How Do I Become a Foster Parent?

Find information and resources about foster parenting and becoming a foster parent, including State and local examples.

6 Foster Care Skills You Need to Know Before Being a Foster Parent
Craft (2015)
Highlights basic foster care skills such the ability to assess oneself and a family's fitness for fostering, establish and maintain open communication with birth family, agency staff and school officials, manage challenging behaviors, and cope with sense of loss after a child's reunification with birth family.

32 Ways to Support Children in Foster Care (and counting!)
The Foster Coalition
Shares a broad range of ideas to show support for children in foster care, including fostering; becoming a respite care provider, volunteer, or foster care sponsor; launching a fundraiser; and more.

About Foster Parenting
AdoptUSKids
Provides information about foster parenting and adoption.

Becoming a Foster Parent
National Foster Parent Association
Illustrates the steps involved in becoming a foster parent with its challenges and rewarding opportunities, including a particular emphasis on key qualifications, the approval process, training, and licensure.

Background Checks for Prospective Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Caregivers

Series Title	State Statutes
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 1,181KB)
Year Published	2016

Discusses the requirements set by States for conducting background checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents and other out-of-home caregivers, as well as any adults residing in the prospective caregivers’ households. These checks, including State and Federal criminal records and child abuse and neglect central registries, are part process of assessing the suitability of these caregivers to provide a safe home for children placed in their care. The crimes that will disqualify an applicant also are discussed. An overview of Federal requirements also is provided. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Foster Care
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Answers frequently asked questions and provides frequently requested information about foster care.

Home Study Requirements for Prospective Foster Parents

Series Title	State Statutes
Author(s)	Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability	View Download (PDF - 1,619KB)
Year Published	2014

Presents State laws and policies for licensing or approving family foster homes, including laws about standards, the approval process, kinship foster care, and interjurisdictional approval. A licensed family is one that is approved by the State to provide care for children and that meets basic standards of safety set by law and regulation. These standards reduce predictable risks to the health, safety, and well-being of children in out-of-home care. The laws presented are current through October 2014.

How You Can Help
Casey Family Programs (2017)
Suggests ways, at various levels of commitment, individuals can help create permanent, lifelong connections for children and youth.

(Back to Top)

State and local examples

Adoption and Foster Parenting
Alameda County Social Services Agency, Pathway to Home
Provides information on the eight steps required to become a foster or adoptive parent in Alameda County. The webpage links to the the Resource Parent Introductory Handbook (PDF - 11, 230 KB) and the department's policy on working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth (PDF - 31 KB).

Become a Foster/Adoptive Resource Parent
San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency
Provides an overview, eligibility information, and resources on becoming a foster parent in San Diego County.

Foster Parent
TN Department of Children’s Services
Provides information on becoming a foster parent, foster care placements, and foster care parent trainings and handbooks.

(Back to Top)