Fostering means providing a temporary home for a child or pet. For children, you apply through an agency, pass background checks and training, and often receive a stipend.
Children
- Contact your state agency or a private agency.
- Complete an application.
- Background checks.
- Home study.
- Training (such as PRIDE or MAPP), usually 20 to 30 hours.
- Placement of a child.
Need
About 390,000 children were in US foster care in 2022 (AFCARS).
Support
Foster parents receive a stipend to cover costs.
Pets
Contact a shelter to foster animals.
How the system works in numbers
In the US, roughly 391,000 children were in foster care on September 30, 2022, according to the federal AFCARS report, with about 54 percent returning to their parents. The average time in care was about 22 months. Foster parents are licensed by the state after background checks, home studies and training.
- Typical requirements: be at least 21, have stable income and space, pass criminal and child abuse checks and complete training such as PRIDE or TIPS-MAPP.
- Monthly stipends vary by state and child age, commonly from about 500 to 1,200 USD, intended to cover the child’s costs.
- Foster children are eligible for Medicaid.
Support and pets
Agencies provide caseworkers, respite care and training. Pets are allowed in many states if vaccinated and safe with children, and agencies may screen the animals. Foster care aims for reunification, while adoption can follow if parental rights are terminated. Teens aging out can access Chafee program services until age 21 in many states.
How the system works in numbers
The US foster care system served about 368,000 children on the last day of fiscal 2022, according to the Administration for Children and Families. About 54 percent were reunified with parents. Foster parents receive stipends to cover costs, which vary by state.
Support and pets
Requirements include background checks, home study, training and space. Rules about pets vary but pets are often allowed with vaccination.
Types of foster care and requirements
Foster care placements include kinship care (about 35 percent), non relative foster homes and group homes. Foster parents complete 20 to 30 hours of training, such as PRIDE or TIPS, a home study and background checks. Monthly payments range from about 500 to 900 USD depending on child’s age and state. The average length of stay is about 20 months.
Goals and challenges
Reunification with parents is the most common goal. Roughly 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year without permanent families. Foster parents can adopt when parental rights end. Support includes respite care, therapy and Medicaid coverage for the child. Contact your state child welfare agency.
Based on data from the US Administration for Children and Families and the Annie E. Casey Foundation
