We invite you to attend one of our convenient Foster Parent Information Sessions. Call 702-646-5437 or email contact@eaglequest.us.com today to set up your appointment. Find out how we provide ongoing support from start to finish.
When you commit to making a difference and providing a safe and nurturing environment for Nevada’s at-risk youth, Eagle Quest will help YOU with your pre-licensure expenses. We eliminate many of the upfront costs required to become a foster parent by offering a competitive sign-on incentive to prepare your home for licensure (fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, a First Aid kit or even beds!) and assist with other foster parent expenses (fingerprinting, CPR certification, TB testing, etc.).
* Certain restrictions apply. Please contact a Licensing Specialist for more details.
Is Treatment Level Foster Parenting Right for You?
Foster parents can be married couples, single adults, retired adults, or empty nesters who live in a house or an apartment. Many foster parents lead a typical life with jobs and children of their own. Parents who qualify must meet licensing requirements, be at least 21 years of age, have proof of a stable income and be in good physical and mental health. What type of care do foster parents provide? Foster parents provide a safe and stable home environment for youth who are not able to live with their biological families for various reasons. Foster parents provide a temporary rehabilitative environment to stabilize and prepare the youth to reunify with their biological family or prepare them for adoption. Foster parents provide the basic skills training with the youth placed in their homes. Ultimately foster parents nurture the youth to become well-adjusted and self-sufficient members of society. Foster parents are strong mentors to youth who have often been placed in several different homes and are in need of love and support.
Becoming a foster parent is a life changing decision. Eagle Quest provides quality training. You do not need to have extensive years of parenting experience. Dedication, flexibility and patience to care for youth in need of a home and a family environment are all that we require. A strong understanding of the issues associated with caring for at risk or disadvantaged youth is preferred. Prior experience providing foster care to children, especially higher level of care is recommended.
Treatment level foster care requires 40 hours of pre-service training that will include a combination of: Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety: Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (TIPS-MAPP) classes (30 hours- 3 hour sessions for 10 consecutive weeks), Eagle Quest online courses and Restraint Model training of Crisis Prevention Training (CPI). TIPS-MAPP training includes 2 home consults and home studies which allows the trainers to assess your home, gather information and get to know you and your family. CPI consists of two portions; the first portion is done online and the second is a hands-on classroom portion done at Eagle Quest office. In order to complete the classroom portion of CPI, the online courses must be completed. Within 3-12 months of initial licensure, foster parents will be required to be trained in Together Facing the Challenge and Trauma Informed Care. Certification for this training can be obtained through either Eagle Quest or with an approved outside provider.
In addition we require foster parents to obtain 20 additional training hours throughout the year to maintain their license. Ongoing training is offered through Eagle Quest; however we do allow parents to participate in approved community training. We are available through the entire licensing process to provide additional information and answer questions to assist you with making a life changing decision of becoming a foster parent.
Treatment level foster care is also referred to as a higher level of care. Treatment level foster care is considered a specialized form of foster care due to the intensity of services provided to the youth. The youth placed in treatment foster care are often in need of counseling (both individual and family), Basic Skills Training, Psycho-Social Rehabilitation, special school meetings, and working closely with the biological family, etc. Children in basic level foster care often only need basic day-to-day care. Parents licensed at the treatment level receive additional support and generally a higher financial reimbursement.
The population of youth are generally adolescents (ages 8-18) experiencing one or more of the following challenges: mental illness, probation or parole, delinquency, behavioral disorders, family issues, substance abuse issues, truancy, learning disabilities, or other challenges. In foster care situations, sibling groups are often kept apart as basic foster care homes are often not equipped to take on two to four placements at one time. Siblings are best placed together, and treatment level foster care allows for multiple placements at once. Many of the youth in higher-level care have not had healthy living environments for many years, struggle with relationships and can be defiant. This population requires strong guidance and consistency with foster parents who will be positive role models.
Adolescents are in need of foster parents and a strong mentors who show interest in their lives and provide a structured and stable home environment. Older youth generally have their own interests and hobbies. Many need to learn skills in order to become successful adults. Older youth are generally able to meet their own basic day-to-day needs, but may require guidance and stability to be able to behave appropriately within the community. With patience, perseverance, and guidance of caring parents, they begin to look forward to a future that they might not have had if not for entering our program.
