Cherokee Nation attempts to keep costs at a minimum for Placement Resource Homes. If a family is applying to be only an emergency placement, regular foster home or respite care, then all fees are waived for the family. There is a State monthly reimbursement for these types of homes. All fost/adopt and adoptive Placement Resource Homes are responsible for the fees necessary to complete all background investigations. There may also be fees associated with releasing your home study to outside agencies or for private placements. You will also be responsible for any attorney's fees associated with any legal adoption you may finalize. There are filing fees required when your selected attorney files your adoption legal with the court clerk. These fees vary from court to court but this expense is again your responsibility.You have the option of having your home study completed by someone other than the Cherokee Nation. If this is the choice you make, you must be aware the fees charged by licensed professionals vary.
Parents can have full-time employment and also be a Placement Resource Home for children. Cherokee Nation looks at the whole picture in determining the best placement for a child. There are some children who will need a full-time parent in the home but each case is evaluated on the needs of the child or children. When a child is placed in your home, the child may attend daycare/school while both resource parents are working or attending school, depending on your residence daycare assistance could be available through the State or Cherokee Nation.
Monthly reimbursements are available to Placement Resouce Homes providing foster placements for the duration the child is in your care, and fost/adopt placements until the adoption is finalized. Monthly reimbursements are based on the age of the child. Depending on what agency has custody of the child, a medical/dental card may be issued to the child while they are in your care to meet any medical expenses the child may incur. If the child is in state custody or tribal custody, you will receive a monthly reimbursement to help with the expenses of the child. Depending on what agency has custody of the child, a medical/dental card may be issued to the child while they are in your care to meet any medical expenses the child may incur. Your child’s worker should be able to inform you of what is available for the child they are placing with you.
If the child is in state or tribal custody and the adult household members are working or attending school on a full-time basis, then daycare assistance could be available thru the State or Tribe, depending on your residence.
Legal risk is the term that is applied when there is some barrier to the finalization of the adoption process. All children in the system come with a degree of a legal risk. There are varying degrees of legal risk involved when actually choosing to adopt a child with newborns having the highest legal risk. When you are approached about a particular child for a fost/adopt or adoptive placement, any such barriers should be fully discussed with you so you can make an informed decision about whether or not this is the placement for your family. If you have questions, you should make sure you understand and accept all legal risks associated with a particular placement prior to the child being placed in your home.
No. Generally, prior to termination, you can only be considered as Placement Resource Parents. People in this position are contracted caretakers who must agree with the philosophy that all children deserve an opportunity to be raised in their original home environment. You do have a right to know what the goals of the child’s case are and we would encourage you to ask questions as to what the outcomes were for any court hearings scheduled. Hiring an attorney will not give you any specific rights in the court system when the goal is reunification, develop a close relationship with your child’s worker and they will keep you informed of the current legal situation.
It is impossible to answer this question precisely. The child’s worker is trained to search for the most appropriate placement for each child and which home best matches the needs of the child. Cherokee children who become eligible for placement are transitioned into a Placement Resource Home as soon as possible. Placement with you also depends on what type of child you are willing to accept and that may or may not be what type of child is the next available. Some of our homes have been on our approved waiting list for a while, and it is important to remember when placement does occur it will be in accordance to what is in the best interest of the children involved. Placement Resource Homes may always contact their certification worker or e-mail the Placement Coordinator at placement@cherokee.org if they have questions regarding the placement of a child.
