The Foster and Adoption Services Units (FASU) in each region are administratively supervised by regional staff and have the task of implementing the above initiatives.

Together, the OFAS and the FASU’s help foster and adoptive families give children the best possible family experience.

• establish effective ongoing marketing and recruitment plans for foster and adoptive families in collaboration with the Public Affairs and Information Office
• recruit foster and adoptive families in each region to meet children's needs when they require out-of-home placement
• develop uniform assessment, preparation and training procedures for applicants for foster care and adoption
• license enough quality homes to meet each child's needs for physical and mental health, cultural identity, and permanency planning
• support the regional foster families in groups and individually in order to retain quality homes
• support the activities of the state-wide foster parents' associations
• promote the maintenance and development of specialized programs that enhance the foster care and adoptive services within the state
• maintain connections with other states' agencies, and national foster care and adoption groups and programs
• provide the lead role in budgetary matters, including budget planning and advocacy for appropriate FASU functions
• collect and report data on foster care and adoption activities.

• demonstrates a commitment to family based care
• values and respects children
• provides for children's needs in a family based setting
• assists children in establishing positive relationships
• enhances children's healthy growth and development.

• set program standards for assessment and training in order to license and retain foster and adoptive parents statewide
• provide for technical assistance to regions in implementing and monitoring their assessment, training, retention and matching activities
• provide for statewide and regional activities to recruit, study, support and retain foster and adoptive families
• include regional staff and foster and adoptive parents in planning objectives, recruitment, recognition events, and other relevant activities
• develop and implement state-of-the-art guidelines for minimum foster parent standards.

If that family cannot provide a positive environment or meet the special needs of the child, it is the commitment of DCF to look first to a substitute family for a temporary or permanent solution.

Therefore, foster and adoptive homes are the key ingredient in the system of services to children who must live away from their family of origin.

Because of their key role, the people in foster and adoptive homes must display characteristics that have proven to be essential to the well being of the child for whom placement is, at best, traumatic.

In order to provide DCF children with corrective experiences, foster and adoptive families must demonstrate that they

• are emotionally stable
• can both encourage and correct in a positive, respectful manner
• can successfully work with extended family and/or individuals from the child's race and culture
• have positive, healthy family relationships where members care for each other, have fun together, and learn from their mistakes
• have the ability to communicate opinions and feelings appropriately and effectively
• are willing to listen to each other
• maintain personal boundaries
• demonstrate an ability to follow through on individual and family goals and projects
• have successfully identified and resolved mental health issues including trauma and separation
• have adequately adjusted to major life changes such as marriage, death, divorce and job loss
• have the ability to adequately assess family strengths and weaknesses, support systems, and the impact of placement of a child on their family as determined during the assessment and licensing process.