“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
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.
Here Are 3 Top Concerns 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 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
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.
What Makes A Good Foster Parent?
Former Foster Youth Share First-Hand Experiences
America’s Kids Belong is seeding Foster Friendly Communities across the country to ensure a supportive community behind every foster family.
