FOSTER PARENT TRAINING

We are so grateful that you’ve expressed an interest in becoming a foster/adoptive parent. We are even more excited that you’re considering allowing New Horizons to help you through that process!

As you seek to make this commitment to kids and families (and ultimately to become part of the New Horizons family), we believe it’s important that you understand who we are and our philosophy towards children and families.

New Horizons' motto is “Keeping Kids First!” This is not just a saying or a tag line for our brochures. It’s a philosophy we are deeply committed to living out in every facet of our programs and services.

We want to ensure that we are always, to the best of our ability, doing what’s best for kids in our care.

As a future partner with us, it’s important that you are prepared to embrace this philosophy when working with kids and families. Sounds easy, right? It’s NOT!

Sometimes, doing what’s best for kids is challenging. We must plan creatively and commit to trying new things which may force us out of our comfort zone.

We must work as a team with other professionals both internally and externally to completely understand perspectives and identify the real problem(s).

And perhaps most notably, it forces us to examine our own motivations and asks us to set aside our personal desires to consider what’s best for the child.

If you are ready to accept this challenge and walk alongside us in the journey, we welcome you into the midst of one of the most challenging paths you will ever take. But it is one that inevitably comes with much joy as you realize the impact you can have on your community and the precious lives of kids who so desperately need you!

Welcome to New Horizons!

Document Copies Needed

• Birth certificates - all household members
• Social security cards - anyone under 14 not already submitted
• Highest level of education achieved - caregivers only
• Marriage license/divorce decrees
• Current vehicle insurance - all vehicles owned or leased
• Current pet vaccinations
• Photo of whole family  - can be a selfie
• Photos of front and back of home
• TB Test for all household members age 1 and up

Forms - These forms will download automatically

• Health Status Form - Foster/Adoptive Parent - last page must be signed by physician
• Health Status Form - Children in the home
• New Horizons Disaster Plan
• Family Profile - Parents' Background - one for each caregiver
• Household Profile - one per household – to be completed by caregivers
• Youth’s view of the home - to be completed by youth, one for each youth age 12-17
• Child’s View of the home  - to be completed by each child age 3-12
• Children’s Profile  - to be completed by caregivers for each child 0-17 living in the home
• Other Adult’s profile  - to be completed by any other individual residing in the home age 18+
• Income/Expense Form - one per household
• Floor Plan - one per household – must include dimensions for each room
• Appeals Process Policy

During this time – New Horizons will also bring you the following forms for review/completion:

• Initial Home Tour
• Firearms Check
• Appeals Process Policy
• Family Violence Disclosure
• Environmental Health Inspection
• Fire Inspection

Licensed foster to adopt parents will complete approximately 45 hours of preservice training through a combination of in-person trainings, online training and self-instructional trainings.

In-person training is typically done on a Friday/Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm each day. Please see the training calendar to find the next set of classes near you. You will also complete the PRIDE Training Class as a 1 day Saturday session. There are 8 online/self-instructional trainings required for families:

• DFPS Trauma Informed Care (link)
• DFPS Medical Consent (link)
• DFPS Psychotropic Medication (link)
• DFPS Reporting Abuse and Neglect (link)
• Preventing Communicable Disease (video)
• Preventing Communicable Disease Quiz (download)
• Transracial Parenting (download)
• Transracial Parenting Quiz (download)
• Caring for LGBTQ Youth (download)
• Caring for LGBTQ Youth Quiz (download)
• Disaster Drill (download)
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Sexual Abuse (link)

*DFPS = Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

All caregivers must obtain or possess a current Adult/Infant/CPR Certification. New Horizons offers CPR classes or you are free to pursue this class on your own.

Licensed foster parents will complete approximately 35-40 hours of preservice training through a combination of in-person trainings, online training, and self-instructional trainings.

In-person training is typically done on a Friday/Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm each day. Please see the training calendar to find the next set of classes near you. There are 8 online/self-instructional trainings required for families - click to access training:

• • DFPS Trauma Informed Care (link)
  • DFPS Medical Consent (link)
  • DFPS Psychotropic Medication (link)
  • DFPS Reporting Abuse and Neglect (link)
  • Preventing Communicable Disease (video)
  • Preventing Communicable Disease Quiz (download)
  • Transracial Parenting (download)
  • Transracial Parenting Quiz (download)
  • Caring for LGBTQ Youth (download)
  • Caring for LGBTQ Youth Quiz (download)
  • Disaster Drill (download)
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Sexual Abuse (link)

*DFPS = Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

All caregivers must obtain or possess a current Adult/Infant/CPR Certification. New Horizons offers CPR classes (see training calendar) or you are free to pursue this class on your own.