Project STAR at The Children's Institute
Today, we help nearly 9,000 children and families each year reach their full potential through educational services, autism services, outpatient physical and behavioral health services, early intervention, and family support services. Thanks to your support, we provide more than $3 million in uncompensated care each year to ensure that every child receives the same level of care, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
As we look to the next three years, we strive to be a best-in-class provider across each of our services and to positively impact the lives of even more families and children. This is our Roadmap to an Amazing Future.
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
4.7 / 55 | |
4 | |
3 | |
2 | |
1 |
Mar 11, 2019
Shannon is the best case manager
Jun 22, 2017
Very friendly and helpful.