Want To Explore Foster Parenting?
As you begin the journey to explore foster parenting, Kentucky Kids Belong will support you:
Meet kids in our state’s foster care system who eligible for adoption.
Become trauma aware and invite your support network to do the same.
Connect with Foster Friendly businesses, faith communities and other organizations that are committed to supporting Kentucky’s kinship and foster families.
Let’s Connect
Foster Parent Requirements In Kentucky
Kentucky’s Cabinet For Health and Family Services is your best resource for information about becoming a kinship or foster parent in our state. But here are some key requirements to be aware of.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years old
- Parents can be married or single
- Parents should be financially stable and have an income (separate from any financial support offered to foster or adoptive parents for the child’s needs) sufficient to meet their family’s needs
- Applicants must be able to provide a safe, secure, and healthy home for a child
- Parents must be in good physical and mental health
- The home must meet requirements for housing safety and space
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.
Take The First Step To Fostering: Start Your Home Study
Before you can be considered for foster care or adoption you’ll need to complete a home study.
A home study (also known as a family assessment) is a process conducted by a caseworker to help prepare you and confirm that you meet the requirements to foster.
- A home study begins with an interview by the caseworker to get to know you and your family at your home.
- It often includes a home-safety inspection.
- The final deliverable is a written report that makes recommendations about the characteristics and number of children you are able to support in your care. Home studies vary from state-to-state and agency-to-agency.
This table provides regional contacts to initiate your home study, based on the county in which you reside.
Kentucky Foster Parent Training Contacts
| Cumberland (east and west) | Adair, Bell, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Rock Castle, Russell, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley | Jennifer White Rhonda Cantrell |
| Eastern Mountain | Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Wolfe | Heather Caudill Wilbert Hurt |
| Jefferson | Jefferson | A. Brunker |
| Lakes | Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, Mc Cracken, Muhlenberg, Trigg, Todd | Shawn Johnson J. Harber |
| Northeastern | Bath, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Robertson, Rowan | Sarah Reed Connie Lee |
| Northern Bluegrass | Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carol, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Scott | Jennifer Wiehe Roxanne Noland |
| Salt River Trail | Anderson, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, Woodford | Casey Gilbert Melinda Norris |
| Southern Bluegrass | Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell | Andrew Holt |
| Two Rivers North | Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Mc Lean, Metcalfe, Ohio, Union, Warren, Webster | Jeff Humphrey |