​How to Start Foster Parenting

We encourage you to take the first step today. Information always helps make a decision, and every state operates differently.

Go to www.AdoptUSkids.org. Click on “For families” tab and select “State adoption and foster care information.” Select your state. Review agency choices and contact one to go to sign up to attend a local orientation. This is a no obligation, informational Q&A meeting which usually occurs monthly. 

Are you itching to do more now? Training may take 10-weeks and not start for awhile. While you wait: 

• Prepare your calendar for training: arrange childcare for your children, work ahead on commitments so you will have flexibility to see it through training. 
• Pray. Place a notecard on the refrigerator or by your computer to be reminded to pray for your process and preparedness for fostering. 
• Create a budget. Save up a few hundred dollars to have for initial expenses with a case. Ensure you have financial cushion in monthly expenses. 
• Start a paperwork folder. Gather copies of your birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licenses and insurance. Draw a fire escape plan. You may ask the agency contact for an application to begin filling out. 
• Contact friends and family and ask if you can use them for a reference. Put together their mailing addresses and contact information in one place. 
• Think through bedroom arrangements, and complete any house projects that would keep you from receiving a placement.