RESOURCES, NEWS AND POLICY

HOT TOPICS:

STEPS TO RESOLUTIONS with county/local DSS - LEARN MORE

VIDEO: TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT CONSENT AND PORN WITH NC STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING WATCH HERE

VIDEO: Tips for keeping kids safe online WATCH HERE

NEED EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER/KINSHIP/ADOPTIVE CHILDREN? CLICK HERE

How to get started FOSTERING: LEARN MORE

To view Licensed Private Child-Placing Agencies in North Carolina - CLICK HERE

Click here for Quick Tips For Teens Behavior Webinar

Supporting the Transition into Adulthood.

This free, 1-hour online course includes candid, practical suggestions from an experienced foster parent. To help resource parents support young people at time, offered by FosteringNC.

FFA video on July 1st 2021 Medicare changes: Watch here

Will Myers, FFA NC Executive Director Gaile Osbourne, and expert Christy Street of Fostering Health NC (a program that is funded by DSS and housed at the NC Pediatric Society), recorded this impromptu video to answer YOUR questions about how the changes that occurred to Medicaid on July 1st may affect children in foster care. Some children with higher levels of care needs may move from standard plans into "tailored" plans, for example.

North Carolina State Adoption Assistance Program - Read more HERE
A BILL OF RIGHTS RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTS OF FOSTER PARENTS IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

HERE WE GO! Goals for the Foster Parents' Bill of Rights include unifying foster parents' rights across the state in all 100 Counties; having our voices heard as advocates for foster children; recognition for the work that we do on behalf of children and families in North Carolina. We are thrilled that Representative Willis has Sponsored this Bill. More than 800 foster parents had input into this Bill and it has the support of DHHS. Thank you to everyone reading this who has played a part in getting us this far!

Kinship care resources from fosteringnc.org - READ MORE HERE
CREATE A LIFEBOOK-

There are thousands of children in NC in need of a safe and loving family. Click here to learn more about becoming a foster parent in North Carolina.

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, or whose biological families are no longer able to care for them. There are many reasons why families may no longer be able to care for their children, including loss of a job, mental illness, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.

Foster families provide these children with a safe and loving home for a temporary period of time.

Eligibility:

To become a foster parent in North Carolina, you must:

Be at least 21 years old
Have a stable home and income
Maintain a drug free environment
Be willing to be finger printed and have a criminal records check
Complete all required training and be licensed by the state of North Carolina

If you or anyone you know is currently facing decisions in regard to guardianship vs. adoption and need support please contact us.

DSS CONCERN?

To find out best practices to handle concerns you may have with DSS, click HERE.

KNOW YOUR REGION

Find Your Private Facebook Group By Region:

Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 Region 7 Dad’s Group

POSITION STATEMENT

Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina does not view guardianship as being a permanent solution for kids in foster care. Guardianship does not give the child permanency as the birth parents still have rights and can overturn the decision. All cases should be completed for a final decision that is in the best interest of the child/ren. There are a few instances where guardianship would be acceptable. One instance would be if parents’ rights have been terminated and the child/ren are over 14 years old and have made the decision that they do not want to be adopted. In this case, guardianship will help provide stability to the youth, which is our goal as foster parents. Another instance would be child/ren in kinship care. In these cases, there are specific family issues that should be considered when making the decision as well as the facts provided above.

ADOPTION

Permanently relinquishes the rights and responsibilities of biological parents including financial or any say in the care of the child/ren.
Foster or kinship parent assumes all rights and responsibilities of caring for the child/ren.
Birth parents are not given visitation rights, legally. This is now the decision of the adoptive parent/s.
Adoption is permanent and cannot be overturned by the birth parents.
Post Adoption Support and Resources

KINSHIP FOSTER CARE

WHAT IS KINSHIP FOSTER CARE? When a child/youth in North Carolina comes into foster care, whenever possible, they will be temporarily placed with a relative or kin. We refer to this type of placement as kinship foster care. In North Carolina, kin can be related to the child/youth by birth or can have demonstrated a “family-like” relationship with the child/youth, such as a close friend of the family or the child/youth’s foster parent. Kinship caregivers are the preferred resource for a child/youth who must be removed from their home because this placement maintains the child/youth’s connections with their families.

See more here

WHAT IS KINGAP?

The Kinship Foster Care and Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) offers financial assistance and Medicaid for youth who are determined to be in a permanent family setting and unlikely to obtain permanency through reunification or adoption. Licensed kinship caregivers and licensed foster families willing to provide a permanent home for the youth in their care may be eligible for KinGAP. See basic eligibility requirements for more information.

See more here

WHAT IS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM (GAL)?

A guardian ad litem (GAL) is a court-appointed volunteer who is responsible for protecting and promoting the best interests of the child. Guardians ad litem meet with the children and parents outside of court to learn more about the children’s needs and living situation. Guardians ad litem appear in court on the court dates to share information about the children and make recommendations about the children’s needs and best interests with the judge. A GAL will be appointed for all petitions claiming abuse or neglect, and the judge may also choose to appoint a GAL for petitions claiming only dependency. When the GAL is not an attorney, and most guardian ad litem volunteers are not, a guardian ad litem attorney advocate will be appointed with the guardian ad litem to protect the child’s legal rights. You can read more about the GAL program here.