How to Become a Foster Parent in Delaware
There are nearly 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. In Delaware, there are more youth in foster care than there are foster or adoptive families to take them in. State and local resources within the child welfare system work to support children and families in need. It is an ongoing challenge to find good foster homes in Delaware.
Some children who are unable to return home need short-term foster care. Others may need a permanent home and adoptive family. Reasons for long-term care can include the main caregiver's death or ongoing mental health problems. Additionally, child abuse or neglect can lead to the termination of parental rights within a child's birth family or other caregiver.
Is there anything you can do to help foster kids? Yes. Solving a problem starts with educating the public and raising awareness or support.
Want to make a difference for a kid or sibling group in need? Be the reliable adult they can count on.
If you can open your home and care directly for a child in need, the positive impact is immediate and lasting. Here, you will find the information you need—common questions, Delaware foster care requirements, and more. When you are ready, we will connect you with a child-placing agency in Delaware to help you throughout the process.
Quotes about foster care
How to Become a Foster Parent in Delaware
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 Delaware can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Delaware 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 Delaware:
- Request Information About Fostering –
FosterUSKids puts the Delaware foster care and adoption agencies at your fingertips. - 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.
- 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.
- Attend Pre-Service Training –
Around 30 hours of formal parent training cover essential topics from what to expect to trauma-informed foster care.
- 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.
- 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 Delaware, 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 Delaware child-placing agency now.
Requirements to Foster in Delaware
Children in foster care go through incredibly stressful situations. When child welfare has to remove them from their homes, the kids face uncertainty. One of the first questions is wondering where they will live.
To become a foster care parent in Delaware, you must follow a series of steps. First, you need to contact an agency.
Then, you must attend an information session and fill out an application. After that, you will need to complete training and undergo a home assessment. Finally, once you complete all these steps, you will earn certification as a foster care parent.
In Delaware, foster parents must:
- Be age 21 or older
- Prove financial stability
- Complete the required training course
- Pass a criminal background check and fingerprint screening
- Complete the Home Study
- Provide a spare bedroom (for children of one gender)
- Confirm the parent's good health
- Live in a safe environment
If you meet the requirements, contact your local foster agency or department of human services. They can help you and other family members enroll in foster orientation.
Foster FAQs for Delaware
If this is your first time considering becoming a foster parent in Delaware, you may have questions. Here are FAQs from aspiring foster families.
Can I Foster if I Have Children of My Own?
Yes. You can have up to five children in the home.
Delaware also has space and sleeping requirements for each foster child. Children who share a room must be the same gender.
Can I Choose the Age or Gender of the Child?
Yes. You can discuss what age group or specific characteristics you feel are the best fit.
There is a significant need for families willing to take teenagers or sibling groups. If you are willing and able to foster those most in need, it may expand your foster and adoption options.
What if I Want to Adopt a Child?
A local Delaware child-placing agency can work with you for foster and adoption. There are plenty of children in foster care that become eligible for adoption. While the goal is reunification, returning home may not be in the best interest of the child.
If a court terminates parental rights, they usually ask foster parents if they are interested in adoption.
Foster agencies in Delaware
General Foster FAQs
General Statistics About Foster Care
444
Kids in Delaware's foster care system
107
Delaware foster kids awaiting adoption
11 Years
Median age of a child in Delaware's foster care system
15%
Percentage of foster children living in group homes
Roughly 20,000 kids "age out" of foster care every year. Many teenagers leaving foster care are legally adults, but they are not prepared to live on their own or support themselves.
As a result, foster care children are more likely to drop out of school before they earn a high school diploma. In the U.S., the highest-paying jobs usually require a high school or post-secondary degree. Without one, foster kids who age out of care may struggle to earn a living and secure safe housing.
The latest data in the Delaware Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) covers foster statistics during fiscal year 2021. It reports that 13% of foster kids are 17 years old. In addition, there are:
- 444 children in the Delaware foster care system
- 107 foster kids awaiting adoption
- 59% who live with foster families
- 15% who live in group homes
- 23% of case plans with goals for adoption
Delaware's foster care system has kids spanning all age groups, with the median age being 11 years old. 45% of foster care case plans currently have reunification goals to rejoin foster kids with their biological parents.
The median time for a foster kid to spend in the Delaware system is 12 months. 5% spend five or more years in foster care.
Every foster parent and child relationship is one-of-a-kind, and there is no such thing as a perfect parent. If you are ready to provide a steady home and care for a child, communicate your needs to a foster caseworker. Let your caseworker know if caring for an older child or sibling group is an option.
Support Services for Foster Parents in Delaware
Many Delaware resources provide support for foster children and families. The Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) works to protect foster children and support licensed foster families.
Child-placing agencies assist Delaware's foster children by matching them with suitable families. They also provide foster parent training and assist families throughout the foster process. They assist families adopting foster children and connect them to local support groups for foster and adoptive parents.
Social workers suggest foster families learn more through parenting classes or reading materials about challenges faced by foster children and families. One example is the importance of cultural competence. By staying updated on news about Delaware's foster youth, foster parents can also become better advocates for kids in their care.
Respite care in Delaware is another option for foster parents open to providing short-term care for kids. Respite families receive the same training as foster families. They take care of foster children temporarily when families need a break or have to travel out of state. Let your local child-placing agency know if you are interested in providing respite care.
Now is the Time to Become a Foster Parent in DELAWARE
Every day in Delaware, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Delaware 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 Delaware.
Still undecided? A Delaware 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 Delaware child today.
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