Foster Care

Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent?
Please register for upcoming classes!

CONTACT: Leighton Pauly, Coordinator of Foster Care, at 828-686-3451 x115 or lpauly @ blackmountainhome.org

Black Mountain Home for Children is specifically recruiting families and individuals who are interested in fostering all age groups and are wiling to work with sibling groups.

By separating siblings in foster care we are adding to their emotional burden. These children have already had to cope with the loss and separation of their parents, and if they are separated from their siblings they go through the grieving process all over again. For many of these children it will be even more traumatic because, if they have experienced abuse and/or neglect at the hand of their parents, they will often have stronger ties to each other than to their mother or father. This is why our agency is committed to keeping sibling groups together.

One in three young people in foster care is an adolescent. Of the 9,771 children in foster care in North Carolina on February 28, 2009, 34.29% , were between the ages of 13 and 21 (Duncan, et al., 2009)
Those who "age out" of foster care need our help. In 2007-08, 611 young adults aged out of foster care in North Carolina. Research shows that compared to the general population, these youth are at much higher risk for incarceration, homelessness, poor educational attainment, and poverty (NCDSS, 2008).

Foster parents play a very important role in supplementing and supporting birth parents rather than trying to substitute them. Foster parents often have to be prepared to care for a child independently but build partnerships with others in the decisionmaking of the child.

To set up a consultation: submit an Foster Parent application to fostercare@blackmountainhome.org

Are you an agency making a referral?

Fill out our Intake Application: and email to fostercare@blackmountainhome.org or fax to : (828)686-7797
Black Mountain Home for Children currently only has Family Foster Care and takes the standard board rates as payment. We currently have families in Buncombe and Mcdowell County but we hope to expand to other counties in the future. Even though our Foster Care program is new, Black Mountain Home for children has been working with children and Families in Western North Carolina for over 100 years.

Frequently Asked Questions about Foster Care at Black Mountain Home

What type of Foster Care is provided through BMH?

1. Family Foster Care: Care and training are provided for a child that is placed in this temporary home while their parents work together with the social worker to resolve the family issues that brought the children into care. These children do not require specialized care, are not leveled, and do not require therapeutic interventions
2. Respite Foster Care: Care is provided for a child in order to give a break to current foster parents, or if needed during transitions of placement.

How does a child come into Foster Care?

A child may be placed in foster care voluntarily, at the request of his or her parents or legal guardian. Or a child may enter foster care involuntarily, by order of the court. The court may order that the child be placed in the care of an agency if it finds that the child has been abused or neglected or is at risk of such harm,or when a child's behavior is beyond the control of those responsible for his or her care. A child may also be removed from his or her home by a child-protective agency because of an emergency or safety issue in the home.

Where do the children come from?

BMH for children works with many different county social services including: Buncombe, Henderson, Swain, Haywood, Jackson, McDowell, Rutherford, Mitchell, Macon, Madison, Yancey, Rutherford, Burke and many more counties throughout Western North Carolina

How long does a child stay in Foster Care?

The length of stay depends on the needs of the child and the parent's participation in the case plan, typically 9-12 months.

Do I get to choose the children that come into my home?

These children have already suffered serious disruption from being removed from their homes. Every attempt is made to initially match a child to a family who is able to meet the child's specific needs and prevent disruption.

Can Foster parents adopt children?

While the law mandates that DSS make every effort to reunify the family, some children will become available for adoption.

What are the basic qualifications of becoming a foster parent?

• At least 21 years of age
• Stable income
• Additional bedroom for child
• Single or married
• Commitment to caring for children coming from difficult backgrounds

What are the requirements to be licensed?

• Fire and Home inspection
• Home Study through BMH
• Local and Federal criminal record checks
• Completed 30 hours of training through BMH

Will I work with the child's parent(s)?

The state of North Carolina and BMH strongly encourage the relationship between foster parents and birth parents. One way foster parents can help is by working in partnership with the child's birth parents. When children see harmony among the adults in their lives, it contributes to their own sense of well being and safety.

What kind of financial help is available?

Black Mountain Home will provide monthly payments to foster parents to help meet the child's basic needs for food, shelter, and education. Children in care are eligible for free lunch, day care vouchers, and state medical care.

What makes Black Mountain Home for children different from other Family Foster Care agencies?

• Access to our 24/7 on call services
• Ongoing training available to meet 20 hour CEU requirement
• Opportunities for youth to be involved in campus Youth Leadership team and retreats, which can also open the door to other campus activities
• If needed, access to campus resources including study hall, tutoring, and other educational supports
• We see our children as children "at promise" whereas in many venues they are labeled "at risk"

What are the required trainings and when are they offered?

Black Mountain Home for children offers two trainings, both fulfill the North Carolina Licensing requirements. The trainings offered are:

GPS MAPP Training- Classes are offered a few times a year in a group settings, in the evening time to be determined by trainer and families. These classes last 10 weeks with 3 hour weekly sessions.
Deciding Together- Classes are offered on a continuous basis and times can be flexible depending on the needs of the family. These classes are held with families individually. These classes last 7 weeks for 2-3 hour sessions
What is the content of the trainings?
The trainings are more of a venue that provides an opportunity for you to decide whether fostering is a good fit for you and your family. The information provided is an overview of the child welfare system, how children come into care, the role of the foster parent, and other information related to meeting the needs of children.

Does the training automatically commit me to becoming a licensed foster parent?

• The trainings will be a time for you to gather information and decide if it is a good fit. It is perfectly okay to "opt out" if you decided that foster parenting is not for you.
• in order to become licensed as a foster parent you will have to complete additional requirements including a home visit.

Can I train with another agency and then decide to become a foster parent through BMH?

This is acceptable, but not recommended. The training program provides an opportunity for the social worker to get to know the family, which provides more information to be able to help successfully match children with families.

Fostering Perspectives

"As a single person I always thought fostering was something i would do when I was married. And I also hesitated because I thought it would be hard to hear children's stories and then possibly see them returned to difficult situations. But, after I moved I was living here in this house, by myself, and thought, maybe that was something i needed to consider. I did consider it and prayed about it. And then I took the class offered at the Black Mountain Home. I kept telling God He could stop me at any point. But He never did. Now I'm fostering my first child. I left one Tuesday morning, and came back Tuesday afternoon to a kid in my house. It's been quite an adventure. God's been stretching me and teaching me a lot - about loving unconditionally. And I'm learning not to push, but be open so that she can talk about whatever she feels the need to talk about."