Is Foster Parenting For Me?

foster-parent

What Is Foster Parenting?

Foster parenting is a meaningful opportunity to support children and families during difficult transitions.

Foster parenting is:

An opportunity
To make a lasting difference in a child’s life by providing safety, stability, and encouragement.

Providing temporary care
Caring for children who have experienced abuse or neglect until they can safely return home or achieve another permanent family connection.

A commitment
Supporting children and their families through challenging periods. Foster parents provide love, structure, and guidance — while also supporting reunification or permanency goals.

A learning journey
Developing and strengthening parenting skills to meet the unique emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs of each child.

Who Can Become a Foster Parent?

Foster parents come from all backgrounds and life experiences. You may qualify if you:

  • Are single, married, divorced, or in a committed partnership

  • Have children or do not have children

  • Rent or own your home

  • Have a modest but stable income

  • Work outside the home or stay at home

  • Live with a disability

Basic Foster Parent Requirements

While specific requirements may vary slightly by agency, foster parents must typically:

  • Be at least 21 years of age

  • Complete medical and health clearances

  • Pass required child abuse and criminal background clearances

  • Complete required foster parent training

  • Participate in a home study and licensing process

Who Are the Children in Foster Care?

Children in foster care may include:

  • Sibling groups who need to remain together

  • Infants, children, and teens of all races, cultures, and religions

  • Children with medical, emotional, or developmental needs

Many children have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. As a result, some children may demonstrate behaviors that require additional patience, support, and therapeutic services.

Training & Ongoing Support

Foster parents participate in ongoing training to help them meet children’s needs. In Pennsylvania:

  • Foster parents must complete at least six hours of approved training annually

  • Foster homes are inspected annually to maintain licensing standards

PSRFA also offers training opportunities, education, and peer support for resource families across Pennsylvania.

How Agencies Assess Foster Parent Readiness

Agencies evaluate potential foster parents based on their ability to:

  • Provide safe, nurturing care and appropriate supervision

  • Demonstrate stable emotional and mental well-being

  • Maintain supportive relationships with family, friends, and community resources

Foster Home Safety & Living Requirements

Foster homes must meet state safety and licensing standards. While agencies will guide families through these requirements, homes generally must include:

  • Safe sleeping space for each child

  • Working plumbing, heating, and utilities

  • Safe storage of medications and hazardous materials

  • Working smoke detectors and fire safety equipment

  • Compliance with bedroom and supervision guidelines

Additional Things to Consider

Successful foster parents are typically willing to:

  • Work collaboratively with caseworkers, therapists, schools, and medical providers

  • Advocate for the child’s needs

  • Commit time and energy to support children

  • Build and rely on personal support systems

  • Ask for help when needed

What Is the Process?

If you are interested in becoming a foster, kinship, or adoptive resource parent, the first step is to contact a licensed foster care or adoption agency in Pennsylvania.

The agency will guide you through:

  • Orientation and application

  • Background clearances

  • Required training

  • Home study and licensing

  • Placement matching and ongoing support

If you are unsure where to begin, help is available:

• Contact the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network (SWAN) Helpline at 1-800-585-SWAN (7926) for guidance and agency referrals


• Visit AdoptPAKids.org to learn more about foster care and adoption in Pennsylvania


• Contact Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association (PSRFA) for support, training opportunities, advocacy, and connection to experienced resource families. PSRFA: 1-800-951-5151

PSRFA is proud to support resource families through our mission of Families Helping Families.