Become a resource family to foster a child

Help us keep our kids in Yolo County by becoming a Resource Family for local Yolo County Foster Youth

Why you should become a resource family?

Yolo kids need you

Yolo is a culturally diverse community and Yolo County Child Welfare values recruiting caregivers with diverse backgrounds.

You’ll be supported

Yolo County Child Welfare Services and your RFA team is ready to guide and answer all your questions along the way.

Rewarding

When you become a foster parent, you are providing a safe and stable home for a child or non-minor dependent in foster care. Remaining in Yolo County allows a child or non-minor dependent to maintain connections while building positive new ones.

FAQs

What is Resource Family Approval (RFA)?

There is ONE standard of approval for relatives and non-relatives, extended family members, foster or adoptive parents to care for a child or young adult in foster care.

What is a resource family?

• Any individual, couple, or family who wants to provide foster care or adoption to a related or unrelated child who is under the care of Yolo County HHSA.

• A family that has successfully met the RFA requirements.

What are the requirements?

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Attend RFA Overview held at Yolo County one time a month
  • Complete an on-line application and required forms
  • Attend an orientation through FKCE and 12 hours of no-cost pre-approval training
  • Complete a criminal record check/Live Scan and DMV check
  • Participate in a home environment check & psycho-social assessment completed by a social worker
  • Complete CPR/First Aid (can be available at no-cost)

Is there support available?

You are part of our team and we will be there to support you. The RFA assigned social worker will work beside you to help with the approval process and to be there to support you. The child you care for will receive medical and dental coverage. Further, you will receive monthly financial reimbursement (approximately 45 days from the date of placement) for as long as the child(ren) reside in your home. If a child has special mental health and/or medical needs, increased foster care payments are available only after an LOC (Level of Care) assessment is completed by the assigned case carrying social worker. Extended Foster Care is available up to age 21, if a young adult who was in foster care meets the qualifications.

Providing Permanency to a child

We are in the greatest need of Resource Parents, that is, parents who can provide foster care and help birth parents reunite, but if the children cannot safely return to their family, Resource Parents can provide permanency for the children.

How do I know what type of family I should be?

The process of becoming a Resource Parent is specifically designed to help you discover what is right for you and your family. Our classes and family assessments are conducted by friendly, experienced social workers that will work with you in determining the types of children you can best parent.

Who can become a resource parent?

Becoming a resource parent requires flexibility, a willingness to grow and learn – but most of all a commitment to provide a safe, stable, nurturing, and loving home for a child.Yolo County welcomes foster and adoptive parents from all backgrounds! Resource families can:

  • Be single, married, divorced, or living with a partner
  • Live in an apartment, house, and either rent or own
  • Be any race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or culture
  • Be working parents, with appropriate child care

There is no minimum income as long as you can support yourself and provide a safe home for yourself and a child. What’s more, the RFA process is free with the exception of CPR/First Aid. Your RFA social worker can help you identify free or low-cost options

How many children can I have in my home?

Yolo County will assess capacity based on family composition and the home environment.

How it Works Resource Family Approval

The RFA process is designed to help you discover whether fostering or adoption is right for you. If you are looking to become a foster parent, adopt, or take guardianship of a child in your care, there are six steps to take to become a Resource Family:

Complete the application: 

  • Create an account with Binti and complete online.

Attend an Orientation: 

  • The orientation is an informal meeting for you to learn about the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process, ask any important questions and decide whether you are ready to become a resource family.

Complete background checks 

  • After submitting your application, you will receive a call to come in to fingerprints, called a Live Scan.

Attend Pre-Approval   

  •  Prospective Resource Families are required to attend 12 hours of pre-approval .  The RFA training program will provide you with valuable information about the foster care system, the needs of children, and what means to be a Resource Family.

Have a social worker complete the Home Environment Assessment

  • An RFA Social Worker will schedule a time to meet with you and your family in your home to assess your home’s safety.  They will make sure your home passes a basic health and safety inspection and provides a suitable environment for child in the foster care system.

Complete a Family Evaluation, which determines your readiness to be a resource family 

  • A RFA Social Worker will schedule an appointment with you and your family to begin the Family Evaluation process. This assessment will assist in determining your readiness to provide a safe and stable home environment for children who cannot safe live with their own families.  The purpose of this assessments is to discuss your family’s personal history, interest and lifestyles, childcare experiences, the types of children you feel would best fit in your home, and your strengths and skills in meeting the children’s needs. Also, you and the RFA Social Worker will make a decision about the number of children, ages, and child behaviors you feel you are prepared to accept into your family and home.

You will then receive a Resource Family certificate of approval. Soon after, you will be contacted by our social workers to discuss the placement of a child or children who match your preferences.

Ready to get started? Start your online application now.