Our foster parents are trained

to suit a variety of children in care.

Seraaj Family Homes, Inc. has a vision

of stability, safety, and permanency

for all children.

Providing Therapeutic

Foster Care Since 1983

Foster Parents are always needed in Alabama, Washington D.C. and Maryland. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact your local office.

CONTACT LOCAL OFFICE

Become a Foster Parent.

Have you ever wanted to be part of something greater than yourself?

Each community is responsible for the protection and care of its children. When a child’s family is not able to care for him or her, then family foster care is needed as a service to both child and their family. Foster care is a temporary service that is used in conjunction with other services to facilitate family reunification and permanency.

Potential foster families are found within communities that value their children. Seraaj Family Homes, Inc. recruits, trains, licenses and provide pertinent supports to foster families. Becoming a Foster Parent is a big decision, one of our trained staff members will be able to guide you. For more information, please complete our Foster Parent Inquiry Form by clicking here or contact your local Seraaj office by clicking here for location information.

Characteristics of Foster Parents

Seraaj Family Homes, Inc. foster care parents exhibit the following characteristics:

Dependability, consistently being on time, available when needed and responsible for carrying out tasks.
A pleasant mood, sense of humor and positive outlook.
Good judgment and common sense.
Sensitivity, consideration and warmth.
Emotional stability and control.
Flexibility, adaptability and resourcefulness.
Skills to assist children in developing basic or independent living skills.
Household management skills.
Able to provide a safe nurturing environment.
The ability to manage medical care routines effectively.
The ability to manage challenging behaviors in children.

Therapeutic Foster Care Needs You

You can be trained to become a Seraaj Family Homes, Inc. foster parent if you:

Are single or married and can provide a safe a nurturing environment.
Are at least 25 years of age in Alabama and 21 years of age in Washington D.C. and Maryland.
Are willing to work as a member of a professional treatment team
Pass a physical examination, drug test and a criminal background checks.
Pass a home approval process
Complete the required training sessions

Frequently Asked Questions.

Foster care is a temporary service that is used in conjunction with other services to facilitate family reunification and permanency. Seraaj Family Homes, Inc. specializes in Therapeutic Foster Care, which is designed to serve emotionally challenged children in family style settings.

Why are Therapeutic Foster Parents Needed?

Therapeutic foster care is needed for children who have special needs that can not be met through less restrictive foster care resources. Therapeutic foster parents are needed to serve as members of a multidisciplinary team which is responsible for ensuring that children:

Are nurtured and safe
Overcome developmental delays and needs
Are assisted with separation and loss issues
Develop an identity which helps them feel good about themselves, promotes positive relationships with their families, and respects ethnic and cultural alliances
Develop skills and ongoing relationships that lead to a successful transition into adulthood
Are prepared to be reunited with biological family, to be placed for adoption, or to live responsibly and independently.

What Type of Children Come into Foster Care?

On an average day there are over 550,000 children in foster care in the United States. They come from every background, culture, age and circumstance. They are:

brothers and sisters who need to stay together
teen mothers and their babies
medically fragile children
often diagnosed with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders
in need of love, stability, and support

What Type of Behavior Might a Child in Foster Care Exhibit?

A wide range of emotions and behaviors difficulties are displayed by children needing therapeutic foster care. Almost every child in foster care has had some type of traumatic experience that affects the way the child reacts to people and situations. The needs of each child must be assessed individually and appropriate intervention techniques developed. Most children exhibit improvements as a result of effective assessments and individualized treatment planning.

How Long does a Child Typically Remain in Foster Care?

A child’s stay in foster care depends on the needs of the child. Our goal is to facilitate a return to birth family where appropriate or to facilitate another permanency option. Some foster care placements lead to adoption. Older youth often remain in care until they are adequately prepared for independent living.

What Happens if a Child’s Placement does not Appear to be Working?

One of the most stressful events in a child’s life is moving to a new home and unfamiliar circumstances. Children being removed from their biological family suffer tremendous trauma and need a stable, consistent, supportive environment. Movement while in care is a major source of harm to children. Movements should be planned with time to prepare the child and only after the team (which includes foster parents, biological parents, social worker and other professionals) has considered all alternatives and implications. The 24 hour availability of support staff who works in conjunction with well trained foster parents minimizes the disruptions of foster care placements.

What Training and Financial Arrangements can Foster Parents Expect?

Forty (40) hours of pre-placement training is required of prospective therapeutic foster parents. The pre-placement training is a nationally recognized training program called Group Preparation and Selection, or GPS. Continuing education is a necessary component of therapeutic foster care and is offered on a regular basis. Families who, after careful screening, are approved as therapeutic foster parents can expect supportive services from Seraaj Family Homes. This included ongoing education, respite provisions, and case management/support services. Financial compensation includes incentive payment for the completion of pre-placement training and monetary difficulty of care payment. A monthly board payment is also provided to aid in the care of the child. Also, Medicaid provides medical coverage for most children in care.