Choctaw Nation Foster Care Program: Your Guide to Making a Difference as a Foster Parent

Across America, a pressing issue has emerged: a shortage of foster care homes. This scarcity has been reported across numerous states since the onset of the pandemic, and the Choctaw Nation is also experiencing this critical need. The Choctaw Nation Children and Family Services, along with systems nationwide, are prioritizing the recruitment of dedicated foster families to address this challenge.

While foster care encompasses various living arrangements for children, including placements with relatives or in group homes, the primary objective in almost every situation is the safe reunification of children with their biological families. Foster homes play an indispensable role in this process, providing a nurturing and stable environment during a challenging time, and are currently in high demand.

In the United States, over 407,000 children and youth are in foster care, with 34% being placed with relatives or kin, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 2020 data. It’s crucial to note that American Indian and Alaskan Native children are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, at more than 1.6 times the expected level, as reported by the National Indian Child Welfare Association.

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), enacted in 1978, was a direct response to the crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and tribes. The Supreme Court recently affirmed the constitutionality of ICWA in a landmark decision on June 15, 2023, by a 7-2 vote. This decision is a significant victory for tribal sovereignty. However, the urgent need for more tribal foster homes remains a critical issue.

Within the Choctaw Nation, the Children and Family Services program works in close collaboration with state agencies and courts to ensure secure, stable, and nurturing homes for Choctaw children. This program operates under the principles of ICWA, advocating for Choctaw children and families. Choctaw Nation social workers partner with state workers and the courts to secure safe and healthy placements for Choctaw children who have been removed from their homes. A key aspect of this collaboration is finding Choctaw foster and adoptive homes to prioritize placement within their community and cultural context, preventing placement in non-Indian homes whenever possible.

ICWA prioritizes placement preferences for Choctaw children when they are removed from their homes and placed in the legal custody of an agency outside of the Choctaw Nation. According to Robert Whitfield, a foster care recruiter with Choctaw Children and Family Services, there are hundreds of Choctaw children within the foster care system who require supportive homes.

When seeking a pre-adoptive home for a Choctaw child, the Choctaw Nation placement preferences are as follows, in order of priority:

• A biological parent.
• A member of the child’s extended family.
• A foster home licensed by the Choctaw Nation.
• A foster home licensed or approved by another Indian tribe.
• An Indian foster home licensed or approved by a non-Indian licensing authority.

Choctaw ICW Oklahoma offices are strategically located in Ardmore, Coalgate, Durant, Hugo, Idabel, McAlester, Oklahoma City, Stigler, and Poteau, ensuring accessibility and support throughout the Nation.

How to Become a Choctaw Nation Foster Parent

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma extends a heartfelt invitation to qualified individuals who feel a calling to help, urging them to consider becoming Choctaw Nation foster parents. If you are looking to make a tangible difference in the life of a child and strengthen your community, becoming a foster parent might be the right path for you.

To embark on this rewarding journey, individuals must meet specific eligibility requirements:

• Be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe (either the individual or their spouse).
• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Possess the emotional maturity, physical well-being, and financial stability to adequately provide for a child’s needs.
• Consent to a comprehensive search of all state and national criminal history records for all household members.
• Ensure that no household member has a prior conviction for a sexual offense.
• Commit to attending mandatory pre-service training sessions to prepare for foster parenting.
• Confirm that no household member has a confirmed history of child welfare concerns.
• Be willing to provide detailed information for a thorough family assessment, also known as a home study.
• Complete and submit an application form, readily available online at the CNO Foster Care & Adoption webpage.

Understanding Different Types of Foster Care within the Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation Foster Care Program recognizes that individuals have diverse capacities and availability. To accommodate this, they offer several types of foster care to match different lifestyles and commitments:

Traditional Foster Care

Traditional foster care is designed for individuals and families who are prepared to care for a child for an undetermined period. This type of fostering offers a profound opportunity to create a secure and nurturing home environment for children in need. Traditional foster parents play a critical role in providing consistent support and guidance to both the child and, where appropriate, the child’s biological parents, acting as vital partners in the family healing and reunification process.