Foster care is intended to be a temporary placement. Many youth stay in a foster home until a permanent placement is available, either with biological family or through adoption. The average stay for treatment-level foster care can range between three and eighteen months. Each placement varies depending on the youth’s circumstances and needs.
Many of our youth receive clinically necessary individualized services, whereas youth in basic level foster care do not require these services. Each youth has a unique strength-based treatment/rehabilitative plan. Clinically necessary services may include a combination of Basic Skills Training and Psycho-social Rehabilitation. These services are provided by the foster parents, as well as trained Rehabilitative Mental Health Case Managers and Rehabilitative Mental Health Specialists, who regularly visit each home to work with the youth one-on-one. The Case Managers, under the direct supervision of one of our Licensed Clinicians, collaborate to target and treat the youth’s mental health diagnosis. These bachelors and masters level specialists will assist in the rehabilitation process and help restore youth to his or her highest level of functioning.
Below are some of the skills actively developed through Basic Skills training. Each youth receives an individual clinically necessary treatment plan that may include any of the following:
Our RMH Case Managers, RMH Specialists, and Parent Support Specialist are committed to providing ongoing services to support both the youth in care and the foster parents. The RMH Case Manager acts as a liaison between the foster parent, the youth, biological parents, case workers, or probation/parole officers. RMH Case Managers provide rehabilitative services for the youth, and are the direct line of communication between all Eagle Quest team members involved with the youth. The RMH Specialist is responsible for providing services that are outlined in the youth’s treatment plan to restore the youth to the highest level of functioning. The Parent Support Specialist acts as a liaison between the foster parents and the agency by providing resources and assistance for foster parents.
A competitive reimbursement is provided to foster parents. The rate is determined by the foster parent’s experience. The current range is $40-55 a day. Eagle Quest requires daily measurable documentation, provided by the foster parents, for the purpose of closely monitoring the youth’s progress and keeping all team members informed. Medicaid will cover the medial expenditures for each individual youth.
During the licensing process you will need to provide proof of income. You must be financially able to care for your own expenses. The reimbursement provided for caring for children in your home will not be considered as part of your income.
Yes, in addition to our unmatched customer service, Eagle Quest provides some of the most competitive reimbursements in the industry. Eagle Quest foster parents are reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis and the reimbursement rate is determined by the foster parent’s experience and the needs of the child. Eagle Quest requires all foster parents to submit daily documentation that outlines and monitors each youth’s progress and allows all team members to stay informed. Additionally, Medicaid covers all of the youth’s medical expenses.
Eagle Quest understands that your time is very important and partners with their families to efficiently navigate the licensing process. Our dedicated team of recruitment specialists will ensure that you receive an efficient and comprehensive training that will fully prepare you for working with at risk kids. Eagle Quest is one of the only specialized foster agencies in Southern Nevada approved to provide a 5 week hybrid TIPS-MAPP training course which allows foster parents to become licensed in half the time. The licensing process length varies on a case by case basis; generally, the entire process from start to finish, can take between 3-5 months. The sooner the course is started, the sooner you can become licensed as a specialized foster parent; so please, CALL TODAY.
Some requirements include: a local background check, Federal Bureau of Investigation finger printing, Child Abuse and Neglect check, CPR/First Aid certification, and tuberculosis test. These are required to obtain a license to provide foster care. In addition, a home safety inspection and home study will be required.
Your home must meet all safety requirements and standards. Living and sleeping quarters must be large enough to provide adequate space, privacy, and safety for the entire house hold. Each youth will need his/her own bed. Male and female youth may not share a room. Foster parents need a vehicle to transport the youth. The vehicle must have enough room for each youth to have his/her own seat belt. Foster parents must be able to demonstrate ability to integrate the youth into their family. A home study, series of interviews and meetings with our licensing supervisor to get to know you and your family, is required for all foster care candidates. During the home study, 40 hours of initial training must be completed. A home study is required to prepare potential foster parents and their homes with the proper procedures to become a treatment level foster parent. This protects and ensures the safety of the youth in foster care.
The first step is calling one of our representatives for a brief pre-screening interview. Please view the SIX STEPS to review all the steps needed to become a foster parent with Eagle Quest. We look forward to your call and to assisting you with the licensing process. Just imagine the difference you can make in the life of a child. Take the first step and call 702-646-5437 today!
