How Long Does it Take to Become a Foster Parent?

The foster care system serves over half a million children every year. According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), this number reached 606,000 children and teens. Many people, such as foster parents, social workers, and caring individuals, help children in America's child welfare system.

However, the number of children entering state foster care programs is outpacing the number of foster families to care for them.

Adults who want to help children in foster care often start with questions about how the foster care system works. For those considering becoming foster parents themselves, a frequently asked question is about foster approval timing. How long does it take to become a foster parent?

The general timeframe is a good starting point. However, foster parents have the ability to speed up or slow down the process based on their level of attention. This guide covers overall and specific factors that impact the time it takes to complete the foster licensing process.

Your local foster care placement agency can walk you through step-by-step. Once you start the process, a foster care and adoption specialist can help you stay on track and expedite the process.

Becoming a Foster Parent Takes Time

Getting your foster license is not a short process. The foster approval and licensing process ensures that adults are ready and fit to provide foster home care. The average time it takes most parents to get their license is 90-120 days.

Social workers recommend prospective foster parents research foster care in your state. This includes understanding minimum requirements and basic foster care facts and considerations. Discussing the idea with family members and evaluating how fostering may impact your lifestyle is also good.

Before you take the first step, ensure you prepare to foster with 24/7 love and support. Like all parenting, foster parenting is a full-time commitment. As a foster parent, you will coordinate support services and help your child overcome obstacles and challenges.

Begin by asking yourself some questions. Foster parenting takes time and energy, so you must be healthy enough to provide care. You must dedicate yourself to looking after your kids until they can return to their birth parents.

A few unofficial but highly recommended prerequisite steps also exist. Among them, you will need to have your finances in order. Also, family services are vital, so you will want to create a solid support network. While not included in the foster parent licensing process, these will help you prepare and keep your timeline moving forward.

When you feel ready to open your home to foster youth, contact a foster family agency in your state. This initial inquiry will be the official "beginning" of your licensing process.

What are the Requirements to be a Foster Parent?

Foster care requirements vary by state. Research the minimum foster requirements to ensure you are eligible.

While there are differences among state requirements and within privately managed child-placing agencies, core requirements are similar.

First, social services require adults to be at least 18 to 21 years of age to foster. Some private agencies set a higher age minimum, ranging up to 25 years.

Foster parents must have a stable home environment. If you are in a committed relationship, you will need to demonstrate it is stable, as well.

Foster parents can be single, married, or in a relationship. It does not matter if you already have biological children. Foster parents can identify as cisgender or LGBTQ+.

Household members over a certain age must pass a criminal background check, including fingerprinting.

Applicants must provide three character references. They must also show proof of financial stability and pass a medical exam. Foster and adoptive families must be in good health and have time and energy to care for children.

Pre-service and in-service foster parent training requirements exist. The hours required vary by state and agency. However, every applicant must complete training before they will receive a foster parent license.

The Home Study is among the most in-depth portions of the process. A foster child advocate will evaluate your home to ensure it meets safety standards and space requirements. Rent or own, you must provide enough space for each foster child. Foster kids can sometimes share bedrooms with other children, but each requires their own bed and space for their personal belongings.

You may need to make changes to prepare your home and ensure it will pass a foster home inspection. For instance, you might have to install baby gates or a fence around a pool area. If you live by water, you may need to make a safety plan to keep a child safe. To avoid surprises, use tools and resources to prepare for your Home Study ahead of time.

What are the Steps to Earning a Foster Care License?

After your research and planning phase, you may contact your local foster care agency. They will listen to understand your goals and explain the steps to become a foster parent:

Orientation

The child-placing agency you choose will provide a brief form for you to provide contact information. After you send your inquiry, a foster care advocate will call to understand your needs and explain what happens next. This initial call is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and share your foster goals.

The next step is to attend an orientation. This in-person meeting will teach you detailed information about becoming a foster parent. You'll learn about different types of foster care, such as Kinship care and Respite care.

Additional topics range from how to be a good foster parent to meeting the unique needs of foster children. During orientation, potential foster parents can ask questions and meet other adults who are also on the fostering path.

The Home Study

Several steps together make up the longest phase. The Home Study includes fingerprinting and background checks, completing the necessary paperwork, and participating in multiple interviews.

The Home Study caseworker will visit your home at least once. It helps move this thorough process along if applicants stay available and flexible during the Home Study process.

Aspiring foster parents complete each step with as-needed guidance from your agency partner. Steps include mundane but important tasks. Examples include filling out paperwork, submitting proof of income, scheduling inspections, and participating in interviews. During this phase, you will also need to complete a physical and get the all-clear from your doctor.

Foster Parent Training

Each state requires aspiring foster parents to complete a minimum number of hours of foster parent training. Topics cover a range of essentials. These include an overview of the foster system and an understanding of the unique needs of foster children.

You will learn about specific resources, such as registries for child abuse. Training will also cover broader topics, like how to be an excellent caregiver to a foster child in need.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Foster Parent License?

On average, it takes 3-4 months from the time of foster orientation to licensing. When planning, think about how much time you need to prepare your family for welcoming youth in foster care into your home.

Once you begin the foster care process, you may need to make changes to your home to pass safety clearances. You and your family may need to schedule several face-to-face interviews. Individual steps can slow down the overall process. What may take one family three months to complete could take another family upwards of six months.

The key to expediting the foster licensing process is to stay on top of your responsibilities and remain flexible. Delays may happen, and you may or may not have control over them. Stay focused on the fact that children desperately need you. Each step will take you one closer to giving a foster kid a better shot at life.

Make a Difference: Become a Foster Parent Today

Fostering is a rewarding journey, but the process may seem daunting for people new to foster care. Breaking the typical timeframe down into simpler steps helps clarify the process.

Nearly 400,000 foster children a year separate from their birth families as they enter the foster care system. For many, kinship care is impossible, so their options are group homes or in-home foster care.

The high volume of foster children creates a critical need for more loving foster families. There are many ways for you to get involved in child welfare. Don't let unanswered questions or uncertainties hold you back if you're considering this meaningful path.

Talk to a foster family or go to an orientation to meet people starting their foster parenting journey. Or go straight to the source and talk to a social worker who can assist you.

Becoming a foster parent can take 3-6 months, but your actions to help a foster child will last a lifetime. Call your local child-placing agency and begin fostering today.