Tabor foster parent?

• You must be 21 or older.
• You and everyone in your family age 18 and older must have a police and a child abuse clearance.
• You attend foster parent training.
• A foster care social worker from Tabor Children’s Services will complete your home study.

What do foster parents do?

• Parent a child 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Provide for the physical, social and emotional needs of a child.
• Work as part of a team with the Tabor social worker and others on behalf of the child and the child’s birth family.
• Actively participate in any health, educational or therapeutic services needed by the child.
• Support the child’s relationship with the child’s birth family.

What Tabor provides:

• A social worker who works with the foster child, birth family and you.
• Training and social activities.
• A monthly stipend, based on the needs of the child, to cover items such as clothing, transportation and an allowance.
• Medical Assistance card for most children.

How do I start the process?

• Call Tabor Children’s Services, toll-free: 1-800-220-3449, extension 350.
• Just tell us you are interested in learning more about the joys, rewards and challenges of foster parenting.
• Or print, complete and mail us this simple form.