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1616 N.
Arlington Heights Road |
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For emergency housing for children and adolescents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, please call: 847.255.8060
Our MissionHelping and protecting children who are abused, neglected, dependent or in need of supervision. We do this by:
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 | Social service agencies |
| School or medical staff |
| Police departments |
| Parents |
| Clergy |
| Concerned citizens |
| Adolescents (self-referrals) |
How can we help?
Shelter needs foster families to provide emergency and traditional foster care to children. By sharing your home, you can provide care when parents are unable to do so because of illness, family stress, financial inability or natural disaster.
How do we become foster parents?
Call 847.590.6190, ext. 35, for information. Shelter's licensing specialist will mail you an application. After this application is completed and returned, the licensing specialist meets with potential foster parents during an orientation session to discuss Shelter’s programs, what the agency expects of them, and what the family can expect of the agency.
At the conclusion of the orientation meeting, foster parents will be referred to Foster Pride Training classes. Following this, the licensing specialist will do a home study.
Upon completion of the home study, Shelter recommends the home for licensing. A foster home license is valid for a period of four years.
What is a home study?
A home study is a series of visits between the Shelter licensing specialist and the members of your family to become better acquainted and to mutually decide whether you and your family can meet the needs of a child requiring foster care. A home study is a requirement of becoming licensed as a foster family.
What if we decide that foster parenting isn’t for us?
Foster family applicants may withdraw their application from consideration at any time.
Once we become foster parents, do we have to accept a child?
The family is called in advance with information about the child and why the child needs foster care. This information will help the family to determine if they can meet the needs of the child.
For how long will a child be placed in our home?
The length of stay in your home depends upon the needs of the child.
How will we be reimbursed for expenses?
Shelter will issue a monthly check that will cover the room and board expenses of the child. This monthly amount will vary depending on the age(s) of the child(ren). Medicaid cards will be issued to eligible children to cover medical and prescription expenses.
What are the general requirements for being licensed as foster parents?
Following are just some of the general guidelines for interested families:
For potential foster families:
| The applicants must be either a man and a woman married to each other for at least two years or a single adult. Each parent must be willing and able to assume appropriate responsibilities for the child or children received for care. |
| Applicants must be stable, law abiding, responsible, mature individuals at least 21 years of age. |
| The family must have sufficient financial resources to provide basic necessities for themselves, their own children and Shelter’s foster child(ren). |
| Applicants must authorize criminal background checks and submit to fingerprinting. |
| Applicants must complete Foster Pride Training classes. |
| A medical examination for each member of the household must be completed prior to final licensure. |
For potential foster homes:
| The home must be clean, well ventilated, free from observable hazards, properly lighted and heated, and free of fire hazards. |
| The water supply for the home must comply with the requirements of the local and state health departments. |
| The home must have an operating telephone on the premises, or there must be unrestricted access to a telephone. |
| Each child must be provided with his or her own separate bed or crib. |
| Children over six years of age cannot share a room with persons of the opposite sex. |
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© 2001-2008 Shelter, Inc. All rights reserved. |
