FAQ's   Requirements   PRIDE Training   Attend Orientation   Resources   Transitional Housing

Getting approved to do foster care and adoption takes approximately three to six months.

• ​DID YOU KNOW? Foster & Adoptive parents are called "resource parents" in California. The approval requirements are the same for both!​​

• A Better Way families are all approved to provide foster care, adoption, or both.

Steps to Approval

STEP 1: Attend Orientation
Attend an orientation to learn about our agency, foster care, and building a family through foster-to-adoption. Visit the orientation page for details, or contact us: (510) 601-0203 or permanency@abetterwayinc.net. ​
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STEP 2: In-Home Interview ​​
After orientation we will schedule a meeting in your home to get to know you better and prepare you to attend our pre-service training.

​STEP 3: Training
In order to foster or foster-to-adopt, families must complete training. A Better Way Resource Families complete a 40-hour pre-service training in person (two full days of training) and online (self-pace) through Fosterparentcollege.com. The in-person/online edition of PRIDE integrates the strengths of in-person group sessions, family assessment (home study) consultations, and online self-paced training to meet the needs of diverse families and agency resources.

*CPR and First Aid training are also required and are the responsibility of the applicant.

​STEP 4: Application Packet
When you start training, you will be given an application packet, which includes documents to sign and return as well as some to obtain and submit. Applicants will require: a health exam, a DMV clearance, and proof of auto insurance. ​All adults in the home will require: a TB test or screen, fingerprints, and child abuse clearances. We will provide you with a list of locations and necessary forms.
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STEP 5: Home Study
Once all of your documents are received, we will conduct a family assessment, also known as a home study. The assessment consists of multiple interviews with you and all people living in your home. We are interested in knowing about your current family, family of origin, health, employment, education, housing, and personal aspects of your life. We want to understand how you view foster care and what motivates you to become a foster and/or an adoptive parent.

STEP 6: Home Environment Check
The final step is the home environment check. We will arrange a time to come to your home and do a walk through following home safety regulations set forth by the state. The inspection will take approximately one hour. During training you will receive a list of the state requirements. Should anything need attention prior to approving you, we will give you every opportunity to make necessary changes.​

Approval!
When the above steps are satisfactorily completed, and your home study is approved, you will be considered a Resource Family with A Better Way. The matching process to find the right child(ren) for your family begins!​

Click Here to learn more at Orientation