COBYS Family Services

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.