Catholic Social Services

Contact Information

222 North 17th Street
3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
United States

Online Contact Form
DayHours
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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Catholic Social Services provides the tools to transform lives in the Philadelphia community. Our social services allow us to bring resources to the community where everyone’s needs are met. We envision a world touched by God´s mercy. We envision a world without poverty and need, and all people share justly in the blessings of creation.

Catholic Social Services (CSS) provides foster and kinship care services to children between birth and 21 years of age who are in need of temporary substitute care, due to a crisis or chronic condition. The goal of the program is to achieve permanency for children in the briefest amount of time, which allows for safety, wellbeing and prevents children from a return to care.


Services and information

  • Traditional Foster Care
  • Emergency Foster Care
  • Respite Foster Care
  • Adoption

Requirements to become a foster parent

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.


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