WHAT IS FOSTER PARENTING????
THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is Alpha Treatment Centers?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers is a specialized foster care treatment Agency dedicated to the care and well being of foster children.

Q: How does it work? What is foster parenting?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers trains and certifies qualified families and/or individuals to care for foster children. These foster children have been removed from their natural parents and placed into a foster home for care until the courts feel they can be safely reunified with their natural parents, adopted, or become of legal age to leave the foster care system.

Q: What are the qualifications to become a foster parent/foster home?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers requires our foster parents to be 25 years old or older. Sometimes an exception can be made of the age requirement if one of the parents is over 25 and one is near 25. We prefer our foster parents to have some experience working with children, but this is not entirely necessary. This experience can include working with family members, day care facilities, group homes, and/or prior foster care experience.

Q: What kind of training will be necessary?

Q: How long will it take to complete the certification process?

A: The time it will take to process a home for certification will depend on how quickly the foster home processes their fingerprinting and paperwork. It usually takes about 8 weeks to certify a foster home as long as all classes and paperwork are completed in a timely manner.

Q: Can I use my training from another agency, college or county foster care program?

A: Because ATC is a “Specialized Foster Care Treatment Agency,” we are required to provide our own training. However, any training that you may have had before may be useful in our program. We will also provide training throughout each year to keep our foster parents informed of any new rules and regulations that may arise.

Q: Will there be any additional training needed?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers require all foster parents to complete first aid and CPR training before they can become certified. They can receive this training through Alpha Treatment Centers or through a private agency (Alpha Treatment Centers will reimburse up to $30.00 if done elsewhere). Homes with a pool, spa, or bodies of water will need water safety prior to certification. If there is no pool, a water safety course will need to be completed within 12 months of certification. This will be further explained during the training.

Q: Are there financial requirements?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers does not require our foster parents be rich. However, we do require our foster parents to have sufficient income to support the household without the monies that will be received for taking care of foster children. Our foster parents may not be eligible for the program if they are receiving AFDC, Section 8 housing, unemployment benefits, food stamps, or disability for any stress related problems. Those on disability or SSI will need to speak with their eligibility worker to see if they qualify to be a foster parent. The monies that would be received might have an affect on their benefits.

Q: What type of home do I need?

A: Foster parents can have a home, apartment, condo, or mobile home. They don’t need to own their own home, but if they rent, it is recommended that they let their landlord know that they plan on having foster children in the home. Homeowners/renters insurance is recommended for our foster homes. It is important that there is sufficient space to provide a child adequate bedroom space and a stable environment in which to thrive. There is a limit of two children per bedroom.

Q: Automobile/license/insurance?

A: Foster parents must have automobiles in good working condition (a vehicle inspection will be required). Foster parents are the primary mode of transportation for foster children, just as they are for their children. Autos must have enough seats and seatbelts to fit EVERYONE in the family at one time. This includes foster children placed in the home.

Q: How does Alpha Treatment Centers get the children it places?

A: Alpha Treatment Centers receives children for placement from various public agencies including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, and the Riverside County Department of Social Services.

Q: Is there financial compensation for being a foster parent?

A: Yes. As a foster parent, you will receive a check each month for each foster child that is in your home. The reimbursement rate will range from $624.00 to $790.00 per month, per child. Part of this money goes to the foster child for their needs, and the other part goes to the foster parents for their services.

Q: Who pays for daycare/supervision?

A: As the foster parent, you will be required to pay for any necessary daycare/supervision for foster children placed in your home just as you would be for your own children.

Q: Who pays for medical/dental for the foster children?

A: Each foster child will be eligible for medical and dental coverage through the State of California. Each placement county will be responsible for providing temporary insurance cards at time of placement to cover any medical and dental needs that may arise while the children are in placement.

Q: How long do the children stay in placement?

A: Each child’s case will be independent and unique. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the exact length of time that a child will be in the foster home. The average stay for a Foster Family Agency Home in the state of California in the year 2002 was approximately 605 days.

Q: What if the placement does not work out for some reason?

A: As an agency that has been in the foster care business for over 16 years, we have seen the vast majority of our first-time placements work. Certified foster parents have support from agency personnel, including, but not limited to social workers foster home coordinators, and social services directors. If after every effort has been tried to help the placement work, our Alpha Treatment Centers social workers will work on finding the child a suitable new home. Alpha Treatment Centers requires a 14-day notice from the certified foster parents for moving a child (except under extreme circumstances). Each move is treated individually, as is each child.

Q. What if I have a question that is not on this list?

A. You can e-mail our recruiter at or call 800-663-7171