Explore Fostering

“Fostering has stretched our family in good ways. Our kids ask us, ‘When are we going to foster more kids,’ because it’s very close to their hearts.”

– Scott Telle, Foster Dad

Want To Explore How To Become A Foster Parent?

What led you here today?

Whether you are just curious, exploring fostering, or you’re a seasoned, (and weary) foster parent, there are two things you can’t get enough of::

  • Inspiration: You CAN do this!
  • Information: How do you get started?
  • Support: What resources are available to help?

There are about 400,000 kids in the U..S. foster care system, yet only half as many licensed foster homes to care for them. That gap is treacherous to a child who already has suffered deep trauma and loss.

So if you have a heart for vulnerable kids, you are needed. The process can be hard and frustrating. But we encourage you to adopt what we like to call patient perseverance.

While the hurdles and red tape cause many prospective parents to abandon the system, the kids don’t have the same choice. They are counting on people who will stand strong and advocate for them.

Got A Heart For Kids? The Other Requirements Are Pretty Flexible

Becoming a foster parent is often easier than you think. Here are the typical requirements. (You can check your specific state below.)

Parent Age

The minimum age to foster in most states is 21.

Housing

You don’t have to own a home to foster. You just need space to offer a safe place for a child.

Marital Status

You don’t have to be married to foster.

Childcare

In most cases you will be compensated
for child care.

Career

You can work full-time outside the home as a foster parent.

Care Options

A wide range of options are available with different licensing requirements and placement durations, including emergency custodial care, respite care and long-term placements.

Accepting Placements

You can say yes or no to the placement of children in your home on a case-by-case basis.

Expenses

Medical expenses are covered for the child in your care, and typically a daily living stipend is offered to help offset costs.

Explore Foster Parent Requirements In Your State

America’s Kids Belong operates in the following states. Visit our chapter in your state to learn more. If you don’t see your state listed we offer a national directory.

CaliforniaKentucky
ColoradoSouth Dakota
GeorgiaTennessee
IndianaVirginia
Kansas
Don’t see your state?

Here Are 3 Top Questions People Have About Fostering

I don’t have time.

Fostering does take a lot of time. That’s why you need your people. Engage your tribe, church, extended family or neighbors who are willing to dig in and help you juggle day-to-day tasks with the extra appointments and needs when you’re fostering.

How will my kids be affected?

When you have the support you need to do it well, you might be surprised by how easily your children build bonds and practice compassion.

What if I get too attached?

Your role is to get attached because that is what kids in foster care, who are suffering huge losses already, need most. It’s important to show the child that they are part of a family unit for as long as they need to be.

Fostering Well Means Growing Your Heart For Reunified, Healthy Families

Fostering is designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for a child whose family is in crisis and temporarily unable to care for them. It’s important to enter into foster care with a mindset that is for reunification. As a foster parent you can play an important role in helping to restore children in your care to their families through your support. This video shares the hard and beautiful of how that relationship can look from the perspective of the bio parents.

This is the story of Richard and Rachel. They had been living a life filled with addiction. Their addiction stemmed from unhealthy coping of their own childhood trauma. They became a crutch to each other keeping the other stuck in the cycle of addition.

Their son was removed from them as result of their addiction and sent to live with foster parents. It seemed as if this case was headed toward adoption.

But things started to change for Rachel and Richard. Thanks to the court-ordered fit program and their personal commitments to working toward recovery they started to see they could be healthy, safe and loving parents to their little boy.

Richard and Rachel started meeting milestones at a record rate and became a source of inspiration to others in the program with them. The support of their son’s foster parents was a key piece of helping to motivate them. The foster parents encouraged them during visits and even attended their fit court graduation.

After meeting the goals set by the court Rachel and Richard were reunited with their son. Richard even helped with a new curriculum for people in fit court. A few years ago this family moved closer to family. 

Today they are active in their church and community, Richard shares his testimony every chance he gets, and best of all, their son is now thriving, surrounded by his large, loving family.


Fostering has grown our children in numerous ways for the better, and they still choose it [after 12 years and more than 60 kids].”

Foster mom Courtney Williams

Gain First-Hand Insights On The ‘Good/Hard” Experience That Is Fostering

Watch Our FosterCon Panels On-Demand

Fostering Info Panel What Does It Mean To Engage Foster Care?
What Does It Mean To Engage Foster Care?

This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about foster care and becoming foster parents. You’ll hear from current and former foster parents, adoptive parents, a former foster youth who went on to get her doctorate, and someone who has worked in child advocacy.

Fostering: From Licensing to Your First Placement

Learn about how to navigate the foster care licensing process as well as experienced insights about what to expect and how to prepare for your first placement. Hear authentic personal stories and ask questions of a rotating panel of experienced representatives.

This webinar is for folks who have decided to engage foster care to provide the information and inspiration you need to navigate the process and overcome obstacles with patient perseverance.

How To Thrive As A Foster Parent

This panel offers individuals an opportunity to learn about foster care and the process. Hear authentic personal stories and ask questions of a rotating panel of experienced representatives. This is a great first step for people interested in becoming foster parents who are seeking guidance and support to get started.

Caring For Sibling Groups And Other Pressing Needs In Foster Care

Did you know that the greatest need for foster parents is for people willing to foster teens, sibling groups and/or therapeutic placements? Hear from a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with teens in foster care. Panelists share what is most rewarding and challenging about serving these kids and offer resources to help you meet their needs well.

What It Means To Engage Foster Care

This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about foster care and becoming foster parents. You’ll hear from current and former foster parents, adoptive parents, a former foster youth who went on to get her doctorate, and someone who has worked in child advocacy.

This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about foster care and becoming foster parents. You’ll hear from current and former foster parents, adoptive parents, a former foster youth who went on to get her doctorate, and someone who has worked in child advocacy.

This webinar is a great opportunity to learn more about foster care and becoming foster parents. You’ll hear from current and former foster parents, adoptive parents, a former foster youth who went on to get her doctorate, and someone who has worked in child advocacy.

Be First To Hear About Our 2024 FosterCon Webinar Series

What Makes A Good Foster Parent?

Former Foster Youth Share Their First-Hand Experiences

Danisha Keating says life skills mentoring and giving kids a voice are of great value.
Dairius Kawewehi emphasizes that creating a safe environment and unconditional support builds trust and fosters healing.
Britt Kelley suggests parents educate themselves, but most importantly to love the child, speak life to the child and give them grace when things don’t go the way you hope.

Why Do Foster Parents Need Foster Friendly Communities?

$6,000

Cost to train, equip and certify two foster parents.

50%

Certified foster parents who quit within the first year.

40%

Foster parents who cite lack of social support as a key reason for quitting.

Caring for traumatized children is important and rewarding. It also can be stressful and isolating.

Loving kids in hard places also means opening your heart to grief and loss when it is time to let them go.

And inviting children into your home at a moment’s notice for an undetermined amount of time can be disruptive and costly.

Imagine if when you said “Yes” to foster parenting you were greeted with:

A Foster Friendly App with offers and access to services from area businesses, ranging from discounts on family fun nights to self-care services for weary parents and memory-makers for kids like photography sessions and birthday cakes.

A locator map of faith and civic communities whose staff and volunteers are trauma aware, and who offer wrap-around services for kinship and foster parents, along with support groups and foster parent night outs and more.

America’s Kids Belong is seeding Foster Friendly Communities across the country to ensure a family for every child and a supportive community behind every foster family.