Emergency Foster Care

Emergency fostering is a crucial service that provides immediate, short-term care for children facing urgent situations. This type of placement is especially beneficial for households and families who can offer a calm, caring, and attentive atmosphere, helping to mitigate the anxiety and fear children may experience during times of crisis. Emergency foster care placements are typically brief, often ranging from just one night to a few days. This short duration allows Children and Family Services time to locate and arrange placement with family members or in more stable, longer-term settings.

Respite Foster Care

Respite foster care is an ideal option for those who may not be able to commit to full-time foster parenting but still wish to contribute significantly to the well-being of Choctaw children and families. Respite care providers offer temporary relief to full-time foster families, providing care for children during scheduled periods. The duration and frequency of respite care are flexible, depending on the specific needs of the foster family and can range from a few hours to a weekend.

Robert Whitfield emphasizes that respite care can be an excellent way for those unsure about traditional foster care to get involved and make a difference. “Respite homes offer invaluable temporary placement options for foster families who need a break. By offering respite care, you step into the role of a foster parent for short periods, sometimes just a few days, but those few days can make an enormous difference to our full-time foster homes that periodically need respite,” Whitfield explains. This support helps prevent burnout in full-time foster parents and ensures consistent, high-quality care for children.

Navigating the Foster Parent Application Process

Becoming a Choctaw foster parent involves a structured, supportive application process designed to ensure the best outcomes for both foster families and children. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect:

1. Initial Application: The first step is to complete the application form, accessible on the Choctaw Foster Care Program webpage. This initial application gathers essential information about your home and the individuals residing there. It provides Children and Family Services with the preliminary details needed to assess your home’s initial suitability as a foster home.

2. Background Checks: Once your application is received, you will be assigned an onboarding specialist. This specialist will contact you to schedule comprehensive local and national background checks for all adult members of your household. Importantly, applicants are not responsible for covering the costs of these background checks. The results will be reviewed with you to ensure transparency and address any potential issues before proceeding further in the application process.

3. Home Assessment and Forms: Following the successful review of your background checks, you will be assigned a dedicated foster care specialist. This specialist will arrange a visit to your potential foster home to conduct a thorough safety assessment, ensuring it meets the standards for a safe and nurturing environment for a child. The specialist will also review any additional forms required, provide assistance with their completion, and answer any questions you may have about the process.

4. Trauma-Informed Training: A critical component of becoming a Choctaw Nation foster parent is completing trauma training. This training is mandatory for all foster parents before a foster child can be placed in their home. The trauma-informed training educates foster parents on the policies and expectations of the Choctaw Nation Foster Care Program. Crucially, it emphasizes understanding children’s behaviors through the lens of trauma, equipping foster parents with the skills to respond effectively and empathetically to children who have experienced trauma. The training also reinforces the primary goal of foster care: reunification with the child’s biological family, and provides strategies to actively support this process.

5. Comprehensive Home Study: Your assigned foster care specialist will meet with all members of your household to conduct a comprehensive home study. The home study is an in-depth assessment that tells the story of your family, gathering information about your family history, traditions, motivations for fostering, parenting skills, and relevant life experiences. This detailed profile helps Choctaw Nation Children and Family Services to understand your family’s strengths and capabilities, ensuring the best possible matching of foster children with families who can meet their unique needs.

6. Final Review and Approval: After all the aforementioned steps are successfully completed, a final review is conducted to ensure all requirements are met. All gathered information is carefully reviewed with the prospective foster parents to ensure transparency and mutual understanding before a final decision on approval is made. The entire application process, from initial application to final approval, can take up to 90 days, reflecting the thoroughness and care taken in selecting and preparing foster families.

7. Placement Opportunities: Upon final approval, you will be contacted by the Choctaw Nation Foster Care Program when placement opportunities arise that match your family’s profile and capabilities.

Robert Whitfield poignantly summarizes the profound impact of foster parenting: “When you foster, you are doing more than just providing a home for a child; you are actively working to keep a family connected by cooperating to ensure that the child can safely return home. When you choose to foster, you make a real and lasting difference in the life of a child and their family.”

By opening your heart and home through the Choctaw Nation Foster Care Program, you can provide safety, stability, and hope to Choctaw children in need, strengthening families and enriching your own life in immeasurable ways.