How to become a foster parent
How to become a foster parent
How do you become a foster parent?
Becoming a foster parent is a meaningful way to help children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect, abuse, or other challenging circumstances. While the role comes with challenges, it also offers a rewarding opportunity to support a child’s growth, healing, and hope for a brighter future.
If you’re wondering how to go about being a foster parent, keep reading for a rundown of the process, from eligibility requirements to training and home assessments. The journey to fostering requires preparation, commitment, and compassion. This article will help you determine if this path is right for you.
What is a foster parent?
A foster parent is a licensed adult who provides care for children removed from their biological families due to safety concerns or neglect. Foster parents offer a safe, supportive home while the child’s future—reunification with family or adoption—is determined by child welfare agencies.
Foster parents are responsible for the child’s daily needs, including food, shelter, and emotional support. They collaborate with social workers and other professionals to ensure the child’s well-being during this transitional period. The main goal is to help children adjust and thrive until the state finds a permanent solution.
Many people trying to adopt a child go through the foster care system. Many states go as far as requiring fostering for at least 6 months before they’ll allow an adoption.
Requirements to be a foster parent
The requirements for becoming a foster family vary by state but generally include:
Applying for a family home license
Undergoing background checks, criminal history screenings, and fingerprinting for all adult household members
Demonstrating family stability
Completing a home inspection and participating in a personal interview
Providing character references
Meeting the minimum applicant age
Many states require potential foster parents to get a license from the state, while others focus on the condition and safety of the home instead of licensing requirements. For local guidance, contact the Department of Family Services in your area.
Additionally, you must provide a safe environment. This often means meeting standards such as:
Provide sufficient sleeping arrangements for all children.
Ensure no more than six children reside in the home, including your own and any children in your care for daycare.
Commit to using only nonphysical methods of discipline.
Keep all household pets up to date on vaccinations.
Acquire and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.
Complete TB testing for household members as required by the local Health Department.
Participate in annual training sessions as required by local agencies.
Foster parents do not necessarily need to own their home, but they must provide adequate space. This usually means the foster child has their own room or shares with another child of the same sex.
How old do you have to be to foster parent?
Most states require foster parent applicants to be at least 21 years old, although some states allow applicants as young as 18. This age requirement ensures that foster parents are mature and prepared to provide stable, responsible care for children in need.
Can a single person become a foster parent?
Yes, single individuals can become foster parents as long as they meet age, background, training, and home safety requirements. Fostering alone can be challenging, but many single foster parents successfully offer loving, supportive homes to children in need.
What disqualifies you from being a foster parent?
Factors that can disqualify you from becoming a foster parent include:
Having a history of violent crimes, child-related offenses, or being a registered sex offender
A substantiated record of child abuse or neglect
Refusing or failing criminal background checks, fingerprinting, or child abuse registry checks
Conviction of certain felonies, especially those involving children, violence, or serious offenses
Substance abuse or addiction issues, particularly if untreated or ongoing
Untreated or unmanaged physical or mental health conditions that impair caregiving ability
Inadequate or unstable income to support a foster child
Refusal to comply with required training, home inspections, or agency policies
Previous revocation, denial, or surrender of a foster care license
Inability to provide a safe, stable, and appropriate home environment
Unwillingness to work with caseworkers or follow nonphysical discipline policies
Not meeting minimum age, citizenship, or legal residency requirements
Falsifying information or failing to provide required documentation
How does foster parenting work?
Foster parenting involves providing temporary, safe care for children who can’t live with their biological families for whatever reason. Foster parents work with social workers and caseworkers to facilitate reunification or finding a permanent home through adoption or guardianship.
Foster parents provide daily care and advocate for the child’s needs—just as a biological parent would. They may also support visits with birth families and receive ongoing training to address the unique challenges of foster care.
