Becoming a Foster Parent

We depend on our foster parents to contribute to the planning for the child and the family as a whole. While you provide care to a child, you'll also work closely as a team member with agency casework staff and other professionals involved to make the best future for the children and their parents.

Is foster parenting for you?

While very rewarding, foster parenting is also very demanding. It isn't for everyone.
You must be someone who:

  • has the ability to offer strength to a child and be able to work with children who have many special needs and challenges.
  • has solid parenting skills.
  • is able to work with a professional staff.
  • can encourage the child to achieve their potential.
  • is able to work with biological parents toward the foster child's best interest.

We need compassionate and sensitive people for this very important work. If you're the kind of person who feels good about helping others, loves children, and who appreciates challenges, you're very likely a person we would like to work with.

Contact an office in your area if you are interested in becoming a foster parent or if you simply want to explore this meaningful service. We'll be glad to talk to you about foster care and help you think through the process.

Where do foster children come from?

Foster children come from all communities. They are children who are abandoned, neglected, abused, or locked out of their homes and are dependent on the social service system to help them. We make every effort to place children in their own communities to reduce their disruption and to encourage contact with their own families.

What are the children's needs?

Foster children range in age from infancy to age 18 and are from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. They have often experienced lifelong impoverishment, family stress, and family violence. Foster children may have special needs such as counseling, special education, and medical care. While most biological parents truly love their children, stress and the lack of parental education, coupled with financial depravation, substance abuse and unprepared teen parenthood have made exceptional demands on their coping skills. As a result, the biological parents haven't been able to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children.

Children in need of foster care have been adversely affected in many ways — emotionally, developmentally, physically and educationally. They may be traumatized by the separation from their parents and their siblings. Foster parents understand each child's individual needs and are instrumental in helping shape the child's future.

What are the financial costs?

Foster parents receive monthly financial support for each child in their home. The amount varies with the child's age and level of need. Medical and dental care is covered by the state medical insurance plan.

What are the requirements to become a foster parent?

Foster parents are people who are over 21, married or single, and come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. They may have biological children or adopted children living at home, may never have had children, or may have grown children.

Foster parents must also:

  • be in good physical and mental health.
  • meet state and local requirements for housing safety, have adequate space, and pass a background check.
  • demonstrate a level of acceptance towards the birth parents of children in care.
  • work cooperatively with the social work staff of the agency.
  • be willing to participate in training in order to provide the best care.
  • help a child move back to his or her biological home or a more permanent situation, if the permanency plan for the child is to return home.

How can my home become licensed for foster care?

You will need to:

  • undergo a criminal background check, including being fingerprinted.
  • complete an application packet.
  • participate in interviews with agency staff.
  • complete medical exams for all family members.
  • complete pre-service training.
  • attend ongoing training programs provided by our agency.
  • be financially stable and be able to maintain financial responsibilities in your home.