FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) and foster care
Q: What are the ages of URMs in need of care?
A: URM range in age from 4 to 21. In the state of Massachusetts, at the age of 18, youth are able to sign a voluntary placement agreement and remain in care as long as they continue to pursue their education. The majority of youth are between ages 15 and 17.
Q: How long are URMs in foster care?
A: There are a lot of factors that contribute to how long a URM remains in a foster home. Our goal is to find permanent homes for these young people and find families committed to working with them through the completion of high school. However, many of our families remain connected for life to their foster children and continue to support them.
Q: Will I be eligible to adopt my URM?
A: Unlike traditional foster children, refugee minors are generally not eligible for adoption. Despite being unable to make the legal commitment of adoption, families often make personal commitments and remain connected.
Q: Are URMs ever reunited with their families of origin?
A: URMs often reconnect with their birth families. However, due to immigration requirements, they are rarely able to reunite formally.
Q: What languages do URMs speak?
A: URMs speak a range of different languages from Lingala to Swahili. All URMs are learning English. Family must be creative in communicating with URMs.
Q: What are the requirements to be a foster parent?
A: Applicants must-
- Be a legal permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a responsible, mature and healthy adult able to meet the needs of a youth
- Have a clean criminal record for the past 5 years with no history of abusing children
- Your home needs to meet safety requirements and standards
Q: I am single. Can I be a foster parent?
A: Absolutely!
A: Many families juggle work and family life. This is not a problem.
Q: Do I need to own my own home?
A: Absolutely not. The only requirement is that your residence must meet safety standards.
Q: Does the URM need their own room?
A: No, they can share a bedroom with other children, as long ages and gender are appropriate together.
Q: May I choose the gender, race and age of the child I would like to foster?
A: You and your foster care worker will determine the best possible match for your family which includes consideration for the gender, race and age of the youth.
Q: May I foster more than one URM?
A: Absolutely! As long as your home meets the requirements, and we determine that you can care for multiple youth.
Q: How do I pay the cost associated with caring for a URM?
A: The LSS URM program contracts with the Department of Children and Family (DCF) of Massachusetts to reimburse you for the expenses of fostering a refugee minor. These expenses include food, clothing, household necessities, the added cost of an extra person as it impacts utilities costs, transportation, etc. The exact rate is determined by the State and the number of calendar days the child is in your home.
Q: Who pays for the medical/dental/vision/hearing, prescriptions and mental health services for these youth?
A: Young people in the custody of the State of Massachusetts receive Masshealth insurance, the state provided insurance program that covers medical/dental/vision/hearing, prescriptions and mental health services.
Q: How long does it take to become a foster parent?
A: There are a lot of factors that determine how long the licensing process takes. Most applicants can complete the process in two to three months.
Q: Once I have my certification, how long before I can welcome a refugee youth into my home?
A: It depends on how open you are to older teens, varying ethnicities and sibling groups. We want to make sure that you are fostering a youth who is a good match for your family. We are committed to working WITH you to make sure that you have a positive experience.
Q: Why should I become part of the LSS family?
A: There are a lot of different agencies you could work with. We are a small agency with more than 30 years of experience in this field, and a 140 year history of serving children in the region. We’re also the only agency in New England to serve refugee young people exclusively. We have the resources and experience of a much larger agency but our size and commitment provide the personal connections of a small family. We feel that our best asset is that when you work with us we treat you like family. We know that when you bring a young person into your home – one who truly needs your care and support -- that you will need the personal and professional support that we can provide. LSS also administers intensive foster care programs for American young people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. And we work with children and families who need our services, regardless of their background or belief.
Q: I still have more questions. Who should I talk to?
|