Responsibilities of foster parents
Foster parents play a vital role in supporting the well-being and development of children in their care. Their responsibilities include:
Offering daily care, support, and nurturing to foster children
Advocating for the child’s needs within schools and the community
Keeping caseworkers informed about the child’s adjustment, as well as any significant issues, illnesses, accidents, or major events involving the foster child or their own family
Collaborating with caseworkers if reunification with the child’s birth family is a viable option
Serving as a positive role model for birth families
Assisting children in developing essential life skills
How much do foster parents get paid?
Nationally, foster care payments range from $11 to $42 per day. Therapeutic or medical foster care can pay significantly more, from $45 to $100 per day depending on the child’s needs. These payments are intended to cover the child’s basic expenses, not to provide income for the foster family.
The specific amount varies widely by state, the child’s age, and the level of care required. For example, in California, the standard rate is $1,258 per month regardless of age, while Texas and Florida both pay about $400 per month.
How long does it take to become a foster parent?
The process to become a foster parent usually takes 2 to 4 months, depending on factors such as background checks, training, home studies, and paperwork completion. Some agencies have approved families in as little as one month, while others may take longer due to individual circumstances.
The timeline depends on how quickly your fingerprinting clears, how fast you complete the paperwork, and whether you need to make any home modifications. A home study alone takes around 30 days, and the wait for a first placement varies based on the child’s needs and your preferences.
Can I choose the age of child I’ll foster?
Foster parents can express preferences for the age range of children they are willing to care for, such as infants, toddlers, or teenagers. You cannot choose a specific child or age, but agencies consider your preferences when making placements. You always have the option to accept or decline.
How long do foster children stay with foster parents?
On average, foster care placements last between 12 and 20 months. However, the length of time foster children stay in a placement varies widely depending on the child’s needs, the birth family’s situation, court decisions, and the child’s case plan goal.
Some may only stay for a few weeks or months, while others stay for multiple years—especially if they are waiting for adoption or are older youth. Short-term placements can be as brief as one day, while long-term cases may extend to two years or more.
Can I take a foster child on vacation with me?
Yes, foster parents can take children in their care on vacation as long as they have permission from a caseworker, especially for out-of-state travel or trips lasting longer than 3 days. Make sure there are no conflicts with court appearances, visitations, or other appointments.
Costs associated with becoming a foster parent
States make the process of becoming a foster parent affordable, with most charging little to no fees for licensing, training, or application. However, there are some out-of-pocket expenses that prospective foster parents may encounter during the process: background checks, medical forms, home safety improvements, beds, or car seats.
Some states or agencies may reimburse or cover these costs, while others may expect families to pay them upfront. Licensing fees vary by state, though many states have eliminated or minimized these fees to encourage more families to foster. Below is a table summarizing common costs and examples:
| Factor | Average cost* |
|---|---|
| Application or licensing fee | $0 – $50 |
| Background checks, fingerprinting | $0 – $75 per adult |
| Medical forms / physical exam cost | $0 – $350 per person |
| Home safety improvements | $0 – $500+ |
| Required equipment (bed, car seat) | $50 – $300+ |
| CPR certification cost | $0 – $140 per person |
| TB testing cost | $0 – $350 per person |
| Transportation to training | $0 – $50 |
*Ranges include potential reimbursement or government subsidization
Ongoing expenses
When fostering a child, you’ll also encounter day-to-day expenses like clothing, diapers, toys or comfort items, formula or baby food, and childcare.
The average cost of a baby's first year is $12,600 to $30,500.
Child care costs $400 to $1,500+ per month at a daycare center.
Child therapy costs $60 to $150 per session. This is not required, but many foster children experience trauma or even violence and may benefit from sessions with a therapist if you’re in a position to provide it.
Toys and comfort items cost $5 to $200 and include things like stuffed animals, blankets, nightlights, or books.
Many foster children don’t have adequate luggage to transport their belongings. Consider providing some as a gift or work with charities like Hope in a Suitcase or The Suitcase Project. This helps give children a sense of dignity and stability, even if they move on from your home.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.