Qualifications

A Foster or Adoptive Parent Must Be

  • At least 21 years of age (7.708.22)
  • A U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident of the U.S. or lawfully present in the U.S.
  • Able to support your existing family and foster youth with stable income (7.708.21i)
  • Healthy enough to care for youth

A Foster Family Will

  • Support efforts made to reunify youth with their family
  • Work closely with the youth’s family
  • Transport youth to visitation with their family (often more than 1 time per week)

An Adoptive Family Will

  • Support ongoing connections with youth’s family or significant others
  • Commit to their adopted youth forever

All Families Will

  • Provide a safe, stable, caring home free from abuse and neglect
  • Understand that youth have experienced trauma, grief, and loss
  • Learn special skills and have a flexible parenting style to meet the youth’s specific needs
  • Utilize non-physical forms of discipline
  • Support ongoing connection with youth's family or significant others 
  • Work as a team with professionals and the child's family 
  • Meet the child's day-to-day and special needs 
  • Nurture and guide the child's development