North Dakota Foster Care and Adoption
Recruitment and Retention : Inquiry Intake Process
The North Dakota Department of Human Services (NDDHS) Children and Family Services office continues to work closely with UND Children and Family Services Training Center (CFSTC) as the contracted vendor for statewide Recruitment and Retention in North Dakota. CFSTC has been busy accepting inquiries, discussing options with prospective families, facilitating coalition meetings to meet local needs, and working with the Department’s publications team to issue a new brand directly related to the recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families. More to come on the new Recruitment and Retention branding prepared for statewide advertising.
Forms and Reporting Process
In April 2020, North Dakota transitioned to a statewide clearinghouse model to respond to foster care and adoption information inquiries through the CFSTC. The Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Specialist (FPRRS) was hired and responds to inquiries by directly contacting individuals interested in becoming a foster parent or adoption option. The FPRRS refers potential foster parents to authorized licensing agencies when the family identifies an agency or agencies with whom they would like to explore licensure. To better capture the overall number of initial inquiries and to eliminate duplication of reporting, the new form and process has been developed.
Foster/Adopt Inquiry Form
The inquiry form is a tool created by a work group to be completed by the licensing worker from the authorized licensing agency that receives the initial contact from the prospective foster family or individual/ interested in adopting. The agency licensing worker will submit the form to the NDDHS licensing Field Service Specialist at the end of each quarter. If the licensing worker discovers that the prospective foster parent is better suited or would like to license through another authorized licensing agent, a referral to the agency will be made using the form with the referral section completed. The original licensing agent will submit the completed form to the NDDHS licensing Field Service Specialist quarterly. This will assist with accurate accounting of quarterly inquiries by eliminating possible duplication.
Foster/Adopt Inquiry Form (downloadable paper form)
Inquiry Intake – Part B Form
The intake form is a tool created by a work group intended to provide authorized licensing agents enhanced information when a referral is forwarded from the FPRRS at CFSTC. Authorized licensing agents are welcome to use this form if they wish to pattern their conversation with prospective foster parents or adoptive families, but it is not required and does not need to be submitted to the licensing Field Service Specialist.
Inquiry Intake – Part B (downloadable paper form)
Licensing Worker Inquiry Intake
Please start using the inquiry form immediately to track inquiries in your area received. Licensing workers are no longer asked to complete the quarterly statistical reports, however in efforts to maximize recruitment and retention efforts, partner with one another, while detailing accurate inquiry data to our federal partners, we ask that you submit the inquiry forms to the NDDHS licensing Field Service Specialist by the 5th day after the last day of each quarter. Licensing workers can scan/email the inquires at one time (regardless of volume) to the NDDHS licensing Field Service Specialist.
Quarter dates include:
- Oct 1 – Dec 31 is due January 5th
- Jan 1 – March 30 is due April 5th
- April 1– June 30 is due July 5th
- July 1 – Sept 30 is due October 5th
If you have any questions related to the use of the forms or reporting, contact the NDDHS licensing Field Service Specialist in your area, or contact Carissa Cox at carissa.cox@UND.edu
Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Specialist Contact
Carissa Cox, LBSW
UND CFSTC Foster Parent Recruitment & Retention Specialist
1-833-FST-HOME (1-833-378-4663)
carissa.cox@UND.edu