Want To Explore Foster Parenting?
As you begin the journey to explore foster parenting, Kentucky Kids Belong will support you:
View kids in our state’s foster care system who are legally free for adoption.
Connect with other foster parents, experts and resources.
Become trauma aware and invite your support network to do the same.
Connect with Foster Friendly Community 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
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 |
