Professional Documents
Culture Documents
VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
If an applicant or any members of the household have been convicted of any violent/assault charge in the past
five years, your application will be closed. This would include domestic violence, fights, hurting children,
communicating threats, and any other charges of harm to others.
ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
If an applicant or any members of the household have been convicted of a felony or possessing, using, or selling
illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia, your application will be closed. A possible exception could be a misdemeanor
conviction at least ten years ago.
ALCOHOL CONVICTIONS
An applicant or any other members of the household who has been convicted in the past five years of alcohol-
related charges such as DWI or public drunkenness, or if you have been dealing with alcohol-related issues within
the past five years, your application will be closed.
In addition, a Civil Records search will be conducted. The purpose of this search is to look for any history
of domestic violence (50B- domestic violence restraining order), bankruptcies, divorce/custody disputes,
and any other civil matters not included in Criminal Records.
INCOME
Applicant must be sufficient to meet own needs. Financial statement must be completed for initial licensure and
relicensure. PLEASE NOTE: If you have applied for Emergency Assistance (EA) to help with your rent, lights,
foods, etc., from any public or private agency within the last year, you cannot be considered as an applicant for
the foster care program. You may apply one year from your last request for Emergency Assistance. The one year
waiting period may be extended in some cases.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Medical and mental health conditions of an applicant or any other members of the household will be assed in
regards to the ability to provide care and safety to children. Please be prepared to provide relevant medical
information to allow the agency to be best informed in the licensure process. If you are currently receiving a
Disability check from Social Security Administration, we will need to obtain additional information regarding
your condition, and assess the impact of your disability on your ability to parent foster children. Your medical
information will not be shared with anyone outside of DCDSS and state of licensure office.
PET POLICY
If you have breeds of dogs that have been known to be vicious/aggressive, such as Pitt Bulls, Chow, Doberman
Pinscher, Bullmastiff, Perrowould de Presa Canario , Rottweiler and Boxers, etc. we may not approve your home
for licensure. If you have a dog in your home that is on our list of aggressive dogs, but you think would not pose
a problem to a foster child, you would have to secure a temperament test from a veterinarian that speaks to how
the dog responds to strangers.That test would be at the prospective family’s expense. A safety plan will need to
be developed before your application can be approved on a case -by -case basis regarding other dogs, exotic
animals or any other animals that may be aggressive towards children. Some applicants have chosen to lodge their
animals elsewhere rather than expose a child to possible danger, and risk personal liability. There should be no
more than three (3) household animals and supervision is expected of all foster children around animals. Foster
children cannot be responsible for the care of the animals.
SMOKING
Because of the dangers of secondary smoke inhalation, we require foster parents whom smoke not to smoke in an
enclosed area around the children. All matches and lighters must be stored away from children, and you are
responsible for ensuring that children do not have access to them.
DOOR LOCKS
The Fire Marshal’s Office requires that you do not have a double key dead bolt lock that requires a key to be
used before exiting your home. You can have a double bolt lock that has a turn lock.
UNMARRIED COUPLES
If you are not married, but are living as a couple, your relationship must demonstrate stability, and both partners
must attend foster parent preparation training.
The concerns and issues discussed here have routinely led families to change their minds about pursuing foster
care before investing the time and energies involved in the training program. Durham County DSS will address
each of these issues as we gather and process information about each applicant. THIS LIST IS NOT ALL
INCLUSIVE, AND ADDITONAL CONCERNS MAY BE IDENTIFIED AS WE BEGIN THE
ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND YOU BEGIN TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELVES
AND YOUR FAMILIES. If you feel there might be a question about something in your personal life or those of
your family members please talk to the Recruiter, Trainers, or Licensing workers to address the concerns.