Foster Care & Adoption

A GATEWAY for families of all shapes and sizes to have a positive impact on children

" If it wasn't for GATEWAYS, we would have left the foster care system.  The staff were great mediators in working with the state and quickly became people that we could trust.  They kept us focused on the most important thing-- the kids."

-- Benny, a GATEWAYS foster-to-adopt parent

In 2006, 1800 children in Pierce County and surrounding areas were waiting to be adopted or placed in foster care.  The commitment to being a foster parent is a great undertaking but rewarding at the same time.  You can rest assured that as a foster parent, you will have support readily available to you from GATEWAYS and other community agencies.  This includes:

• Ongoing training

• Monthly reimbursements to cover the cost of basic room, board, clothing and personal items for each foster child

• Medical and dental coverage for each foster child

• Counseling service for the foster child

• Access to support for yourself and the foster child through your assigned case manager

• Assistance with transportation for your foster child to have visitation with his or her biological parents

There are several types of foster care that you can choose to participate in:

• Standard Care

• Therapeutic Care

• Receiving Care

• Short- or Long-term Care

• Respite Care

• Foster-to-Adopt Care

GATEWAYS is a Child Placement Agency, licensed with the State of Washington to receive and place DSHS referred foster children in appropriate homes.  We license families who would like to care for children from birth to age 18 (or up to age 21 if the child remains in foster care to complete high school).  We license homes to provide different levels of care.  Regular care homes take children who are assumed to only have behaviors or conditions that are consistent with other children their age.  A special rate may be attached for children with higher physical or emotional needs.  Our therapeutic, or BRS (Behavioral Rehabilitation Services) foster homes are trained to care for children with serious emotional and/or behavioral difficulties who cannot be adequately served in regular foster care, because they need a higher degree of structure and supervision. 

The strategic plan for GATEWAYS foster care and adoption services calls for 15 licensed GATEWAYS foster homes at the conclusion of FY 2006, with active placement in 12 homes at all times, more than doubling the total foster care beds provided by our licensees from the prior year.  The plan for FY 2007 is to recruit foster parents from the community at large and continue to add new foster homes. By the year end, we will have 22 licensed foster homes with 35 to 40 beds for placement of foster children.

We invite you to work with us to offer a Washington child the chance to thrive as part of your family.  Let your home be a "GATEWAY" to love, support, dedication and stability by becoming a foster parent today.  Contact us at 253.383.4361 for more information.