How to Become a Foster Parent in Oregon

Quotes about foster care

How to Become a Foster Parent in Oregon

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

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

Requirements to Foster in Oregon

Foster parents receive a reimbursement or payment to help with care costs. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon foster care rates are as follows:

• Base rate payment of $693 per month (age 0-5 years)
• Base rate payment of $733 per month (age 6-12)
• Base rate payment of $795 per month (age 13 - 20)

These payments are meant to help cover the costs of food, clothing, housing, transportation, personal care items, etc. Parents may also receive a shelter care payment.

The DHS or private foster care agencies provide flexible training opportunities, on-call support, access to a network of professionals, support groups, and respite care.

Respite care gives full-time foster parents a break when needed or allows them to address emergency situations.

With Love Oregon is a non-profit that supports foster families by providing clothing and supplies to young children. Parents can get clothing, diapers, car seats, and more.

211info is a non-profit that provides parenting education, parent-to-parent networking, helplines and support groups, and much more. Resource families can find many types of support on their website.

Foster FAQs for Oregon

If this is your first time considering fostering, it may feel overwhelming, and you might have questions. Remember that you'll take it one step at a time with your foster agency. We've also answered some common questions we get here to help.

Is There a Limit to How Many Children I Can Foster?

Oregon limits the number of children allowed per household. A single-parent household can have up to four children, and a two-parent home can have up to seven. The limit applies to all children in the house, including foster, biological, and adopted kids.

However, there is no limit to how many kids you can foster in your lifetime.

What Affects a Foster Care Payment?

Foster care payments can vary slightly depending on the child's age and needs. Parents may receive a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) payment if a child or young adult requires enhanced supervision.

In Oregon, the rates are as follows:

• $240 per month for Level 1 (moderate needs)
• $468.00 per month for Level 2 (intermediate needs)
• $960.00 per month for Level 3 (advanced needs)

Can I Foster as a Renter?

Yes. Both homeowners and renters can foster children if there's enough room in the residence. These are the Oregon foster care bedroom requirements:

• Kids over 18 must have a separate bedroom and can't share with an unrelated person
• Each foster child requires their own bed and space for belongings
• There is no bed-sharing allowed when the child is an infant

The foster care agency will consider the unique needs, age, gender, gender expression, etc., of the child when approving bedroom situations.

Are There Income Requirements to Be a Foster Parent?

There is no specified income requirement to be a foster parent in Oregon. That said, the reimbursement provided by your agency is meant to cover the needs of the child in care. Foster parents must be financially stable before taking in a child.

Make a Difference in a Foster Child's Life

Now that you know how to become a foster parent in Oregon, you can make a real difference in a child's life. As a foster parent, you provide safe and stable housing for these children and show them the love they deserve.

If you're interested in fostering here in Oregon, After providing some information about yourself and your preferences, you can start the fostering process today with your local agency.

Foster agencies in Oregon

Select My Foster Agency in Oregon

General Foster FAQs

General Statistics About Foster Care

• 5,269

  Children in Oregon foster care in 2021

• 1,129

  Oregon children awaiting adoption

• 18

  The average number of months a child is in Oregon's foster care

• 7

  Is the average age for a child in Oregon foster care in 2021

So, what's the current state of foster care in Oregon? Here are some of the latest statistics:

• There are 5,269 children in foster Oregon's foster care
• 2,413 entered foster care in the 2021 fiscal year
• 1,129 are awaiting adoption as of September 30th, 2021
• 805 of those children had all parental rights terminated
• The median age of children in foster care is seven years old
• 38% of children live in a non-family foster home
• The goal in 23% of case plans is reunification
• The goal in 18% of case plans is finding an adoptive family
• Foster youth spend a median time of 17.7 months in care
• 17% of kids in foster care spend 1-5 months there
• The median age of kids awaiting adoption is six years old

There are far more foster children than there are licensed homes that can care for them. However, you can help these youths by getting licensed and opening your home.

Support Services for Foster Parents in Oregon

If this is your first time considering fostering, you should research your state's requirements. In Oregon, that means meeting the following prerequisites:

• Parents are 21 years of age or older
• You have a reliable source of income and are financially stable
• All adults must pass a criminal background check
• You live in a safe and stable home environment
• You're physically and mentally capable of caring for a child
• There's a bed for each child and enough space for belongings
• Parents must complete 15 hours of pre-service training
• Household members are in good health
• You pass the home assessment

Foster parents must be loving, patient, flexible, and responsible adults willing to work as part of a team. They must provide care for the child and ensure their well-being.

Being a foster parent means respecting a child's beliefs, religion, and need for personal space. Many foster youth have experienced trauma, and this may affect their behavior. It's your job as a parent to understand this and practice trauma-informed care.

Contact the Oregon Department of Human Services or an approved foster care agency to meet with a foster care specialist who will go over more information. You'll receive an invitation to an in-person orientation, which is an informational session that teaches parents more about the system, state requirements, and how to get their license.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Oregon

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

Still undecided? An Oregon 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 an Oregon child today.