How to Become a Foster Parent in Maine
Maine's Department of Health and Human Services recently revealed that the number of licensed foster homes is on the rise, but there's still plenty more to do. According to a DHHS spokesperson, available homes increased from 1,332 in 2019 to 1,770 in 2022.
We're on the right track but haven't reached the end goal yet.
If the recent news has inspired you to take action, we're here to help. This guide outlines what you need to know to learn how to become a foster parent in Maine. Read on to discover valuable resources for foster families, the state's requirements to foster, and more.
Quotes about foster care
How to Become a Foster Parent in Maine

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 Maine can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Maine 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 Maine:
- Request Information About Fostering –
FosterUSKids puts the Maine 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 Maine, 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 Maine child-placing agency now.
Requirements to Foster in Maine
Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services, is in charge of recruiting and training prospective foster parents. They also place children in supportive homes. As such, you can always turn to your DHSS for help.
You can find educational resources, handbooks, and references on their website. All resource parents must be licensed by the OCFS.
The Maine OCFS has partnered with many child welfare agencies that provide support. A licensed child-placing agency can train new parents and ensure they meet licensure requirements.
Resource parents can also learn about reimbursement for care-related expenses. Examples include safety gates, clothing, school supplies, etc.
Plus, foster families can access information, referrals, peer support groups, mentoring, and respite care.
Foster FAQs for Maine
Now you know a bit more about foster parent requirements and the system. And yet, you probably still have questions. We'll answer a few common ones here.
What Are the Foster Care Costs?
There are a few fees to consider when pursuing fostering or adoption. These include:
- Legal costs
- Home study fees
- Home Preparation
- General care costs
Foster parents are reimbursed (given a stipend) for providing care. This stipend varies depending on the child's age and needs.
DHHS also provides training and emotional support resources.
Do I Need to Provide Medical Insurance?
A foster parent doesn't need to cover medical expenses other than OTC medicine and certain supplies. Foster children qualify for Medicaid automatically.
If you have questions, be sure to talk to your coordinator.
Do I Need Parenting Experience?
Many foster parents begin their journey with little to no parenting experience. It's not uncommon to see childless adults applying to become licensed.
That said, parenting experience certainly helps. If you don't have any, don't be afraid to talk to other foster parents for advice.
Do I Need To Be Married and Own a Home to Foster?
Adults of any marital status can foster or adopt in Maine. That means that singles, unmarried couples, and same-sex couples can all apply.
Further, you don't need to own your home to foster. Renters can also foster as long as there's enough space for the child and their belongings. You'll need to give them their own bed.
Are You Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent?
If you're interested in learning more about how to become a foster parent in Maine, be sure to reach out to your local child-placing agency. They'll talk to you about your requirements and expectations.
Fostering and adoption are admirable paths to take that can change your life. You can make a significant difference in your community.
Foster agencies in Maine
General Foster FAQs
General Statistics About Foster Care
2,202
Children in Maine foster care in 2021
756
Children in Maine are awaiting to be adopted
909
Children entered Main foster care in 2021
10%
Of Maine foster children have been in care over 3-4 years
Maine needs foster parents desperately right now. Just how bad is the situation in the state? Here's what the latest data from the AFCARS report shows us:
- There are 2,202 kids in foster care
- 909 entered the system in 2021
- 756 were ready for adoption on September 30th of the FY
- 597 of those up for adoption had parental rights terminated
- 43% of children live in a non-relative foster home
- The median age of kids in care is six years old
- 53% of case plan goals are to reunite the child with their parents
- 34% of cases plan for adoption
- Foster children spend a median time of 15.8 months in care
- 10% of foster youth spend 3-4 years in foster care
Being separated from their families and the life they knew is hard on foster kids. Most go through traumatic experiences that may affect them for their entire lives.
Children in foster care have the highest rates of chronic conditions of any population. Many have special health care needs such as anxiety or developmental delays. Taking the right approach to care can make a big difference.
You'll learn all about trauma-informed care and how to be an excellent caregiver in your training classes. Don't be afraid to ask questions!
Support Services for Foster Parents in Maine
What does caring for a child in the foster care system mean? In basic terms, foster parents are licensed homes that provide temporary housing. Kids enter foster care when DHHS deems a child's parents can no longer safely care for them.
A resource (foster) parent must be capable of providing a safe and comfortable home for these children. They also have to work as part of a professional team, maintaining contact with the case worker and the birth parents.
It might sound like a complicated process, but you'll learn more about it as you go along. Here are some of Maine's foster parent requirements:
- Must be 21 years old or older
- All family members are in good health
- Provide a minimum of three references
- All adults must pass a criminal background check
- Complete fingerprinting
- Attend orientation
- Complete required parent training classes
- Your home passes a fire safety inspection
- Finish the home study process
Are you wondering if you'll be a good foster parent? It's first crucial to understand that there is no "perfect model" that makes an ideal parent. Anyone with enough dedication, love, and a safe household can learn to foster.
The key is to take your responsibilities seriously and do what's best for the child by working with your team. Your training classes will teach you essential skills and inform you about the kids in care.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Maine
Every day in Maine, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Maine 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 Alabama.
Still undecided? A Maine 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 Maine child today.
Select My Foster AgencyFind a foster or adoption agency near you using our state directory for Maine. If you represent an agency and would like to claim your listing, please contact us.
Agency | Locality | Agency Type |
---|---|---|
Bangor |
Traditional Foster Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care
|
|
Portland |
Adoption
|
|
Naples |
Adoption
|
|
Orono |
Kinship / Relative Care, Traditional Foster Care, Specialized / Therapeutic Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
|
|
Auburn |
Kinship / Relative Care, Non Related Kin (NRKIN), Traditional Foster Care, Specialized / Therapeutic Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption
|
|
Bangor |
Adoption
|
|
Waterville |
Adoption, Other
|
|
Augusta |
Traditional Foster Care, Emergency Foster Care, Respite Foster Care, Adoption, Other
|