JRI Fostercare Blog

Articles related to: Become a Licensed Foster Parent

8 min read

Foster Care- The Housing Standards Assessment

By Courtney Edge-Mattos on May 20, 2025

Two small fairy houses, one while with a tan roof and one robin's egg blue with a brown roof, sit nestled in tall grass with blue flowers.

The Housing Standards Assessment is typically the first time you will meet the Homefinding Team.

This visit is a planned visit that occurs at your home once your application has been accepted.

For specifics on the eligibility requirements to apply to foster, check out our blog before this. Once you are caught up, continue on with this blog!

The Housing Standards Assessment is a time for the Homefinding Team to meet you, sit down and

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5 min read

Foster Care Licensing: Streamline Your Process

By Courtney Edge-Mattos on August 17, 2022

A middle school aged boy in a striped shirt smiles at the camera.

It takes folks an average of 6-9 months to become licensed for foster care and there are outliers who may take even more time. Why so long?

Well, there are a number of factors. Every foster care applicant has to complete MAPP class, which is 10 weeks long (one three hour session per week for ten weeks). If you can’t attend the soonest MAPP class, it likely won’t be offered again for a few months

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A Blog to Support Foster Parents

Our foster care program is rooted in the principle that every child deserves to feel safe, to be nurtured, and to thrive. Our foster families and staff are committed to maximizing each child's potential within our stable and loving foster homes.

Remember:

Stable homes nurture neglected children.
Compassionate homes mend painful pasts.
YOUR home can change the life of a child.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please complete our foster care interest form.

Preparing for An Arrival

You’ve taken the classes. You’ve been fingerprinted, interviewed, reference-checked. You’ve watched the “Removed” movie fourteen times. You’ve read blogs and

Helping Hands

There are so many wonderful people out there who want to support the children and families with whom we work.

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Do you have a question about JRI services?

(508) 468-6042

navigator@jri.org

Rachel has been a part of the JRI team since January, 2000. For over 20 years, Rachel has been working in the field of human services assisting families with accessing and navigating services. Rachel received her Bachelors degree in psychology and Masters Degree in Public Administration from Bridgewater State University. She was promoted in July 2005 to Family Networks Program Director where she closely worked with the Department of Children Families for 10 years ensuring that children and families received the highest quality of individualized services ranging from community based through residential care. Rachel is very dedicated to helping the individuals she works with and is committed to improving the lives of children and families. Rachel’s passion for creative service programming inspires her in her role as JRI Service Navigator.