What do I do when I receive a new placement?

1. Healthcare Appointments: Schedule appointments with a pediatrician, dentist, and a mental health professional. Our resources page has a link to the Medicaid website where you can find a list of providers to help you get started.

2. School Enrollment: Enroll the child in school or preschool, depending on their age. You can find helpful links for Richland area schools on our resources page.

3. Create a Journal: Keep a journal to track important educational and health milestones. This will be a helpful record for everyone involved.

What do I do if I have an issue with a provider or DSS employee?

1. Document everything first. Before you contact anyone, create a clear timeline of events. Keep track of what happened, who was involved, and when and where it all occurred.

2. Try one more time. Reach out to the individual involved to see if you can resolve the issue directly.

3. Contact a supervisor. If you can't resolve the issue, contact their supervisor. Share your detailed timeline and be sure to make a specific, clear request for a resolution they can actually provide.

How many training hours do I need to maintain my foster parent license?

To maintain your foster home license, each foster parent needs to complete 28 hours of training over a two-year period, ideally 14 hours each year. This training must be finished before your license renewal date.