How to Become a Foster Parent in California

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in California

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 California can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Alabama 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 California:

1. Request Information About Fostering – 
   FosterUSKids puts the California 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 California, 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 a California child-placing agency now.

Requirements to Foster in California

Many do not realize the need for new resource families in California. The number of foster kids outnumber the foster families who can provide short or long-term care. Foster advocates work hard to find places for these children, but it is not easy.

The latest 2021 report from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report in California says there are:

• 47,871 kids in California's foster care system
• 22,892 who entered foster care
• 15,386 foster kids awaiting adoption
• California foster kids across all ages, with a median of 8 years
• 33% whose foster child case plans include adoption

A child's median time in the California foster care system is over a year at 16.8 months. 13% spend 3-4 years in foster care.

California needs foster parents to take in multiple children if they have the time and energy to care for them. Sibling groups often need care, and it is essential to support these family bonds. In California, it is challenging to find homes for teenagers, though they need stable environments and reliable adults to support them.

Foster FAQs for California

Raising foster children takes commitment, patience, and a lot of love. It also involves understanding the foster process, which may seem confusing. California foster families frequently ask these questions:

Do I Have to Attend Foster Training?

Yes. Foster care agencies in California require foster families to complete training before placing a child with them.

There are 20 hours of required training classes. They include pre-approval training and pre-placement training. These courses teach parents more about the needs of the child and how to be an effective parent.

Foster kids have all experienced some trauma. All foster children lived in situations the state determined were unsafe or unhealthy. Therefore, foster parent training takes a trauma-informed approach.

What Is Respite Foster Care?

In California, respite care means one foster family temporarily cares for another family's children. People also refer to this as "short-term" foster care.

The main benefit is relief for the caregivers. Sometimes, resource parents need time away from home, such as for a work trip or a family emergency. Respite care is a solution in these cases, too.

Do I Need a Vehicle to Foster in California?

Yes. State law requires that all foster parents have a working vehicle large enough to accommodate the family. The driver must also have car insurance.

Part of the required background check for foster parents includes ensuring foster parents have a clean driving record.

Can I Foster if I Rent My Home?

Yes. Foster parents can rent or own their homes. However, the residence must meet all safety requirements.

California also requires that foster homes meet minimum space requirements for each child. Foster children must have a separate bedroom, though they can share with another child.

Foster agencies in California

Select My Foster Agency in California

General Foster FAQs

General Statistics About Foster Care

• 47,871

  Kids in California's foster care system

• 15,386

  California foster kids waiting to be adopted

• 13%

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

• 8 Years

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

Many do not realize the need for new resource families in California. The number of foster kids outnumber the foster families who can provide short or long-term care. Foster advocates work hard to find places for these children, but it is not easy.

The latest 2021 report from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report in California says there are:

• 47,871 kids in California's foster care system
• 22,892 who entered foster care
• 15,386 foster kids awaiting adoption
• California foster kids spanning all ages, with a median age of 8 years old
• 33% of foster child case plans with goals that include adoption

A child's median time in the California foster care system is over a year at 16.8 months. 13% spend 3-4 years in foster care.

California needs foster parents to take in multiple children if they have the time and energy to care for them. Sibling groups often need care, and it is essential to support these family bonds. In California, it is challenging to find homes for teenagers, though kids of every age need stable environments and reliable adults.

Support Services for Foster Parents in California

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

Your local California foster agencies provide resource guides, helpful articles, and vital statistics to support foster parents and family members. They are among your best resources for assistance.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the Out-of-Home Care System provide helpful online information. They provide statewide training and promote county-sponsored programs to assist kids in foster care.

Caregiver groups, such as the California Alliance of Caregivers, seek to provide a connection point for foster parents. Recruitment websites attempt to identify and connect individuals interested in becoming foster parents in California.

Your local foster care agency is also a resource for information and assistance in California.

Now is the Time to Become a Foster Parent in CALIFORNIA

Every day in California, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every California 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 California.

Still undecided? A California 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 a California child today.