Jump to a Question
- What is foster care?
- Who can become a foster parent?
- Who are the children who come into the foster care program?
- How long will a child remain with a particular foster parent?
- Do foster parents receive financial assistance from the state?
- How are families that provide foster care supported?
- Our family lives on a modest income. Would that interfere with our opportunity to be foster parents?
- We don’t have any experience with parenting. Is that a problem?
- Do you have to be married to serve as a foster parent?
- What is the licensing process to become a foster parent?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is foster care?
A: Foster care offers temporary placement for children who have been removed from a home due to neglect or abuse. Families receiving children through the state of Idaho must obtain a foster care license.
Q: Who can become a foster parent?
A: You may qualify to serve as a foster care provider if you: are 21 years of age or older; have adequate space in your home for the placement of a child or children; have a home environment that will pass a health, fire, and safety inspection; have sufficient income to meet care requirements; participate in required orientation, pre-service, and in-service training.
Q: Who are the children who come into the foster care program?
A: Children in the foster care program: may be victims of neglect or abuse; range in age from newborn to 18 years old; may have special physical, emotional, or medical needs; may be members of a large sibling group; reflect all cultural and economic groups in Idaho.
Q: How long will a child remain with a particular foster parent?
A: The foster care program is set up to provide temporary placement. However, the length of that placement can vary from as short as overnight to as long as many months. In some cases, placement may result in the child being adopted.
Q: Do foster parents receive financial assistance from the state?
A: Yes. Foster parents receive a set monthly reimbursement to cover the living expenses of each child in foster care. The exact dollar amount is based on the child's age and needs. Reimbursements cover all child care-related costs, such as food and clothing. The state provides medical and dental coverage while the children are in the foster care program.
Q: How are families that provide foster care supported?
A: Families providing foster care will be well supported throughout their partnership with Health and Welfare. Each family receives 27 hours of training, a support team, and reimbursement for the child's daily living expenses.
Q: Our family lives on a modest income. Would that interfere with our opportunity to be foster parents?
A: No. Financial wealth is not a requirement to become a foster parent. You do need to have enough income so the expenses of fostering are not a financial hardship for the child or your family.
Q: We don’t have any experience with parenting. Is that a problem?
A: While experience working with children is preferred, it is not required. Parenting experience is important, but the willingness to develop the skills necessary to meet the needs of children who have potentially experienced abuse or neglect, in their young lives, is also important.
Q: Do you have to be married to serve as a foster parent?
A: No. The foster care program is open to individuals and families who can provide children with a safe and loving environment.
Q: What is the licensing process to become a foster parent?
A: There are four steps to becoming a foster parent:
- Complete a written application
- Submit to a background/criminal check
- Complete 27 hours of Parent Resource Information Development & Education training (PRIDE)
- Submit to interviews and home studies with the Department of Health and Welfare