What is the role of a foster parent?
Foster parents play a vital role in providing children with a safe, stable, and nurturing temporary home when their families are unable to care for them. In Missouri, foster parents are essential partners in ensuring the well being and safety of children who need support during challenging times.
Who can become a foster parent?
Many people think you must be married or own your own home, but that is not the case. If your housing and income are stable and meet licensure standards, and there is room in your home and heart for more family members, you could potentially become a foster parent.
In Missouri, you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Complete a child abuse/neglect check and criminal record check including fingerprints
- Be in good health, both physically and mentally
- Have a stable income
- Be willing to participate in and complete a free training and assessment process
- Be part of a professional team willing to voice perspectives and concerns
- Be willing to partner with the child's family
Support and Benefits for Foster Parents
We know that caring for children requires additional resources. The state provides financial support to aid in the care of the foster children in their placements.
To learn more about the financial support provided to foster parents in Missouri, please read Section 4, Chapter 12 (Financial Considerations), Subsection 8 – Payments for Children in the Child Welfare Manual.
Getting Started
To get started, attend an Informational Meeting near you or complete these three simple steps to become a foster parent in Missouri.
1
Contact Us
- Access the Missouri Foster Parent Portal or call 800-554-2222 to get started.
- We will go over services, rewards, and challenges of being a foster parent and answer any additional questions you may have.
2
Apply
- Submit an application for a foster parent license
- Complete a free child abuse and criminal background screening
3
Approved
- Once you have completed your application, you will be assigned a Children's Division team member who will walk you through your home study and pre-service trainings
- You will also need to review the following documents:
Foster Parent License
Once you successfully complete your training and home assessments, you will become a licensed foster parent in Missouri. Your name will then be placed into a confidential database that will allow our local children’s service workers to find you as a resource to temporarily care for a child in need.
Even as a licensed foster parent, you always have the choice to decline a placement if the timing is not right for you. We recognize that each family’s circumstances are unique. What matters most is having licensed families prepared and available so that, when the time is right, children can be placed in a safe and nurturing environment.