Consider Foster Parenting

Foster Parent

• Singles and married couples can become licensed to provide foster care with no expectation or commitment to adopt
• Families can choose to foster children with or without special needs, individual children or sibling groups and children within age ranges of the families choosing
• Families can be licensed to provide “respite” or relief care for foster parents on a short-term basis
• Some churches are developing respite and relief care networks to support foster parents in their church and community
• Families can also support foster families in their church or community in a variety of meaningful and practical ways

Adopt from Foster Care

• Families can choose to become licensed to adopt a child from foster care without the commitment to foster
• Once licensed, these families are carefully matched with children in foster care who are waiting for families
• Only children whose parental rights have been terminated are legally free to be adopted
• Children waiting for adoptive families are typically 5 years old or older, part of a sibling group and/or have some special needs
• This type of adoption is virtually cost-free to the adoptive family and many times includes helpful benefits provided by the state
• If the child is eligible, these benefits may include various services, college tuition assistance and other financial stipends

Foster to Adopt

• Some families choose to be licensed to foster and adopt
• Generally no additional training is required to become “dual licensed”
• These families provide safe and loving foster homes for children in need and may also be interested in adopting their foster children when that is possible
• These families meet the same requirements as traditional foster parents

Foster Parent Requirements
Requirements for becoming a licensed foster or adoptive parent can vary among agencies. Some of the basic common requirements are:

• Over the age of 21
• Clean criminal record
• Legal U.S. resident
• Space in the home adequate for a child
• Home that passes safety inspections
•  Moral character and sound judgment deemed appropriate for parenting
• Required training and certifications

Foster Parent(s) are:

• Responsible for meeting the emotional, physical, recreational, spiritual, material and safety needs of children
• Subject to rules (i.e., state standards) for care of children in their care monitored by CPS and/or a CPA
• Foster parents are reimbursed for caring for children in foster care
• The reimbursement is meant to cover the expenses of raising children; it is not considered ‘income’ and is intended to be spent on the needs of children
• In most cases, the daily reimbursement is around $20-$25 per day for each child
• Children in foster care are also generally eligible for Medicaid in order to provide for their medical and dental needs
• In some cases funds are available to reimburse foster parents for a portion of their childcare costs
• Many children adopted from foster care are eligible for additional assistance, including certain services, college tuition assistance and financial stipends