Seeking Foster Children Benefits/Resources

I highly recommend this clinic, which is a part of UCSF Children's Hospital Oakland. All of our foster children and our adoptive daughter have been patients in the clinic and we have relied on them understanding the particular psychological and medical issues that tend to come with foster children. We have been under the care of Dr. Diane Halberg. She has a social worker that follows her patients, Elizabeth Jensen, who is equally wonderful. Although you will probably have enough social workers in your life initially, if you are able to adopt, it is nice to have someone that knows the system to offer some continuity. They have a good sense of what resources are out there and what is covered by Medi-cal, they are also always willing to make appropriate referrals and advocate for my family.

https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/clinics/center-for-the-vulnerable-…

We were Contra County foster parents before we adopted and we have used PACT extensively for support around trans racial parenting. I know this may be hard for some people to hear, but it is important to root for the birth mom as much as you can during the fostering process. We did not get to connect with our child's birth mom who left the scene before we got there, but I always felt like, despite my overwhelming love for our child, that until the adoption was finalized, that the birth mom still had a chance to work her way back to being able to raise her child. I really wanted that for her, as much as I wanted to keep my child.  It is a hard space to hold both realities. From what you wrote, it sounds like you may be treading lightly on assuming you will be the child's forever parent, which, in my perspective, is a good place to be. What outsiders don't realize is that the blessed event for one family, is likely a tragedy for the birth mother. It sounds like you are going to be an amazing parent, and so clearly have a heart full of love! You are already doing such a beautiful job preparing for this little being to be in your daily life!! 

The couple of resource notes I have for you:

We tried WIC early on, but what they required in terms of documentation vs. what they actually provided, was not worth it.

Medi-Cal has been great, although it was hard to find a pediatrician who takes it, but Kiwi Pediatrics in Berkeley does, and they have great doctors! We use Dr. Elizabeth Salsburg.

We haven't used as many other services as we probably could have via the county or state and we pay for most things out of pocket. With therapy, it was important to us to invest in paying out of pocket for a therapist who could stick around for a long time, vs. therapists at clinics who can rotate out frequently. That can be extra hard on a child with a foster/adoption background since they attach to the therapist who then leaves somewhat suddenly. So if there's anything where you might consider paying out of pocket, I would say therapy is it.  (if you are able to!)

We asked for an increase in our monthly stipend to pay for private therapy, and they readily gave us more money - not nearly enough to cover what we pay for, but it was an extra few hundred dollars a month which helped.

Good luck to you and this sweet baby!!

She will also be eligible to get priority enrollment in Head Start as a foster kiddo.

Hello,  I adopted my son through fost/adopt.  He joined our family at age 2 and the adoption was finalized at age 6.  Lots of luck, starting your journey!!

Here are some benefits:

Head Start & Early Head Start:  Free childcare for working parents for children in foster care (0 to 5 years old).  You may not get the location closest to your home, but you should be moved to the top of the priority list.  

ECE/CDC:  Free childcare through the school district for ages 3 -5 (must be toilet-trained) for working parents.  Do not be swayed by the income eligibility guidelines.  For this purpose, the child in foster care is considered to be a family of one, with no income.  

Free lunch/breakfast:  Children in foster care are eligible for free lunch & breakfast through the school district.  They are considered to be a family of one without income on the eligibility application.

Free diapers:  ages 3-4 and up.  Free diapers through Medi-Cal as long as normal developmental milestones are not being met and doctor is willing to ascertain that the issue is being followed medically.  

Regional Center:  If child has been documented to have been exposed to substances in utero, you can get enrolled in the Regional Center from 0 to 3 years of age.  This can provide many services currently and down the road.

Mental Health ACCESS:  there is an 800 number for every county.  You can call this number (probably when she is older) to request many types of mental health services through Medi-Cal.  Over the years, my child has received a neuropsych eval, a comprehensive psych eval, EMDR, therapy, in-home behavior services, and psychiatry services.

Foster Youth Advisory Committee:  For parents of school-age kids, through the school districts.  Especially right now, foster parents can ask for almost any service to help their child's learning, due to special Covid funding from the state:  technology, 1-on-1 tutor, enrollment in a reading center, in-person help with executive functioning.  Easier to request straight from the committee right now, rather than going through IEP process.  But either will work.

Childrens Hospital Center for the Vulnerable Child:  medical treatment and family support for children in foster care.

Foster Family Support:  Join Alameda County Foster Parent Association (or your own county's).  They provide clothing exchange, equipment, diapers, events, resources, training, and of course, support.