Therapeutic Foster Parent Requirements in Nashville, Tenn.

The First Home Care Therapeutic Foster Care Program ensures that children are placed with families who meet the following requirements in order provide the best possible environment: 

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must be at least 21 years of age.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must complete 30 hours of pre-service training, which can be completed in five-week or ten-week sessions.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must complete 30 hours of PATH training and an additional 15 hours of on-going training per year.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents are required to have reliable transportation.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must be married for at least 1 year and be stable.

• Therapeutic Foster Homes must have adequate space for children: 65 square feet of floor space for first child and 50 square feet for each additional child.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must have at least a high school education or GED.

• No more than 6 children, including biological children, are allowed to reside in a Therapeutic Foster Home.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents are required to undergo a TBI/FBI, Child Protective Services (CPS), sex offender and Out-of-State Probation and Parole Supervision Verification checks.

• Therapeutic Foster Homes must be equipped with a working telephone.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents are prohibited from smoking in the presence of foster children.

• Therapeutic Foster Parents must be flexible and willing to work with children that have behavior problems.

For more information, please contact the Foster Parent Recruiter/Trainer at (615) 324-7980.