Fraser — Those looking to become foster parents can expect at least a three- to four-month screening and training process before having a child placed in their home, said Argie Lomas, program manager for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.

The training is both to help potential foster parents know what to expect, and also what’s expected of them, Lomas said.

“We want them to understand that the first goal of foster care is to return those children to their family of origin if at all possible,” she said. “And if that doesn’t happen, would you consider adopting and raising that youth.”

The screening process involves home visits, information gathering and registration, which includes fingerprinting, Lomas said. The foster home must also obtain licensing from the state of Michigan and pass safety guidelines.

Foster families do not have to be Catholic, Lomas said. Age, marital status, income or sex are also not barriers.

In addition to foster families, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan is also looking for provider families for children ages 16-21 in its supervised independent living program. In this program, the provider family acts as a “landlord” for the child, who rents a room and works out a contract for meals and living expenses with the provider family. The family “can be involved as they choose to be,” Lomas said. “They’re helping that youth build independent living skills so that when they exit the program or move forward they will be able to live independent successfully.”

To learn more about either the foster program or supervised assisted living programs, contact Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan at (855) 882-2736.