How Long Does It Take to Become a Foster Parent?

Becoming a foster parent is a highly rewarding experience. Not only are you accepting someone into your home who needs a stable and nurturing family environment, but you are developing a loving and caring relationship with a person who needs your support.

However, just how long does it take to become a foster parent?

The time it takes to become a foster parent depends on your state, but the process typically takes three to six months.

What Do I Need to Become a Foster Parent?

What you need to become a foster parent varies state by state. However, there are a few general requirements that are usually universal no matter where you live:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must have a sustainable income that can support a foster child.
• You must have no felonies or misdemeanors for physical or sexual abuse. This is misleading you must not have a Barrier crime.
• You must have a home with enough space for a foster child.
• You must be willing to have all of your family members’ including yourself receive a medical assessment.
• You must attend the provided foster training by your agency or the state.

What Are the Requirements to Open a Foster Home?

The requirements to open a foster home vary from state to state and sometimes even from county to county. Your agency will help you with questions like this, as will the correct state departments.

In most states, you must meet the requirements to be a foster parent, as well as attend extra training on opening a foster home and meeting additional safety requirements.

Foster Care and Adoption at First Home Care

First Home Care offers foster care and adoption services for children who require out-of-home, community-based placement in a family setting. Comprehensive, coordinated, and nurturing care is provided in the homes of trained treatment families with support, supervision, and 24-hour crisis intervention available from mental health professionals.

Foster care and adoption offers:

• Case management and care coordination to ensure all needs are addressed
• A secure environment for children with emotional, social, and educational issues
• Ongoing support of positive relationships with the child’s family, when appropriate
• Facilitation of each child’s ability to trust and develop healthy relationships
• Trained foster parents who are equipped to manage a vast continuum of emotional, behavioral, intellectual, and mental health issues
• A treatment team that collaboratively develops and monitors goals and objectives
• Linkage to and collaboration with appropriate and effective community resources
• Service assessment and planning
• Casey Life Skills
• Crisis support is available 24/7, including safety planning
• Focus on the attainment of permanency
• One-on-one in-service training
• CARF accredited

To learn more about our services, or to become a foster parent, call 757-393-7200 or email us. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.