How to Become a Foster Parent in Kentucky

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in Kentucky

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

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

Requirements to Foster in Kentucky

You'll still have support and guidance when you receive a foster placement. Kentucky has continued training and can connect new foster parents with experienced families through the Foster Parent Mentor Program.

Having access to an experienced foster family is invaluable. You'll be able to connect with other adults who have advice and can provide coaching to make your parenting journey easier.

Your local child-placing agency is one of your best sources of information and foster parenting services.

Nonprofit child welfare organizations approved by the state recruit resource parents, provide resources, and offer training and general support. When you attend the informational orientation and parent training, you'll receive books and resources that tell you more about the many available foster parent support groups.

Foster FAQs for Kentucky

There are plenty of people that don't know much about being a foster parent, and that's okay. If you're interested, the first step is to contact your local child-placing agency and ask for more information.

We've also compiled some FAQs and answers.

How Long Are Kids in Foster Care?

The timeframe can vary depending on the child's case. Some children are only with a foster family for a few days or weeks. Others may spend months with their resource family or get adopted.

If you're considering the option of adoption through foster care, let your agency know about your interest.

What Support Will I Have?

Foster parents work with a case manager who will have frequent contact with you and the child. Your case manager is always there if you have questions or concerns.

You'll also receive contact information for emergency services.

How Long Does It Take To Get a License?

Finishing the licensing process can take up to six months. You can shorten the time it takes to receive full licensure by completing all necessary training and paperwork as soon as possible. You may also receive a temporary license.

How Soon After Getting Licensed Will I Receive a Child Placement?

After you become a licensed foster parent, you're ready to have a child placed in your home. However, the timeframe for this placement can vary depending on specified preferences, such as an age group or the number of children.

The more flexible you are, the sooner you may hear from your agency.

Become a Foster Parent in Kentucky

There are kids out there counting on people like you to help them. You can start now that you know how to become a foster parent in Kentucky. We hope this guide told you more about what you need to know.

Our goal is to find a safe and comfortable foster home for the many kids in care. Everyone deserves a parent to love them. If you're interested in learning more about fostering or adoption.

Foster agencies in Kentucky

Select My Foster Agency in Kentucky

General Foster FAQs

General Statistics About Foster Care

• 8,369

  Children in Kentucky foster care in 2021

• 3,234

  Kentucky children ready to be adopted

• 5,100

  Entered foster care in 2021

• 16

  Is the average months a child will stay in Foster care in 2021

The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report highlights the latest statistics by state. It gives potential foster parents a glimpse into the situation.

Here's what the data says about Kentucky's foster care system:

• There are 8,369 kids in Kentucky's foster care
• 5,100 children entered care in 2021
• 3,234 were waiting for adoption as of September 30th, 2021
• 2,453 had all parental rights terminated
• The median age of kids in care is nine years old
• 67% of current placement settings are with a non-relative foster home
• 59% of case plans have a goal of reuniting the child with their parents
• 37% of cases aim for adoption
• Foster youth spend a median time of 15.8 months in care

Many children entering foster care are part of a sibling group. As such, there's a significant demand for parents willing to take these siblings in together to avoid separation.

Teens are also often harder to place, so there's a need for foster parents willing to care for that age group.

Support Services for Foster Parents in Kentucky

A foster parent's goal is to provide temporary support for children removed from their families and placed in the foster care system. It's your goal to provide a safe and loving space for them 24/7 until any safety issues with their parents can be worked out.

Foster children are often placed in care due to abuse or neglect. Their time in foster care is a temporary measure while the court works with the birth parents. Reunification is the primary goal, but foster youth need a supportive and stable environment until then.

So, how do you become a foster parent? First, you need to meet Kentucky's requirements:

• The minimum age for foster parents is 21 years old
• Adults must attend a foster care orientation
• Parents must complete the required training
• You must provide a safe, comfortable, and supportive home
• You're financially stable and can care for a child
• All household members are in good health
• You can provide space for the child and their belongings
• All adults must pass a background check
• Your home passes the inspection
• You complete the home study process

Foster parents must practice cultural sensitivity and encourage the child to uphold and practice their beliefs if they follow a certain religion.

You're also expected to bolster their personal growth by encouraging them to participate in activities to build crucial life skills. Examples include joining a sports team or signing up for school clubs.

Another key responsibility is monitoring their health and taking them to appointments. Foster parents must ensure they care for the child's physical and mental health.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Kentucky

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

Still undecided? A Kentucky 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 Kentucky child today.