Foster Care

Orientation

There are two steps you must complete to start your process of becoming a foster parent: a two-hour orientation and a two-day class. Many families find it helpful to attend the orientation first because it provides an overview of the process and addresses details such as children served, timelines, fees (spoiler: there are practically none), licensing requirements, etc. Orientations are held twice monthly, once in-person and once online via webinar.

Education

Another early step to becoming a foster care resource is attending our two-day Foster Care & Adoption Education Classes. These classes will familiarize you with the children waiting to be adopted, the needs they commonly have, and the adoption process. You will also have the opportunity to listen to panels of adoptive parents and waiting or adopted teens. Topics covered include: overview of the child welfare system, impact of prenatal drug/alcohol exposure, grief, loss and separation, trauma, abuse and neglect, mental health needs, attachment, cross-cultural and transracial parenting, permanency needs of older youth, concurrent planning, experiences of foster parents, experiences of birth parents, visitation and maintaining connections.

You will continue your education as you go through the foster care process. We’ve compiled a number of education resources, both mandatory and optional, on our site for your reference.

Application

Once you’ve attended the Foster Care Adoption Orientation and Foster Care & Adoption Two-Day Class, you may complete your application (broken into two parts: Application Part 1 and Application Part 2). Our staff will assist you with the application process, letting you know what documents are required of which household members.

Background Checks

As you work on your application, anyone pursuing foster care or adoption will need to complete the appropriate background checks. Possessing a criminal record does not automatically disqualify someone from becoming a foster parent. Please contact us if you have questions about your particular circumstances.

Home Study

This part of the process includes several meetings with your social worker and a visit to your home. A comprehensive document is created by your social worker, which includes information about your motivation to foster or adopt, your health, home, personal history, familial lifestyle, interests, parenting style, income and the type of child you are open to parenting. Once you are assigned to a social worker, the home study process takes about 3-4 months to complete.

Licensing

You will need to become a licensed foster home as part of your process. This allows the placement of a child into your home. You may be licensed to provide more than one service depending on your openness. For example, a family pursuing adoption from foster care may also be licensed to provide respite care while they wait for an adoptive placement.

Placement

Placement occurs when the child moves into your home. Your social worker will remain in regular contact to assist in supporting your caregiver role. Foster care placements may last a short time or be more long-term depending on which track you are pursuing and each child’s situation. While the child is placed in your home, it is likely that there will be ongoing birth family reunification efforts.

Permanency

Permanency may look different depending on each child’s situation. For some this will mean reunification with birth family. For others it may mean placement with kinship or relatives. Others may find permanency through adoption after a termination of parental rights. Permanency for the child occurs after you have provided foster care services.

As a foster parent you provide stability and structure for a child or sibling group in need. Typically foster care placements last 6 months to 2 years while the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) work toward reunification. There is a particular need for families open to caring for sibling groups, school-age children and teens.

Our sessions are held twice a month, either in-person or online.

All families can use a break sometimes. Respite care provides periodic weekend or short-term care with the intention of the child returning to prior placement. This is a great option for experienced parents and those who are not sure if full-time parenting through foster care or adoption is the right fit. It may be possible for you to be licensed to provide respite care along with pursuing another track or service.

If you are currently working with CH/LSS, let your social worker know you are interested in becoming a respite resource.

Our sessions are held twice a month, either in-person or online.

Throughout Minnesota there is an increased need for families to provide emergency shelter care. Through this track, you will become licensed to provide care for a child who is entering care for the first time or is experiencing a change in placement where there hasn’t been a new foster home identified. Children needing emergency shelter care have likely experienced recent trauma. A typical shelter care placement ends within 30 days. It may be possible for you to be licensed to provide emergency shelter care while also pursuing another track or service.

If you are currently working with CH/LSS, let your social worker know you are interested in emergency shelter care.

Our sessions are held twice a month, either in-person or online.

In our Concurrent Track, you provide foster care for a child(ren) as the county works toward reunification with birth family. Concurrent permanency planning is for families who can commit to working with the birth family and other professionals to help the child reunify, while at the same time committing to adoption in the event that reunification is not possible. One of the goals of this track is to minimize the amount of moves and transitions for the child(ren). Additional training is required for families in this track. This track differs from foster care in that families are committing to being a permanent resource for the child if reunification efforts are unsuccessful.

You can learn more about this track at our Foster Care & Adoption Orientation Sessions and Foster Care  & Adoption Education Classes.