Foster Care Resources
Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent
Iowa KidsNet is responsible for the recruitment, training, licensing and support to current and potential foster and adoptive families. They partner with various agencies, the Department of Human Services and families to achieve the best possible outcomes for children. To become an approved foster and/or adoptive families, the prospective parent(s) will be asked to attend an orientation, attend PS-MAPP training and complete a homestudy. To become a foster/adoptive parent, contact Iowa KidsNet at
800-243-0756 or visit their website www.iowakidsnet.com.
View Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Parenting & Adoption
Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS)
DHS is responsible for approving families to become foster and adoptive families. They are also responsible for the selection of approved families for placement of Iowa's foster and adoptive children. IFAPA has created links to a variety of DHS publications and forms for Iowa's foster parents.
Iowa Department of Human Services - Foster Parent Handbook
Iowa Map of DHS Service Area Breakdown NEW!
DHS Check Payment Codes
Foster Parent Evaluation & Training Plan (470-3341) NEW!
Foster Parent Training Report (470-2540)
Foster Parent Training Application (470-2541)
Foster Parent Training History (470-2080)
Foster Family Placement Contract (470-0716)
Foster Care Clothing Allowance Form (470-1952)
Medical Transportation Claim Form(470-0386)
Foster Child Medication History Form
Medication Management Booklet
Physical Record Form(470-0580)
Family Case Plan (470-3453)
Report of Suspected Child Abuse Form(470-0665)
Instructions for Foster Child Behavioral Assessment
Foster Child Behavioral Assessment (470-4401)
Instructions for the Agreement and Consent for School Activities
Agreement and Consent for School Activities (470-4538)
Info Regarding Foster Children Driving
Vehicle & Home Insurance & Liability
Resource Family Tip Sheet on Workers and Their Roles
Foster Care Respite Information Sheet NEW!
New DHS Foster Parent Rules NEW!
Guide for Mandatory Reporters (*updated July 1, 2010*) NEW!
***Effective July 1, 2010 a new category "Allows Access to Obscene Material" has been added to the child abuse law. This type of abuse is defined as a caretaker knowingly allowing a child access to obscene material, exhibiting obscene material to a child, or disseminating obscene material to a child, as defined in Iowa Code Section 728.1.***
DHS Foster Family Care Daily Rates
The following chart is a payment schedule of possible monthly payments including basic maintenance and difficulty-of-care Levels 1, 2 & 3. A basic maintenance payment is the daily reimbursement paid to foster parents for providing basic family foster care. The basic rate is intended to reimburse the foster family for food, clothing, shelter, school expenses, grooming, ordinary transportation, recreation, and transportation appropriates for the child's age. Beginning July 1, 2010, families will receive a 1.31% increase in foster care payments. See new rates below.
| Foster Parent Daily Rates (effective July 1, 2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Child | Basic Daily Rate |
Basic + Level 1 ($4.81) |
Basic + Level 2 ($9.62) |
Basic + Level 3 ($14.44) |
| 0-5 years | $15.74 | $20.55 | $25.36 | $30.18 |
| 6-11 years | $16.37 | $21.18 | $25.99 | $30.81 |
| 12-15 years | $17.92 | $22.73 | $27.54 | $32.36 |
| 16-20 years | $18.16 | $22.97 | $27.78 | $32.60 |
DHS Foster Care Maintenance & Adoption Subsidy Payment Schedule NEW!
(July 2010 - July 2011 payment schedule)
DHS Practice Bulletins
Fostering Connections for Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
Permanency for Children: Achieving & Maintaining Adoptions
Permanency for Children: Another Planned Living Arrangment (APPLA)
State and Federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Returning Children Home Safely & Permanently (Reunification)
Permanency for Children Introduction
Concurrent Planning
Safe Case Closure
Case Planning in Child Welfare
Comprehensive Functional Family Assessment
Maltreated Infants and Toddlers in Child Welfare (Early Access)
Father Engagement
Social Worker Training
Education Success for Children in Children Welfare
Improving Health Care for Children in Foster Care
Children in Child Welfare: Mental and Behavioral Health
Repeat Maltreatment
Safety & Risk of Harm
Worker's Role: Visits with Children
Relative Search & Placement
Close to Home
Involving Fathers
Model of Practice
Chronic Neglect
Accepting a Foster Placement
Pre-Placement Questionnaire for Foster Parents
Transitioning a Child into Your Home
Foster Care Youth Rights & Responsibilities
Top 10 Things Foster Parents Can Do to Help Transition a Foster Child into Your Home
Checklist of Things to Discuss When a Foster Child Enters Your Home
Creating a Welcome Book
Questions Kids Want Answers for When Entering Foster Care
Resource Family Profile Form (Family Introduction Form)
All About Me Form (Foster Child Introduction Form)
Celebrate Me Form (All About the Foster Child)
Court Hearings
Foster Parents and the Courts booklet
Iowa Handbook on Juvenile Courts for Parents
Participating in Juvenile Court Hearings - Iowa Foster Parent Handbook
What Do Judges Want? article - by Judge Constance Cohen, 5th District
CIP Child Court Report Form
CIP Foster Parent Court Report Form
Iowa Children's Justice - Newsletters
Support for Foster Parents
IFAPA Peer Liaisons
IFAPA Resource Information Specialists
IFAPA Listserv
Foster & Adoptive Therapists
Support Groups
F.A.I.R. - Foster Allegation Information Resource
Iowa KidsNet Support Workers
Support for Foster Youth
Iowa Friends of Foster Children Foundation
For a list of other resources to support foster and adoptive youth, check out our webpage Support for Youth.
Crisis / Referral Help Phone Numbers
Important Phone Numbers for Foster Families Form
Local Crisis / Referral Help Phone Numbers
Iowa Crisis / Referral Help Phone Numbers
National Crisis / Referral Help Phone Numbers
Insurance
Preparing Your Taxes
Federal Tax Benefits for Foster & Adoption Parents and Kinship Caregivers (2009 Return)
(If you have additional tax questions, please contact your tax advisor.)
Publications
IFAPA Lifebook Pages
IFAPA Newsletters
IFAPA Publications
Education
Education of Foster Children in Iowa
Adoption Basics for Educators-How Adoption Impacts Children & How Educators Can Help
Legal Center for Foster Care & Education Publications
Transitioning Youth to Adulthood
For a list of resources to assist youth aging out of the foster care system, check out our webpage Transitioning Youth to Adulthood.
National Foster Care Links
National Foster Parent Association - www.nfpainc.org
Casey Family Programs - www.casey.org
Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster Care Now - www.kidsarewaiting.org
National Foster Care Month (May) -
www.fostercaremonth.org
Annie E. Casey Foundation -
www.aecf.org
Child Welfare League of America - www.cwla.org
National CASA Association -
www.nationalcasa.org
