How to Become a Foster Parent in Massachusetts

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in Massachusetts

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

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

Requirements to Foster in Massachusetts

Your local DCF or foster agency offers various services for foster children and families. Parents have access to training and educational resources as well as support groups.

Foster children also have health insurance covered. The DCF provides foster families with a stipend to cover care needs like food and board. The state also offers a clothing allowance every three months that helps to reimburse parents.

A case worker visits resources families every other month or as needed, and children in foster care are also assigned a social worker. These resources are invaluable points of contact for foster parents.

Local support organizations provide further support, such as resources and helplines. Foster families in Massachusetts also form groups to assist one another, share stories, and give advice. It's an excellent opportunity to create new connections and learn more as a parent.

Foster FAQs for Massachusetts

If you're new to the idea of fostering, you likely have questions. The process might seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be. You'll learn many of the terms and discover support along the way.

Although speaking with a parent advocate is the best way to learn more about fostering, we'll cover a few common questions here.

Who Can Answer My Questions?

As a licensed foster parent, you'll be working as part of a team. If you have questions, and you likely will, you'll always have someone you can turn to for advice.

The family resource worker is your source of contact between you and the DCF. They will help you complete the licensure process and visit your home.

Every foster child has an assigned social worker that oversees their care. They'll tell you about any medical needs, education plans, the court case, and walk you through setting up parent visitations.

When Will I Receive a Foster Child in My Home?

The placement process depends largely on the flexibility of the foster family. For instance, if you're willing to take siblings or certain age groups, you may receive a placement sooner.

If you're only willing to foster a particular gender or if you have other preferences, you may have to wait longer.

What Are the Meetings I Need to Know About?

There are a few meetings that Massachusetts foster parents should know about. They include the initial placement, review meetings, and permanency planning conference.

The initial placement meeting is when you'll meet with the social worker and receive key information about the child. A six-week placement review involves everyone working with the parents and child to go over current information about the case, the child's needs, etc.

A foster care review occurs every six months. A team will review whether placement in a home is still in the child's best interest and the current progress being made.

A permanency planning conference includes the DCF department and the social worker. You can share updates and ask questions during this meeting.

Caring for a Foster Child in Massachusetts

These are some of the basics of how to become a foster parent in Massachusetts. However, there's still much to learn. The best course of action is to contact your local foster care agency and set up a meeting.

If you want to know more about fostering or adoption in Massachusetts, we can help.

Foster agencies in Massachusetts

Select My Foster Agency in Massachusetts

General Foster FAQs

General Statistics About Foster Care

• 9,191

  Children in Massachusetts foster care in 2021

• 3,485

  Massachusetts children awaiting adoption

• 4,397

  Entered Massachusetts foster care in 2021

• 15%

  Of Massachusetts foster children have been in care over 3-4 years

Parents who don't know much about the foster care system may not be aware of how dire the need is for licensed homes. Massachusetts has too many foster children in care, and there simply isn't enough help.

The latest data we have for Massachusetts comes from the 2021 AFCARS Report. Here's what the data says:

• There are 9,191 children in foster care in Massachusetts
• 4,397 entered the system in 2021
• The foster care system cared for 13,593 children and teens in 2021
• 3,485 were waiting for adoption on September 30th of the FY
• The median age of kids in care is eight years old
• 49% of case plans have reunification as the primary goal
• 36% of goals include finding an adoptive family
• 38% of foster children in the state live in a non-family foster home
• Kids spend a median time of 18.9 months in care
• 15% of foster youth spend 3-4 years looking for a home

Many kids in care spend months or even years waiting for the right placement. That's no way for a child to grow up, but sometimes there isn't a temporary home for them.

You can make a difference for the children in the foster system by providing the love and care they desperately need.

Support Services for Foster Parents in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) recruits, screens, trains, and awards parents a license. The DCF is also in charge of placing children in foster homes.

Licensed child-placing agencies are also approved to conduct all of the above. Contacting your state DCF or local foster care agency is the best way to learn more information and get started.

Foster parents must fill out an application, attend an informational meeting, and complete pre-service training. They have to meet the following requirements:

• Parents are at least 18 years of age or older
• You're financially capable of caring for a child
• You live in a safe and comfortable environment
• All adults pass a background check
• Your home passes the inspection
• You attend an orientation meeting
• You complete pre-service training
• Your family finishes the home study process

When you contact your local child-placing agency, they'll tell you more about the process and what to expect at each stage. The orientation is one of the earliest stages of the process, and it allows parents to ask questions and gather more information about the foster care system in their state.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Massachusetts

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