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County social services outlines how to become resource-family foster parents and support options
Summary
Lake County Social Services presented the resource-family approval (RFA) process to the Board, noting the county still lacks sufficient local placements and describing training, compensation, respite and volunteer Foster Neighbor supports available for prospective caregivers.
Lake County Social Services and the Resource Family Approval (RFA) team presented an overview of how residents can become resource-family caregivers for foster youth.
Sherry De La Torre, program manager for the RFA unit, described the application and approval process: submit paperwork, complete fingerprinting, participate in a home evaluation and family assessment, and finish required trainings (including CPR and first aid provided at no cost). Staff said approved homes receive monthly caregiver payments when youth are placed to help meet needs.
Social Services staff described gaps in local placement availability: from June 2023 to June 2024 the county averaged 71 youth in out-of-home care with an average of 49 placed inside Lake County; staff said more local placements could reduce out-of-county placements and ease disruptions for youth working on family reunification.
Presenters described respite care options for primary resource caregivers and a volunteer-based Foster Neighbor program in which volunteers provide supportive services such as one meal per month to resource families if they choose not to become approved homes.
The board did not take formal action; staff provided contact information and said the RFA application is available online via the county's foster-care web resources.
