Helping Children Find Safe, Stable, Temporary Care with Minnesota Families
Do you have a desire to help children in foster care? Become a foster parent through CH/LSS! We provide education and ongoing support to families throughout their foster care experience. The majority of expenses of becoming a foster care provider are covered by state and/or county contracts. By working with CH/LSS, you could provide care for children located throughout the state of Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), there were 11,235 children in Minnesota who experienced foster care in 2022. Because of this alarming number, there is an urgent need for additional foster families in the state of Minnesota.
The goal of foster care is reunification with birth parent(s) or relative and kin. Families open to providing foster care must be open to supporting reunification efforts.
Take the first step in your foster care journey today. Watch our introductory webinar the the link below.
Foster Care Adoption Education Classes
Regardless of the agency or county you plan to work with, this education is one of the first steps to fostering or adopting children from Minnesota foster care.
Children’s Home is a contracted provider through the State of Minnesota. We provide the required education for families who choose to work with any of the six contracted agencies: Ampersand Families, Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, Evolve Family Services, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Nexus-Kindred Family Healing, or North Homes.
Your Education Options
There are three class options: in-person, hybrid, or online. You may choose whichever best fits your schedule and learning style. Couples may take an education course together or pursue it separately. Either way, each participant must attend the entirety of their chosen track. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate of training which is valid for five years.
Register for a 2-Hour Agency Orientation (required) Register for Adoption & Foster Care Training Classes (required)The Children in Need of Foster Care
Children needing care have been removed from their biological families’ homes and have been placed under the care and supervision of the state. As a result of these experiences, children will likely have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect. The children may have emotional, behavioral, and/or academic needs. Children may be part of a sibling group that needs to be placed together or have siblings and other loved ones with whom they need to maintain connections.
Children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds are served in this program. According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the three most common reasons why children are removed from parental care in Minnesota are: caretaker drug abuse (30.2%), allegations of neglect (12.7%), and alleged physcial abuse (10.4%) Read the full MN DHS Fact Sheet, Foster Care: Temporary Out-of-Home Care for Children.
Foster Care: The More You Know
As a foster care provider with CH/LSS, there are a few different types of placements your family could be open to. These will be discussed in more detail with your worker.
- Emergency Shelter Care: Short-term, immediate placements that can happen any time of the day, in which your family would be contacted directly by the county worker
- Foster Care: Placements vary in length, need, urgency and outcomes
- Respite: Generally pre-arranged, short-term care of youth for other foster families (such as a weekend or overnight)
Virtual Support Groups for Foster Care & Adoptive Families
We welcome you to join other families to learn from and support one another!
Staff-led Groups: For families who have children from the foster care system placed in their home for foster care or adoption and families who have a home study approved. This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. R.S.V.P. to [email protected].
Single Parent Adoption and Fostering Adoption by LGBTQ Parents
Single Parent Adoption and FosteringAdoption by LGBTQ Parents
