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

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