How to Become a Foster Parent in Arizona

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Arizona's child welfare system is under strain. Every day, the foster care system receives children and youths whose homes do not meet their needs. In 2022, this included 38 kids in a single day, confirming the urgency of need.

There are many reasons children cannot remain with their birth families. In Arizona, many foster children do not have good home care or even one dependable adult.

There is a shortage of living options for Arizona foster kids. Many struggle to find foster homes or group homes with proper care. Without a family to count on, they often feel abandoned or neglected.

Every child needs at least one adult to depend on. As a foster parent in Arizona, you can make a difference and be the dependable adult a foster child needs. Contact a social worker at an Arizona foster care agency to learn how. It is easier to become a foster family than you might think.

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How to Become a Foster Parent in Arizona

foster mom and foster child hugging with a flower in their hands

Close to 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system, and the numbers are on the rise. Yet, the path to becoming a foster parent in Arizona can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Arizona agency to simplify becoming a foster parent.

HOW TO FOSTER: A SIX-STEP GLANCE

There are six steps to complete before you can bring a child into your home as a licensed foster parent in Arizona:

  1. Request Information About Fostering – 
    FosterUSKids puts the Arizona foster care and adoption agencies at your fingertips.
  2. Attend an Orientation Meeting for Foster Parenting –
    Learn more about the foster parent journey: how to become a foster parent, the characteristics of kids in foster care, and state foster care rules and regulations.
     
  3. Submit a Foster Parent Application –
    Your agency’s social workers will help you with the required documentation, background checks, personal references, and state-specific criteria.
     
  4. Attend Pre-Service Training –
    Around 30 hours of formal parent training cover essential topics from what to expect to trauma-informed foster care.
     
  5. Complete an Assessment and Home Study –
    This vital process includes a home visit and interviews with social workers to ensure you are a good fit and ready to be matched with a foster child.
     
  6. Receive Your Foster License –
    The typical 3 to 6-month process results in getting your foster family license and then welcoming a foster child into your home!

Parenting is a rewarding journey marked by commitment and growth. For foster children in Arizona, the search is not for a perfect parent but someone they can count on for love, care, and a stable home – a foundation that will make a life-altering difference.

We at FosterUSKids are grateful you are on the path to learning more. For detailed guidance through every step, contact an Arizona child-placing agency now.

Requirements to Foster in Arizona

Every state has a set of requirements for foster parents. To be a foster parent in Arizona, you must meet the state's minimum requirements to provide foster care. If caring for children in Arizona's foster system is your goal, you must:

  • Be 21 years of age or older
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Complete a Home Study
  • Pass a home safety inspection
  • Qualify for a fingerprint clearance card (all adults living in or frequently visiting the child at home)
  • Be capable of caring for a child
  • Receive a doctor's statement that you are healthy enough to provide care
  • Offer a safe and caring home environment
  • Maintain financial stability

 

Foster FAQs for Arizona

You may have questions if this is your first time considering becoming a foster parent. Here are FAQs from Arizona's aspiring foster families.

What is the Difference Between Kinship Care and Fostering?

Kinship care refers to temporarily placing a child with a family member or close family friend. Placing a child or sibling group with a licensed foster family defines foster care.

In both scenarios, the goal is usually to rejoin a foster child with the birth parents or primary caregiver. This is not always possible or the safest long-term option for many children. In those cases, foster children become eligible for adoption instead.

What Is the Home Study?

The Arizona Department of Child Safety requires a Home Study. This study helps courts and child welfare agencies decide if foster parents are prepared to give a child a loving home. While it sounds complex, most prospective foster parents come through smoothly.

The process includes parent training, background checks, interviews, safety inspections, and necessary paperwork. Talk to your local foster agency for more information about what to expect and how to prepare for a Home Study.

What if I Want to Adopt?

Adoption is often on the minds of potential foster parents. Returning home is not an option for many kids in the child welfare system. In some instances, reunification may not be possible or in the best interest of a foster child. Your foster agency can provide guidance, connect you with a child in need, and walk you through requirements and procedures.

Start by contacting your foster agency and mentioning your interest in adoption. A social worker will explain the process for fostering children and support you in your journey to foster or adopt.

Can I Foster More Than One Child?

Absolutely. Many foster kids come into the foster system with their siblings, and it is ideal for them to stay together. There is a great need for licensed foster families willing to open their homes to siblings.

The need to care for siblings is great for licensed foster families in Arizona. If you are open to the idea, communicate this to your agency. It can speed up the placement process and open more foster care options.

View all foster & adoption agencies in Arizona.

Foster agencies in Arizona

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General Statistics About Foster Care

  • 14,890

    Children in Arizona's foster care system

  • 3,088

    Foster kids in Arizona waiting to be adopted

  • 7 Years

    Median age of a child in Arizona's foster care system

  • 8%

    The percentage of Arizona foster children who have been in the system for 3-4 years

Many families considering foster care want to know more before deciding. The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report in Arizona gives information on children in foster care, including statistics and outcomes. The most up-to-date data and estimates are from 2021:

  • 14,890 children are in Arizona's foster care system
  • 8,368 children entered the foster care system
  • 3,088 children are awaiting adoption
  • 2,421 of the children awaiting adoption came from families with terminated parental rights
  • 8% of foster youth have been in the system for 3-4 years

Arizona's foster care system has kids spanning all age groups, with the median age being seven years. Only 40% of foster care case plans currently have reunification goals to rejoin foster kids with their biological parents.

There are far more children in the foster care system than there are licensed homes to take them. Advocates for change include foster mom Anika Robinson, who goes above and beyond to help abandoned and neglected children.

Support Services for Foster Parents in Arizona

No need to be a perfect parent or have specific experience to foster a child in Arizona. Rather, Arizona foster children need adults who can give them time and energy.

There are plenty of services designed to support foster parents in Arizona. To learn more about fostering or adoption, take the first step: contact your local foster care agency.

The US Department of Health and Human Services aims to improve the well-being of people in the country. Arizona has departments of social services focused on improving the well-being of people in the state. The Department of Health Services can also provide additional information and resources about foster care in Arizona.

The goal of every agency is to place children in a loving, supportive, and safe home. Some foster children need a temporary home; others seek an adoptive family. There are many reasons for long-term care needs, including abuse, neglect, or the death of a parent.

Arizona provides non-profit resources for families. These resources include tutoring and health services. They offer support to foster parents and the children they care for. Arizona non-profits include:

A care option for foster children with biological family members and close adult caregivers may be kinship care. This alternative to fostering and adoption refers to placing children in the homes of extended family members. Examples could be a grandparent, uncle, or close family friend.

KARE Family Centers provides help to kinship caregivers in Arizona.

Now is the Time to Become a Foster Parent in ARIZONA

Every day in Arizona, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Arizona kid needs a soft place to land and a place to call home. Whether you can offer temporary care or become a forever family, your interest could mean a brighter, more secure future for a child in Arizona.

Still undecided? An Arizona child-placing agency is here to guide you, providing answers about stipends, coaching, therapy resources, and foster parent training.

Take the next step: Begin your parenting journey by fostering an Arizona child today.

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