The goal of foster parenting is to make a temporary care commitment to the child while working toward reuniting the child with his/her birth family. Foster families help children feel secure and assist the child with the tasks of normal development. Foster families also assist the child’s birth family toward reunification by providing information on the child’s progress, cooperating with visitation and offering support and encouragement to the child’s parent.
Basic Licensing Requirements for Foster Parents
Any adult who cares about children is encouraged to become a licensed foster parent. In general, to be licensed:
- You must be 21 years of age.
- If married, you must have been married for one year. Single people are also eligible.
- You must have adequate living and sleeping space for all family members and foster children.
- You must be able to provide adequate supervision to the foster child.
- You must have enough income to meet your family’s basic needs.
- All members of the household must be in reasonably good physical, emotional, and mental health as documented by completion of a routine physical exam.
- Each household must have a fire inspection
- All foster parents are required to complete 30 hours of pre-service foster parent training, and 10 hours of in-service training annually.
- When you have completed an agency application, one of our social workers will do a home study.
- A fingerprint check will be completed on each household member over age 18.
Attend MAPP Classes
Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting is a 30 hour course that teaches you to be a great parent. Classes are conducted over a 10 week period; one night per week for 3 hours.
Benefits of Fostering A Child
One moment that you foster could be a positive lifetime experience in a child’s life.
For additional information on becoming a Foster Parent, please call (704) 487-0661 and ask to speak with a Foster/Adoption Licensing Social Worker.