Thinking of Becoming a Foster Parent?

Becoming a foster parent is a big decision, but you don’t have to have all the answers before you get started. You may have questions about whether you qualify, what the licensing process looks like, how to prepare your home or whether you’ll feel ready to welcome a child or teen into your family. Those questions are completely normal. 

Foster parenting will change your life — at the same time, you’re never on the journey alone. This foster parent guide from KVC Kansas walks you through what to expect, what you’ll need and where you can find support along the way.

1. Understand What Foster Parenting Means

Before diving into the world of foster parenting, it’s important to first understand what foster care is and is not. While some parents and families do adopt through foster care, that is not the overall goal and purpose. Cheyanne Simanowitz, a licensing specialist with KVC Kansas, encourages potential foster parents to understand that the ultimate goal of foster care is reuniting children with their biological parents. 

Cheyanne describes foster care as “Providing a safe, temporary home for children while their biological parents work on their case goals to get them back home.” As a foster parent supporting children and families during difficult seasons, your role is invaluable! 

2. Learn the Foster Parent Requirements

Qualifying to be a foster parent is a lot less complicated than you might think. Our staff often hear concerns from families who worry their home is too small, they work too much to be a good foster parent, or they don’t fit the mold of what foster care agencies like KVC Kansas are looking for. These worries may leave you wondering, “Can I become a foster parent?”

In reality, the foster parent requirements are very straightforward. Foster parents in the state of Kansas must be:

• 21 years of age
• Have no criminal or child abuse/neglect record
• Meet basic income guidelines
• Have a safe home environment with space to accommodate a child or teen
• Have a phone and reliable transportation
• Complete all training requirements, along with a home assessment and licensing evaluation process
• And be willing to partner with a child’s biological family to work toward safe reunification.

Foster parents can be homeowners or renters, single or married or living with an unmarried partner, straight or a member of the LGBTQ+ community. If you qualify as a safe home for children and teens in your area, you don’t need to worry about fitting your idea of a perfect foster parent.

3. Understand the Foster Parent Process

Throughout the foster parent process, you will have compassionate and supportive KVC Kansas team members at your side. From the recruiter who helps you apply, to the licensing specialists who help you get through training and qualifications, to your case manager who helps you with the children in your care, you’re never alone on the journey of becoming a foster parent.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide for how to become a foster parent:

• Attend an information session. This is a no-pressure opportunity for you to meet a recruiter and ask any questions you may have about becoming and being a foster parent.
• Submit an application. If you decide to become a foster parent, your recruiter will help you with the application process to get started.
• Attend trainings. Once your application is approved, your recruiter will help you sign up for foster parent trainings that fit your schedule and timeline.
• Prepare for home study and licensing. Midway through training, you’ll be put in contact with a licensing specialist who will help you get your home ready for the home study and submit all the paperwork to become a licensed foster home.
• Get ready to welcome the first child or teen. Once you have completed training and been licensed, you’re ready to start welcoming a child or teen into your care! Your case manager will contact you when they find a child, teen or sibling group that they believe will fit well with your household, and you will have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Welcoming a child or teen into your home can feel scary and overwhelming, especially the first time. Cheyanne encourages foster parents to remember that the child or teen is feeling similarly! “You’re both new to each other,” she says. “You’re both figuring this out, and nobody has to be perfect.”

4. Build your Foster Parent Support Toolkit

Throughout your journey toward foster parenting, you will begin building a foster parent support toolkit. KVC Kansas is right by your side to help build out that support with training, licensing specialists, case managers and other foster parent resources. We can help connect you with mentors, support groups, specialized trainings and respite care when you just need a night off.

Madison Waltrip, a licensing specialist with KVC Kansas, says that one of the best supports for new foster parents is mentorship from seasoned foster parents. 

“There are some foster parents who have been doing this a long time who are on call lists to talk to struggling, overwhelmed foster parents,” she explains. “It gives new foster parents someone to connect to who understands exactly what they’re going through.” — Madison Waltrip

Children and youth in foster care receive therapy and other resources with the help of their case manager, but some of these resources are available to foster parents too! Contact your case manager to find out if you qualify for therapy designed specifically for foster parents.

5. Prepare Your Home for a Foster Care Home Study

Your home is lived in. We do not expect perfection or a spotless, model home when getting ready for a home study! In fact, both Cheyanne and Madison like to tell their foster parents-in-training that they don’t need to worry about cleaning up or getting anything ready before they come for an initial walkthrough. 

Your licensing specialist will talk you through the foster home requirements you’ll need to meet at your home study, such as having a bedroom ready for the child or teen and locking up medications. Your licensing specialist may sometimes send you a foster parent checklist of things you can get done before the walkthrough, but none of this needs to happen until it’s time for the home study, when the Department of Children and Families (DCF) sends someone to assess the home.

6. Prepare Yourself for Foster Parenting

Foster parenting is a big change. If you’re a first-time foster parent, remember to be kind to yourself and not put too much pressure on yourself about what’s to come! “A lot of people come in worried that they’re going to compound trauma or won’t know how to handle certain situations, and that’s okay!” shares Madison. 

She points out that foster parents who are concerned about compounding trauma are unlikely to do so, because they are already educated on trauma-informed care through foster parent trainings.

As you prepare yourself emotionally, remember to be flexible, be patient, focus on reunification and ask for help whenever you need it! You might not know yet where you’ll need extra support, but that’s okay. Start doing it, and you’ll figure out those moments when they arise.

FAQ: Common Questions About Becoming a Foster Parent

See the answers to our 10 most frequently asked questions about foster parenting here.

What’s the Best Next Step?

If you’re open to becoming a foster parent, the best thing you can do is attend an information session. You don’t have to feel 100% about becoming a foster parent yet, or even 50%! The point of our information sessions is to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision and connect with a recruiter if and when you decide to move forward.