In Arizona, over 9,000 youth and teens depend on caring families within their community to provide them with safety, support, and a sense of belonging. Many of those children are waiting for a family and home like yours!

At Clarvida, we understand how complex and overwhelming the foster care system can feel not only in the beginning but throughout your journey. As leaders in the foster care community, we’re here to help guide you from your first step of gathering information and exploring if fostering is right for you to your first steps in the licensing process and beyond.

Understanding foster care need in Arizona

There is a great need for foster families across America, according to Arizona’s Department of child services website:

“In Arizona, There are close to 14,000 Arizona children in foster care, but there are only about 3,000 licensed foster families. There are nearly 5 children in care for every licensed foster family.

Children enter the foster care system for various reasons at all ages but 80% of cases are due to children experiencing neglect. Currently it is estimated that for more than 70 % of the children coming into care, their parent’s drug use is a factor.

Foster care is intended to be temporary placement with the length of time varying on parents or relatives ability to eliminate safety concerns and decrease risk. Over half of children enter foster care with a plan to reunify with their parents or live with relatives. If their parents or relatives are not able to provide a safe home for their child(ren) then DCS works to find an adoptive family for the children with relatives, foster families, or others that they have significant relationships with.”

Getting Started with Licensing

Becoming a foster parent requires you to successfully complete the licensing process which could take anywhere between 3 and 9 months depending on your ability to complete a series of steps, including background checks, documentation, home studies, and training sessions. The process is designed to ensure children are placed in safe and nurturing homes.

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) oversees the process and utilizes a wide network of supportive agencies like Clarvida. As a licensed foster care agency, we’re here to make every step of the licensing process more manageable and rewarding on your journey to become a foster parent.

Here are a few general steps to expect:

• Orientation: Many agencies, including Clarvida, offer these sessions as a way for you to learn more about what fostering involves, ask questions, and hear from experienced foster parents. This orientation will help you decide if fostering is the right path for your family and provide a clear overview of the process.
• Application & Background Checks: After orientation, you’ll complete an application detailing your background, living situation, physical health, financials, and motivations for fostering. Arizona law requires foster parents to undergo background checks and a level 1 fingerprint clearance card for each adult in the household.
• Training: You’ll participate in pre-service training offered through the foster care academy, where you’ll learn how to support children in your care. Topics typically include understanding childhood trauma, behavioral management, and supporting children through transitions.

  Our team at Clarvida provides ongoing support and training opportunities even after the licensing process is complete.

• Home Study: A licensing specialist visits your home to ensure it meets Arizona’s life safety rules. During this visit, they’ll assess the safety and setup of your home, talk with your family members, and discuss your motivations and readiness to foster. The home study also includes interviews with each family member to ensure a nurturing, stable environment.

  If you are licensing through Clarvida, we’ll help you understand each requirement, from childproofing your home to gathering necessary documents.

Once your home study is approved, you’ll receive your foster care license which allows you to welcome children into your home. From here, you will be assigned an ongoing licensing specialist who, with our foster care team, will work with you to find a child whose needs align with your family’s strengths and to provide the support you need as you settle into fostering.

Becoming licensed through Clarvida is the beginning of a meaningful relationship. Our licensing specialist provides in-home support that is not limited to a monthly home visit to check in on you, your family, and the children. They support you by attending all child family team meetings and IEP meetings. Many of our providers and licensing specialists have been working together to provide care for children in need for several years. Our foster program prioritizes providing our families with resources and support.

Choosing to be a foster parent is a generous and impactful decision that creates a positive ripple in a child’s life. There will be challenges along the way, but remember that you have a whole community here to support you. Take things one step at a time, lean on the resources available, and reach out when you need help. We’re here for you, every step of the way.