Frequently Asked Questions

Question: "What role do families play in deciding about the youth that will come to live in their homes?"

Answer: Families have full opportunity to receive all information about the youth considered to live in their homes, as well as full opportunity to participate in making decisions about the youth coming to live in their homes. The final decision about whether a particular youth comes to live with a family is a joint decision agreed to by the child (as age appropriate), the family, and the Maple Star social worker. All parties share in making this decision and this means that all parties have full information upon which to base their decision.

Question: "What is the pay received for providing care in Maple Star?"

Answer: Maple Star families are paid at a reasonable rate for each child in placement. In addition, families are provided with respite pay.

Question: "What kind of support is available from Maple Star for families doing this work?"

Answer: A Maple Star worker is available to provide monitoring and consultation services to family care providers. Maple Star’s staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Another important support available to Maple Star family care providers is the monthly support group meeting which care providers are expected to attend. The primary purpose for these group meetings is to give and receive emotional support, guidance and, information. Question: "What type of youth are likely to be referred to Maple Star for placement in family care homes?" Answer: Many youth are placed in foster care because of abuse and neglect. In addition, a wide variety of youth that have experienced difficulties in living in a responsible manner within the community will be referred to Maple Star. These youth will have experienced a variety of problems in living responsibly and require guidance, supervision, and direction in learning more appropriate ways of dealing with others. The children and youth will be between the ages of birth and 18 years of age. Some children were abandoned by their parents due to substance abuse or imprisonment. The reasons for entry into foster care vary. Never has the need been so great as now when the challenges on the family and the economy are so great.

Question: "What are the main steps involved in becoming certified with Maple Start as a family care provider?"

Answer: Among the steps in becoming certified, according to state licensing rules, are the following: * Complete a Maple Star application to become a family care provider;
* Complete a fingerprint based criminal record check for each adult who lives in the home and is 18 years or older;
* Complete a child abuse registry check with the state;
* The Maple Star staff member will meet with family members and inspect the home using a home health and safety checklist;
* In order to be certified with Maple Star, each prospective family care provider must complete an orientation program, involving 27 hours of in-class work. The primary purpose of the orientation is to ensure that new family care providers have complete information about the agency, its philosophy, policies, and staff. Furthermore, by attending orientation meetings with other prospective providers, all people have an opportunity to get to know each other, learning from their respective strengths, and interests.

On the basis of reviewing the application forms, the interviews done with family members, the home inspection using the home health and safety checklist, police and child abuse registry check and interviews with the references, the Maple Start staff will discuss with the family the feasibility of becoming certified as a Maple Star family care provider. Just as with the decision to place a youth in a home, this is a joint decision made by both the prospective family care providers and Maple Star staff.

Who can foster:

Married couples, single moms, empty nesters—Maple Star values that great foster parents come in all forms. What they have in common are:
• A heart for children in need
• A love of family life and parenting
• A desire to provide a safe and healing home
• A commitment to children
• Flexibility and willingness to work through challenges

If you want to be part of our growing community, contact us. We want to hear from you today!