How to Become a Foster Parent in North Dakota

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in North Dakota

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

1. Request Information About Fostering – 
   FosterUSKids puts the North Dakota 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 North Dakota, 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 North Dakota child-placing agency for detailed guidance through every step.

Requirements to Foster in North Dakota

The North Dakota Children and Family Services division is one of your biggest sources of support. You can contact them with questions or concerns, find educational materials, and connect with other support groups.

Foster parents also receive reimbursement meant to cover care costs. This modest monthly payment can vary depending on the child's age and whether they need special care. Clothing allowances and other material needs are also covered.

A foster child's health needs are covered by health insurance or Medicaid.

Licensing specialists also work with foster parents. You can contact them or your local case manager if you have questions.

The University of North Dakota Children and Family Services Training Center (CFSTC) provides parents with support groups and has educational opportunities for resource families.

Foster FAQs for North Dakota

Don't have a lot of parenting experience? That's okay; it's perfectly fine to learn as you go, and you'll discover most of what you need in your training classes.

Other than your foster parent training, these FAQs should help as well.

What Is Foster Care?

Foster care is the temporary placement of a child in out-of-home care. Children may enter foster care for various reasons, such as neglect, abuse, etc. These kids need temporary housing while the court works with their birth parents to try and fix safety issues.

The goal of foster care is to give parents the time and resources they need to learn new skills and become better caregivers. It also gives the kids in the system a safe and stable environment while they can't be with their parents.

Most foster care case plans aim to reconnect a child and their parent.

What Challenges Do Kids in Foster Care Face?

Children in foster care can live in many different temporary settings. This constant movement can create feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, loneliness, and more. Plus, it makes it difficult for these kids to form connections and keep up with their peers in school.

Without stability and support, foster children may fail to develop the skills they need to succeed later in life.

Do I Have to Work With the Birth Parents?

Foster parents work as part of a team. They usually work with the biological parents to schedule visitations once or twice a week.

The goal is to work toward reunification and to give the children in care more stability.

Create a Foster Home Today

Knowing how to become a foster parent in North Dakota is the first step on your journey. Raising foster kids is a rewarding experience. You can make a difference in the lives of these children.

We love connecting families with foster youth and providing them with the safe and loving environment they deserve. 

Foster agencies in North Dakota

Select My Foster Agency in North Dakota

General Foster FAQs

General Statistics About Foster Care

• 1,510

  Children in North Dakota foster care in 2021

• 416

  Kids awaiting adoption in North Dakota in 2021

• 14

  Is the average time a child will be in foster care in North Dakota

• 7

  Is the average age for a child in North Dakota's foster care in 2021

Too often, the voices of foster youth go unheard. Many people aren't aware of how dire the need is in North Dakota and around the country.

Educating yourself is the first step to becoming a true advocate for these kids. You can start with some of the latest statistics for North Dakota's foster system:

• There are 1,510 children in North Dakota's foster care
• 950 entered care during 2021
• 416 are awaiting adoption (as of September 30th, 2021)
• 337 kids awaiting adoption had parental rights terminated
• The median age of the children is seven years old
• 64% of foster kids live in a non-family foster home
• 25% live in a relative's foster home
• The goal in 59% of cases is to reunite the child and the birth parents
• 23% of case plan goals aim to find an adoptive family
• The median age of children waiting for adoption is eight years old
• Kids spend a median time of 14.2 months in the system

There are far more children and teenagers in the foster care system than there are licensed families to house them. This is a problem across the United States. However, you can help some of these kids by getting your foster license and being a parent to them.

It's okay if you're not perfect. These children just need someone to give them a safe and stable environment and show them love. You can significantly impact their lives by becoming a role model.

Support Services for Foster Parents in North Dakota

If you're interested in becoming a foster parent, you'll have to meet some qualifications before you can apply. These ensure the safety and well-being of the child and make sure that you're a good fit for one another.

Applicants must meet these prerequisites to become foster parents:

• Parents must be 21 years old or older
• You're financially stable and can provide proof
• You have at least three character references
• You live in a safe and stable house or apartment
• You have room in your residence for a foster child
• You can work outside the home if you have time for a child
• Applicants can be single, married, or divorced
• Your residence passes a safety inspection
• All adults attend the orientation and foster parent training
• You complete the home study process

You can contact the North Dakota Department of Human Resources if you meet the above requirements. You'll learn more about foster care, go over your preferences, and receive an invitation to attend an orientation.

At the orientation, you're encouraged to ask questions and are welcome to connect with other foster families. You'll learn more about how raising a foster child differs from parenting a biological child, especially concerning taking a trauma-informed approach to care.

All adults have to provide fingerprints and pass a background check. Parents must also attend pre-service training before a child can be placed in their home.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN North Dakota

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

Still undecided? A North Dakota 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 North Dakota child today.