Shelter, Inc.

Who are the children served by Shelter, Inc.?

Shelter, Inc. provides emergency and longer-term care to children from birth through age 17 who are abused, neglected, dependent or in need of supervision.

Who refers children to Shelter, Inc.?

Anyone can refer children to Shelter, Inc., including:

• Social service agencies
• School or medical professionals
• Police departments
• Parents
• Clergy
• Concerned citizens
• Adolescents (self-referrals)

How can we help?

Shelter, Inc. needs foster families to provide emergency and longer-term traditional foster care to children.  By sharing your home, you can provide a safe and welcoming environment and emotional support to a child whose parents are unable to do so due to illness, family crisis, financial inability to provide necessities or natural disasters.

How do I become a Foster Parent?

Shelter, Inc's Licensing Specialist can be reached at 847.590.6190 x 35.  They will gladly assist you by answering any questions you have and providing you with the initial application.  Once the application is completed and returned, the Licensing Specialist will schedule an orientation meeting to further discuss Shelter, Inc's programs and expectations of both your family and Shelter, Inc.

At the conclusion of the orientation meeting, potential foster parents will be referred to Foster Pride Training classes and the Licening Specialist will coordinate a home study.

What is a home study?

A home study is a series of visits between the Shelter, Inc. Licensing Specialist and the members of your family. Through this process, everyone is able to become better acquainted and can mutually decide if your family is able to meet the needs of a child requiring foster care.  A home study is a requirement of becoming a licensed 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 a foster family, do we have to accept a child?

The family is called in advance with detailed information about the child in need of placement. This information will assist the family to determine if they can meet the needs of that specific child. 

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 be reimbursed for expenses?

Shelter, Inc. will issue a monthly check that will cover the room and board expenses of the child that has been placed in your care. 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 that may be incurred.

What are the basic requirements for being a licensed foster parent?

Potential foster parent/family guidelines:

• The applicant may be a single adult.  If married, each parent must be willing and able to assume appropriate responsiblities for the child(ren) and the couple must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
• Applicants must be stable, law abiding, responsible, mature individuals of at least 21 years of age.
• Applicants must have sufficient financial resources to provide basic necessities for themselves, their own children and Shelter, Inc.'s foster child(ren).
• Applicants must authorize criminal background checks and submit to fingerprinting.
• Applicants must complete Foster Pride Training classes and a home study.
• A medical examination for each member of the foster home must be completed prior to final licensing.

Foster home guidelines:

• The home must be clean, well ventilated, free from observable hazards, properly lit 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 bed or crib.
• Children over six years of age cannot share a room with persons of the opposite sex.