St. Joseph's Foster Care/Adoption Program – Basic Requirements for Foster/Adoptive Parents

There are several requirements to become a prospective foster/adoptive parent. These include, but are not limited to the following:

1. You must be between the ages of 21 and 65* and of an age to have naturally parented the ages requested.

2. You must live within 50 miles of our agency to ensure that the needed support and supervision are provided to maintain a successful placement.

3. You don't have to be married, own your own home, have a lot of money, or have raised children to become a foster or adoptive parent. If married, be married at least two years* and demonstrate marital stability.

4. Complete our orientation and interview process.

5. Complete a criminal history check and child/spouse abuse records checks.

6. You must successfully complete 36 hours of pre-service training, in addition to CPR and First Aid.

7. St. Joseph must approve a home study, indicating the condition of your home to ensure the health, safety, well-being, privacy and comfort of each family member.

8. You must be willing and able to maintain accurate daily or weekly logs detailing the child's activities, behavior, problems and progress.

9. You must be willing and able to accept an intense level of supervision and involvement from the Foster Care Specialist. This includes being available for weekly or bi-monthly supervision, ongoing monthly training and monthly treatment team reviews. If fostering, you must participate in an average of 24 hours of training per year.

10. You must be able to provide supervision of the child placed in your home.

11. You must have an income sufficient to meet present family needs and obligations.

12. You must have a reliable vehicle, good driving record, valid driver's license, and automobile insurance.

13. You must have a plan for child care developed by the time a child is placed in the home.

14. You must provide a statement of health from a physician verifying that all household members are free from communicable diseases, and that the prospective foster/adoptive parent(s) are physically able to care for a child.

15. You must not be certified as a foster parent with any other agency.

For more information, contact Jennifer Helgeson, Director of Foster Care/Adoptive Services at 893-0241, ext. 260 or by email at jenniferh@sjkids.org.

*Exceptions will be made on an individual basis.