Become a Foster Parent in Minnesota

Eligibility: You can become a licensed foster care provider if you are:

• 21 or over
• Single, married, divorced or partnered
• Have or do not have children already
• Own or rent your home.

Note that having a criminal record does not necessarily make you ineligible to become a foster care provider. To discuss your eligibility, schedule a 1-1 consultation with one of our expert staff.

Applications: You can complete the free Application Part 1 any time you are ready. This helps us get to know you better and build your record. Application Part 2 follows and is completed before you begin your home study process.

Education & Training: This can begin any time! You will need to complete our Foster Care Adoption Orientation and Foster Care Adoption Education Classes prior to completion of Application Part 2. Additional free training and support services will be available throughout your foster journey.

Home Study: After completion of Application Part 2 you will be assigned to a worker who will be your main Children’s Home contact throughout the remainder of your process. The home study is a series of visits with your assigned worker and a visit to your home to help prepare you for becoming a foster parent and ensure that you meet all requirements to do so. Your worker will create a comprehensive document that includes information such as your motivation to foster or adopt, your health, home, personal history, familial lifestyle, interests, and the type of child you are open to parenting.

Licensing: Once your home study is complete and approved, you will become licensed to provide foster care.

Placement: This is the term for a child entering your home for care. Foster care placements may last a short time or be more long-term depending on which type of care you are providing and each child’s situation. When a child is placed in your home, you should expect ongoing family reunification efforts.

Permanency: This can look different depending on each child’s situation. For some, this will mean reunification with the family of origin, for others it may mean placement with relatives or kin. Adoption or Transfer of Legal Permanent Custody (TPLPC) can occur when reunification efforts are unsuccessful.

We can license you to provide care through a variety of ways. You may be open to one or more, this will be discussed in more detail during the home study process and can be revisited later in your journey. Sometimes a placement may start as one type and evolve to another over time.

Traditional Foster Care: Placements vary in length, need, urgency and outcome.

Emergency Shelter Care: Short-term, immediate placements that can happen any time of day or night. These placements are typically shorter-term than traditional foster care.

Respite: Short-term (such as several hours, overnight or weekend), generally pre-arranged care for kids experiencing foster care or who were adopted from foster care.

Host Homes: we can license caregivers who are providing support to youth with 245D waivered services