How to Become a Foster Parent in Washington DC

Foster parent reading to a child

The White House recently recognized the importance of May as National Foster Care Month. Supporters in the United States will celebrate caregivers and the foster care system on the first Tuesday of this month. The goal is to raise awareness and find more foster care and adoption parents. On National Foster Care Day, foster parent advocates wore blue to raise awareness and showed support on social media.

The challenge in Washington D.C. is that more kids need foster homes than exist. Child welfare agencies try to ensure every foster child has a place to call home. This may be in a group home environment, or, ideally with a foster family. Many foster parents in D.C. find fostering to be extremely rewarding for both themselves and their foster children.

The process of becoming a foster parent in D.C. can seem overwhelming at first glance. This guide will answer common questions and kickstart your journey to becoming a licensed foster parent. We can connect you with a local child-placing agency to guide you through the process.

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in DC

Foster family cooking in apartment

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 Washington, DC, can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Washington, DC, agency to simplify the process of 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 Washington, DC:

  1. Request Information About Fostering – 
    FosterUSKids put the Washington, DC, 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 Washington, DC, 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. Contact a Washington, DC, child-placing agency for detailed guidance.

Requirements to Foster in DC

Because there aren't enough foster parents in the District of Columbia, many foster kids end up living in nearby Maryland. However, D.C. has its own minimum requirements for licensing foster parents. Parents for District foster children need must:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Prove financial resources to support a child
  • Rent or own a home
  • Show you are healthy enough to care for a child
  • Provide enough space in the house for each foster child
  • Complete 30 hours of training
  • Pass a Home Study

There is no minimum parenting experience required. Foster parents in the District of Columbia can be single or married, with or without biological children at home. In fact, licensed homes are often a mix of biological and foster or adopted children.

You can work outside the home or be a stay-at-home parent. To help offset the costs of childcare, foster families receive assistance for every foster child in the home.

Foster FAQs for DC

It is natural to wonder whether you would make a good foster parent. Many people believe they are not qualified to care for a foster child but end up feeling pleasantly surprised.

Here are common questions asked by new or interested foster parents in the District of Columbia:

What is the Difference Between a Foster Family and a Host Home Family?

A Host Home is a transitional home that pairs kids between 12-24 with a family for six months.

Foster families work with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to become licensed homes for children in care. Foster care can range from short-term to long-term placements, from a few days to months. Foster care concludes at age 21. When a foster kid reaches 21 years old and leaves the foster system, the foster community calls it "aging out."

Do I Have Rights and Responsibilities?

Yes. As an aspiring foster parent, you have rights for yourself and responsibilities for your foster child.

No one can treat you differently based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, or disability. You have a right to ask questions and voice concerns without fear of punishment. You have a right to speak in a language you understand.

As a foster parent, you must take care of foster children and make sure they have everything they need. You also have a duty to provide for them and follow all D.C. regulations.

If you have concerns, contact your social worker right away to have them addressed.

Can I Adopt From Foster Care?

Yes! Each year, many children become eligible for adoption. Talk to your foster care agency if you are interested in this option. They will tell you more about the process and what to expect.

In the District of Columbia, the greatest need is among older kids and teenagers.

Do I Have to Talk to the Birth Parents?

Yes, in some cases, foster parents communicate with the foster child's birth parents. Working with birth parents helps foster children and often makes your job easier. Asking questions about the child's likes and dislikes, hobbies, or routines can help build a better relationship.

Foster agencies in DC

Select My Foster Agency in DC

General Statistics About Foster Care

  • 504

    Kids in D.C.'s foster care system

  • 243

    Foster kids who entered the D.C. foster care system

  • 156

    Foster kids in D.C. waiting to be adopted

  • 10%

    The percentage of D.C. foster children who are 17 years old

Kids in Washington D.C.'s child protective services have often experienced trauma, including child abuse and neglect. Some may return home after a temporary time in foster care. Others need to find permanent homes because they cannot return to their biological parents or primary caregivers.

Evidence-based data shows that when foster children turn 21 and leave foster care, they often face a rough road. 31% to 46% of children exiting foster care will experience homelessness by age 26. Although foster care agencies do everything they can to help these kids, it is not always enough. We need dedicated, loving parents to open their homes and advocate for foster youth.

The latest 2021 report of foster care statistics and outcomes is in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report. The District of Columbia reports says there are:

  • 504 children in DC's foster care
  • 243 children who entered the foster care system
  • 156 children awaiting adoption
  • 52% of kids in foster care with a non-relative
  • 46% of foster case plans that include reunification with the birth parents or caretaker

Foster kids in the District of Columbia span all ages, with a median of nine years old. A significant number of children in foster care are teenagers. 10% of youth in foster care are 17 years old.

It is challenging to find family homes for older foster youth, especially when their case plan goals include adoption. 32% of all case plans goals include adoption in Washington D.C. You can make a difference in the life and future of a foster kid in high school. Ask your social services agent for more information on how to approach fostering a teen.

 

Support Services for Foster Parents in DC

If you choose to foster, the District of Columbia and your local foster agency will provide resources and training. You will get special training to learn about foster care and how to take care of a foster child.

Family resource specialists in the District's child welfare system help foster parent applicants with paperwork. They also guide them through the licensing process and offer additional support when needed.

The District's Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) provides support services for foster parents. Their site provides educational resources and articles for current and potential foster parents. It is a resource for training, support groups, and crisis intervention.

The CFSA helps foster families connect with others and gives information to parents who want to foster or adopt. There are two paths to adoption, including foster-to-adopt.

Now is the Time to Become a Foster Parent in WASHINGTON D.C.

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

Still undecided? A local 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 child in Washington D.C. today.

Select My Foster Agency

Find a foster or adoption agency near you using our state directory for DC. If you represent an agency and would like to claim your listing, please contact us.

Agency Locality Agency Type
Washington
Adoption
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Specialized / Therapeutic Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
Washington
Adoption
Washington
Adoption
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
Washington
Other
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Other
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Specialized / Therapeutic Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
Washington
Traditional Foster Care, Specialized / Therapeutic Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption, Other