Children's Aid Society of Mercer County

Contact Information

350 West Market Street
PO Box 167
Mercer, PA 16137
United States
Online Contact Form
DayHours
Monday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Tuesday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Wednesday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Thursday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Friday 8 AM-4:30 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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Have you ever thought about being a foster parent? It may seem like an intimidating title, but it's not. Children need parents, no matter what they've been through and where they come from. Foster parents provide for children who can no longer be in their homes and are placed in the custody of Children and Youth Services.

There are over 14,000 kids in foster care in Pennsylvania. Anyone can be a foster parent, as long as they are at least 21 years old, have their clearances, and pass a medical examination. The children need care, not a perfect house or family situation. They just need a place to feel safe and people that care about them. You can be that person. You can be the difference.

Services and information

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

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.

Ratings and Reviews

Average user rating

4.3 / 5
Rating breakdown
5
4
3
2
1
If you have an experience with this agency, please write a review.
Kit Katy
Apr 25, 2020

People are kind but the place isn't well run. Phone system is set up by name instead of services needed, and you are very unlikely to get a return call if you need. Sometimes though you come across a person who is just the absolute perfect person for a specific job and that is definitely the case for Tina who does the parenting classes there. If I was able to rate her separately she would get five stars

Rating: 3
Clifedda Stephan
Oct 15, 2017

All the staff are caring and wonderful people

Rating: 5
Marisa Morris
May 21, 2017

Very good and convenient

Rating: 4