Tulare County offers Resource Family orientations

Tulare County Resource Family Approval, previously known as Foster Care Licensing, offers orientations twice per month for prospective Resource families.

Orientations are held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays at the Professional Development Center, 4031 W. Noble Ave. Entrance is at the bottom of the two-story building next to Employment Connection. Orientations are held on the second floor. The door will be locked at 6 p.m.

In addition to scheduled orientations, Tulare County Resource Family Approval staff members offer personal orientations in order to be more accessible to prospective Resource parents.

Resource families provide shelter to children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment, or because their parents are ill or incarcerated. The shelter may be emergency, short-term care or longer term. There are nearly 1,000 children in Tulare County’s program, and there are not enough homes.

Homes are needed in every community of Tulare County, so that children can remain in their own school. Of particular need are adults willing to take in siblings or teenagers, and people willing to respond to emergency placement needs for children of all ages.

People who are interested in helping will need to attend one orientation meeting, and meet requirements such as being at least 18 years old, being financially able to support their own family, having no criminal record and a clear health screening and being certified in CPR and first aid.

To schedule a personal orientation, or for more information, call 6230581.