The FAD worker must inform foster parents that they are prohibited from soliciting funds (asking for money or gifts) outside of DFPS that provide a material gain to the individual foster parent. DFPS considers solicitation of such funds as unethical and potentially undermining DFPS's reputation in the community.

However, the FAD worker must inform foster parents that they may use outside resources that benefit all foster parents or families, such as the Women Infant Children (WIC) Program and the school lunch program. Funds solicited by individual foster parents may have state or federal tax implications and are generally not viewed as reimbursable expenses incurred as a result of caring for a foster child.

Although DFPS prohibits individual foster parents from soliciting funds that provide a material gain, the foster parents may accept from churches or religious organizations unsolicited items that benefit children in care, such as clothing, toys, or furniture items.

Foster parents must solicit and access corporate and foundation funds or resources through DFPS-organized activities on the local, regional, or state level. Examples of DFPS-organized access to funds or resources include, but are not limited to:

  •   child welfare boards;

  •   community partners activities;

  •   local foster parent associations; and

  •   local chapters of the Council on Adoptable Children (COAC).

The FAD worker must remind foster parents to protect the confidentiality of children under their care and take precautions to prevent disclosing confidential information to community and corporate organizations. Releasing confidential information about a foster child violates federal and state confidentiality laws and may subject the foster parent to criminal prosecution.