How to Become a Foster Parent in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania desperately needs more foster families, especially those willing to take older kids. According to a recent report, around 28% of the state's youth in foster care are age 14 or older.
As a foster parent, you have the opportunity to care for children who are part of our child welfare system. Opening your home and offering loving support can make a big impact on children entering foster care. Foster advocates within social services work diligently to place kids in a nurturing family environment whenever possible.
In Pennsylvania, a large number of foster kids spend time in the more institutional environment of a group home. The Annie E. Casey Foundation has a state-by-state report called "Fostering Youth Transitions." The 2018 report says 47% of foster kids in Pennsylvania, versus 34% for the national average, spend time in group homes.
To learn about becoming a foster parent in Pennsylvania, read this guide. It explains the process, requirements, and how to begin the journey as a foster or adoptive family.
Quotes about foster care
How to Become a Foster Parent in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania can often seem unclear. FosterUSKids.org is your source for information and guidance, connecting you with a local Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania:
- Request Information About Fostering –
FosterUSKids puts the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania child-placing agency now.
Requirements to Foster in Pennsylvania
You must meet minimum requirements to provide foster care in Pennsylvania. Foster parents for children in need must:
- Be a minimum of 21 years old
- Pass a criminal background check with fingerprinting
- Have time and energy to devote to fostering
- Live in a safe and healthy environment
- Prove good health through a medical examination/physical
- Maintain financial stability
- Clear all home safety requirements
- Complete required pre-service training hours
- Finish the Home Inspection
After fulfilling all requirements during the approval process, licensed foster parents can welcome a foster child into their home. To maintain a valid license, foster parents must also participate in ongoing training each year.
All adults who are living in homes with foster children in Pennsylvania must pass a required criminal background check and fingerprinting. This includes adult children who are family members living at home.
There are other, more detailed requirements for foster homes, such as having a flushing toilet and an operable phone. Prospective foster parents will learn more details during foster parent orientation.
Once you've decided to foster, you can contact a public or private foster agency or the Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association. Foster agencies screen and train prospective foster families and ensure applicants are good candidates for foster care.
Foster FAQs for Pennsylvania
You may have questions if this is your first time considering becoming a foster parent. Here are FAQs from Pennsylvania's aspiring foster families.
How Many Children Can I Foster?
Foster families in Pennsylvania can have up to six children under 18 years old living in the home. Keep in mind this limit counts biological and adopted children, as well as foster kids.
There is no limit on how many children you can foster in your lifetime.
Can I Foster a Child if I'm Single?
Yes! In Pennsylvania, your marital status is not a factor. Single individuals and those who are married or divorced can apply. LGBTQ+ individuals can also apply to foster or adopt. The most important factor is having time, energy, and dedication to care for kids.
People without parenting experience are also welcome to apply. Many childless adults choose to become foster parents. Your local foster care agency can tell you more and invite you to a Pennsylvania foster information orientation.
Who Pays for a Foster Child's Health Expenses?
Foster parents are not responsible for expenses for their foster child's medical appointments or necessary medical equipment. Private insurance, Medicaid, or another form of coverage covers children in foster care.
What are Home Size Requirements for Foster Kids?
There is no specified size for a residence. Homeowners and renters can apply to become a foster family as long as they have enough space for a child.
Although many foster kids enjoy the privacy of having a room to themselves, it isn't a requirement. Foster homes must have a bed in a sleeping area for each foster child. Foster kids cannot sleep in common areas. Children of the same gender can share a bedroom as long as the foster child has their own bed.
You must provide enough room for the child and their belongings, such as dresser drawers or ample closet space.
Will I Learn About My Foster Child Before Placement?
Yes. Your agency will call you to ask if you will take a foster placement. Your caseworker will explain more to make sure your family and the foster child are a good match.
The information you receive about your foster child and their family situation must remain confidential.
What is Required Training to Become a Foster Parent?
Foster parents in Pennsylvania must undergo 30 hours of pre-service training. In addition, licensed foster parents must complete ongoing training each year. The child-placing agency you select will provide training and connect you to other valuable resources.
Foster agencies in Pennsylvania
General Foster FAQs
General Statistics About Foster Care
13,664
Kids in Pennsylvania's foster care system
1,771
Pennsylvania foster kids awaiting adoption
8 Years
Median age of a child in Pennsylvania's foster care system
16
Median months a child spends in Pennsylvania's foster care system
There is an urgent need for Pennsylvania foster parents who are willing to take in adolescents and teens. Older kids are at pivotal points in their lives and in their high school education. Older foster kids desperately need stable homes and supportive adult role models to succeed in high school and young adulthood.
As a foster parent, you are able to specify what ages you prefer to foster. Pennsylvania has foster children in need across the spectrum of babies to teens. Any help you can give is welcome and embraced.
There is also a great need for foster families willing to take in sibling groups. It is in the best interest of foster children to keep as much of their families together as possible. Let your foster caseworker know if you are willing to take in sibling groups.
The latest 2021 report from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report in Pennsylvania says there are:
- 13,664 children in the Pennsylvania's foster care system
- 7,499 who entered foster care
- 3,057 awaiting adoption
- 70% of foster cases with a goal to return the child to biological parents
- 22% of foster case plans that include adoption
In Pennsylvania, foster kids spend a median time of nearly a year and a half in care. 19% of kids are in foster care for only 1-5 months. 44% of Pennsylvania foster youth live in a relative's home, and 41% in a non-relative foster home.
Support Services for Foster Parents in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association (PSRFA) is a statewide association that strives to assist foster families with their needs. The highly trained PSRFA Support Staff assists local associations and resources parents during their fostering years. Their website has valuable information, such as lists of events, parent manuals, and the PSRFA Scholarship.
One benefit of using PSRFA Support Services is that they know the local and state laws and regulations. Foster parents may find it difficult to understand the legal system, but they can get assistance through PSRFA's community-based approach.
Parents can also call the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) helpline at 800-585-SWAN.
Many communities also have foster parent associations, so it's worth checking for one in your local area. These groups provide support to their members, such as ongoing education or by connecting them with mental health or other resources.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME A FOSTER PARENT IN Pennsylvania
Every day in Pennsylvania, children from all age groups enter foster care, some with no belongings of their own, all without an adult they can depend on. Every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
Still undecided? A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania child today.
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