What makes a foster parent great?​

  • Caring and ​Kindness

  • Compassion and Empathy

  • Communication and Good Listening Skills

  • Patience and Perseverance

  • Honesty

  • Stability and Consistency

  • Flexibility and Adaptability

  • Ability to guide and discipline without the use of physical punishment

  • Ability to care for the physical ​and emotional well-being of yourself and others

  • A willingness to work with other people in the child’s life

  • A willingness to support the child to develop a sense of identity that includes their culture, language and religion, where appropriate

  • Loving!

​Who Can Become A Foster Parent?

Foster Parents can be married, single, divorced, widowed, same-sex couples, or co-parents. Foster Parents can follow their Faith or be non-religious. 

In Florida, you may be eligible for foster parenting if you:

  • Are committed to loving and nurturing a child in your home

  • Are willing to work in partnership with everyone involved in the child's life to meet the child's needs

  • Are dedicated to helping a child be reunified with the biological family

  • Are at least 21 years old

  • Attend required training sessions

  • Consent to criminal and child abuse registry checks

  • Are financially able to provide for your present needs and family emergencies

  • Pass a health inspection of your home

  • Have enough physical space in your home to accommodate children

  • Are willing to meet with a licensing counselor for an in-depth home study to determine if your family meets these requirements

Information on automatic disqualifiers of foster parents & laws related to child welfare

The Process to Becoming A Foster Parent

Caring for children who have been abused or neglected and being a role model for biological parents working to reunify with their children is a significant responsibility and, ultimately, a matter of public trust.

To qualify as a potential foster parent you must:

  • ​Attend an orientation and complete the application

  • Complete 20 to 30 hours of foster parent training

  • Favorability pass a child abuse and criminal background check

  • Participate in a home inspection

  • Participate in a home study to review your readiness for fostering

  • Be accepted and follow-through with licensing requirements 

  • Be prepared and ready to welcome foster children into your home

I'm ready! Sign me up for the next orientation.