Requirements

The following requirements must be met to qualify to be a foster parent:

  • Foster parents must be at least 21 years of age.

  • Foster parents may be a single parent.

  • Foster parents may be employed full time.

  • Foster parents must pass an intial medical appraisal by a licensed physician establishing that the resource parent is physically able to care for children and is free from communicable disease.

  • Criminal and ChildLine background checks must be completed on all individuals (18 years and older) in the household.

  • FBI fingerprints must be completed on all individuals (18 years and older) in the household.

  • A foster parent must be able to document financial stability.

  • A foster parent must participate in 12 hours of pre-service training and then participate in 6 hours of Agency approved training annually thereafter.

The foster parent’s housing situation must meet the following requirements:

  • Separate rooms for all adults and children

  • Separate rooms for children of a different gender over the age of 5

  • No exposed wires

  • Smoke detectors on each level

  • Fire extinguisher (Class B)

  • All weapons secured and inaccessible

  • Medication, cleaning solutions, and poisons secured and inaccessible

  • Safety screens for fire places, wood stoves, etc.

  • Pools, hot tubs, etc. secured

  • Well test (for bacteria) if on a well

  • Outlet safety caps, for children under 5 years

  • Emergency numbers posted on each telephone

  • Foster parents may not smoke inside their homes or cars. Foster parents may not allow anyone else to smoke around foster children.