Foster care is providing a temporary home for kids and teenagers. Ultimately, the hope is to reunify kids and teens with their parents after their parents have worked through personal challenges. The second best option is for children to find permanency with a close relative or safe family friend.

Children may live in foster homes for days, months or even years. And when it is a safe choice, may have visits and/or communication with their biological family.

If it is not in the child’s best interest to return home, there may be a Termination of Parental Rights (TBR) and their case worker may move to find an Adoptive Home.

This process may take years of court dates and unpredictable results and can be incredibly traumatic for a child. Foster Parents are a safe space and advocate for kids and teens in need, for however long that need lasts.

• Believing in hope for recovery for biological families

• The ability to extend and receive grace

• Promoting safe and healthy relationships / communication with a child’s biological / first family - even after adoption

• Learning more about other races, cultures and even personal bias

• A willingness to drive the extra mile(s) for cultural experiences (hair salon, barber shop, diverse church community, etc)

• Rent or own your apartment, townhouse or house

• Have at least one bedroom* with space for a bed, dresser and desk

• You can be married or single

• Most US states require that married couples are at least 21 years of age and singles are at least 24. Click below to find a local agency for specifics!

• Attend a Information Session with a local agency or your county - you can ask questions, learn about the process and choose to get started on the process at your own pace

*Bedroom can more that likely be shared with a child who is the same gender and age group.

• Attend an Free, Non-Committal Info Session (sometimes called First Meeting, etc) with a private agency or directly with your county

• Start paperwork including background checks, fingerprinting, etc (often paid for by agency)

• Schedule Home Study which includes interviews with an agency worker and visits to your house

• Sign up for Training (sometimes called Licensing, Courses, etc) which varies from 3-4 hours per for 6-8 weeks

• Decide on an age group and other specifications that you are able to welcome home

• The overall process can take anywhere from 6-9 months

• Open your home!! :)