Learn 2 Foster:
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“My instinct was to look at the actual kids rather than learn about the process, but my husband wanted to know all about the process – the specifics, the forms, the time line.”
- Joann, Contra Costa County foster parent“Some people have a lot of questions. They are having trouble with their paperwork, or the social worker isn’t responding. The biggest question is ‘How long is it going to take?’ We go over it again even though they’ve had it in their training as to what to expect.”
– Jan, foster parent mentor
Where to Start
The process of becoming a foster parent begins with your county. County Social Service departments remove endangered children from their homes, take legal charge of those children, and place them with loving, supportive foster families.
In order to become a foster parent, you must obtain a foster parent license in the county where you live. As part of the licensing process, your home will have to pass a home study. A home study is a visit from a social worker to look at your home and make sure it will be a safe, healthy place for foster children. If you move, your home must be re-licensed by your new county.
While this website is full of great advice and information that every current and prospective foster parent can use, we only provide specific information for the following California counties:
Clicking on the above county links will provide you with orientation schedules, important phone numbers, and other county-specific information. The resources, procedures, and timelines are slightly different for every county, so it is important you find the information for your county.
"I'm almost on my own and I'm trying to learn as much as possible before I leave the system, because I know it's hard out there."
- Antoinette, Bay Area Foster Child
The Process – Step by Step
1. Contact your county Social Service department to review their orientation schedule. The orientation will explain the licensing or certification process that all foster and adoptive parents must complete.
2. Attend an orientation. At orientation, which is usually a 2 – 3 hour session, you will learn more about foster care, meet an experienced foster parent and social worker, and have your questions answered. You’ll also receive information about foster parent training, the course you have to complete to get your license to be a foster parent. You can get to orientation schedules for Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Mateo counties by clicking on the above links.
3. Complete a training class. These classes are run by the county you live in; successful completion is mandatory before getting your foster parent license. The courses are spread out over a number of weeknights or held on Saturdays. Most parents who attend enjoy the in-person, upfront approach and make valuable connections with other people going through the process.
4. Complete an application, which will request personal and demographic information about you and other members of your household. In some counties you will receive the application packet after you’ve completed training. In other counties, you receive it at orientation. As part of the application process, you will be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) test at a local health center. All members of your household over 18 will be fingerprinted and will have their criminal records checked. 5. Meet with a caseworker. Once you’ve completed the application, the agency or Department of Social Services will assign a caseworker to work closely with you throughout the remainder of the process. 6. Complete a home study. A home study evaluates your family’s ability to become foster or adoptive parents. A caseworker will visit your home to inspect the accommodations (including appropriate bedroom space), check for safety features, and interview members of your household. 7. Keep in contact. Once you’ve been licensed, you will continue to have contact with your caseworker until a foster placement is made. 8. Placement of a child. The licensing process can take 3 – 6 months from the time of application to completion, and often depends on a family’s motivation and follow-though. After you obtain a license, the agency will attempt to match your skills, qualifications, and preferences to the needs of an available child. This is key. It is not just a matter of a child being available but also a matter of determining the suitability of the child to your home. Depending on the availability of appropriate children, placement may be made immediately or, in some instances, not for several months.
Also in this section:
What Families Say: Want to know what it's like to foster a child? Foster parents share their stories. Read about day-to-day life, what it's like to bring a new child into your home, and more.
Myths and Facts: Myths about foster children and the foster care system abound. Our Myths and Facts page explores the myth, then provides the matching fact.