CFAI Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does it take to finish a CFAI on a foster family applicant?
   About 20 minutes per applicant.
2. Do I have to answer all the questions?
   Yes, please try to answer all of the questions as best you can.
3. Can the CFAI be used with adoptive parents who don't intend to foster?
   Yes, although the CFAI was designed primarily for families who provide temporary out-of-home care for children in foster care.
4. Can the CFAI be used with parents who plan to provide guardianship?
   Yes, the CFAI can be used with all types of families who provide temporary out-of-home care for children in foster care. This can include families who provide short-term, long-term, therapeutic, and emergency placements for children.
5. Can the CFAI be used with same-sex couples?
   Yes, there are directions for using the CFAI with same-sex couples at the beginning of the assessment.
6. What if I never feel like I know the family well enough to fill out an assessment on them?
   You will get to know a family only so well during training, but do the best you can.
7. For couples, why should partners complete the CFAI separately, without talking about their answers?
   Couples should complete their assessments separately because some partners might disagree about answers or not feel free to answer questions honestly with their partner present. It's fine if couples want to talk about answers after completing their assessments.
8. Should the CFAI be the sole source of information used to license an applicant to foster?
   No, the CFAI should be one of many other sources of information used for this purpose.
9. Where can I go for updates about the CFAI?
   At any time, you can email cffa@casey.org for updates about the tools. Also, you can go to the home page and review the "Did You Know" section. 
10. Can licensed families fill out a CFAI?
    The CFAI can be used with licensed foster families, although it was designed primarily for use with foster family applicants.