Children come into the custody of the Lake County Department of Job & Family Services due to a crisis which resulted in the child being a victim of abuse, neglect or dependency.  If the child cannot be placed safely with a relative, the Lake County Department of Job & Family Services is responsible for providing a safe environment for that child.  

It is the philosophy of the Department that children grow better in families therefore the primary goal is to find foster care providers who are willing to provide temporary care to children while their families are in crisis.  Foster parents provide care until reunification with a family member can occur.  

If reunification is unable to occur, children would become eligible for adoption and either remain with their foster parents who make a permanent commitment to care for the child or an adoptive home is secured.

The Lake County Department of Job & Family Services provides support to their foster parents by providing the following services:

• Personal support from an assigned substitute care social worker
• Ongoing training and conference attendance
• Foster Parent Association of Lake County
• Respite care
• Daily per diem rate to reimburse for the cost of providing care
• Medical, dental and vision care for children
• Transportation reimbursement (on a limited basis)
• Foster Parent Handbook
• Newsletter

Foster parents: Who are they and how can I become one?

Foster parents are caring people who have opened their hearts and homes to the children of Lake County.  These children are in need of temporary care after having been removed from their parent’s custody.  Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They must be at least 18 years of age.
• They may be a married couple, single person or coparents.
• At least one foster parent must be able to read, write and speak English to effectively communicate with any child placed in their home.
• They shall have an income sufficient to meet the basic needs of their household.
• All members of a foster caregiver’s home shall be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition which would endanger a child or seriously impair the ability to care for a child.
• They shall submit to a criminal background check with fingerprints through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• They shall not operate their home as an adult boarding house nor shall they provide child care in their home without the Department’s consent.
• The home shall have a safety audit from Lake County Department of Job and Family Services and a fire inspection through their community fire department.
• They must agree to abide by the discipline policy of the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services.
• They must have sufficient room to provide care for foster children without displacing any family member.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent call 440-350-4218 or email Eugene.Tetrick.jfs.ohio.gov.