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Future Parents

Become a Foster Parent

We are actively seeking compassionate caregivers who are open to providing a nurturing home for children from diverse backgrounds, including Black children, children with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ children, and sibling groups.
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Join a Child’s Village!

There are over 4,170 children in foster care in the St. Louis region. A child begins their journey in foster care when abuse or neglect is reported to the Children’s Division. Every child’s story is unique, but the common thread lies in their shared desire to experience healthy attachment.

As a caregiver, you have the life-changing opportunity to care for a child(ren) in desperate need of security, stability, and safety. The process may seem daunting, but rest assured, the Coalition is here to support you every step of the way. We prioritize making your journey to fostering as seamless as possible.

Requirements for Becoming a Foster Parent

  • You must be at least 21 years of age
  • Free of child abuse/neglect or criminal history
  • Employed or have adequate income
  • With or without biological children
  • Able to accommodate additional children in your home
  • Willing to attend a 10-week pre-service training program
  • Willing to participate in a home study
  • Willing to provide personal, employer, and medical references
  • Complete a financial verification form
  • Able to purchase items required for licensing, such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, beds, etc.

The Journey to Becoming a Licensed Foster Parent

It typically takes 120 days to become a licensed parent, but a license does not guarantee immediate placement. Well-trained, competent families are needed, so there is an in-depth training and home-study process to complete.

Submit Inquiry

Short Screening Process

Complete State Application

Pass Background Checks

Complete Training

Participate in Home Study

Matched with Licensing Agency

Become Licensed!

If you’re ready to begin the journey to becoming a licensed foster parent, you will first participate in a short screening process so you can be referred to begin the licensing assessment process. You will need to complete an application and have an initial visit at your home with a Family Development Specialist. The goal of the home visit is to meet you, answer questions, and do a safety check (licensed homes must meet physical standards). Don’t panic! This isn’t the white glove test. They are looking for safety, cleanliness, and good repair of furnishings. If there are a few things you need to do to get your home ready, that will be explained, and you’ll have ample time to meet requirements. Four basics that will be discussed at an initial visit:

  1. You must meet licensing/training requirements. State policy and training expectations will be discussed in order to address any concerns or questions regarding the ability to meet those requirements.
  2. Your family must have sufficient income to meet its needs. You do not have to be wealthy. Most foster/adoptive families have modest incomes but manage their finances well.
  3. Your family life should be stable. You should not be in the midst of a divorce, a move, or any other major change or crisis. Discuss any marital or family situations with the Family Development Specialist.
  4. You must agree to a background screening. Each adult in the prospective foster or adoptive family/household (age 17+) is subject to screening for child abuse/neglect history and criminal history. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you cannot foster or adopt. The seriousness and nature of the offense and when it occurred will be considered. It is very important for you to be honest and share information with the Family Development Specialist.

MO C.A.R.E. Pre-Service training is a mutual selection process. Our agency will be transparent throughout your journey in determining selection goals. Throughout the training/assessment process, the Specialists will work with the families to select of reaching on the following four outcomes:

  1. Your family and the agency mutually agree that you meet all the required competencies to be licensed to foster.
  2. Your family and the agency mutually agree that the licensing process will not continue at the current time.
  3. The agency extends an invitation to “select in” to the licensing process, however, your family chooses NOT to accept the invitation.
  4. Your family has decided to “select in” to the licensing process, however, through the SAFE assessment process, the agency believes further development is needed and a “next steps” plan is created.

Informational Packets

If you meet the basic requirements for becoming a foster/adoptive parent, take the next step and review the Informational Packets for Missouri and Illinois prospective parents, and watch the “Removed” film. Click on the links below to see these packets.

Missouri Parent Informational Packet

Illinois Parent Informational Packet

Removed Film

FAQ

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement until a child can be reunified with their biological family. Kinship care is when a child is related to their temporary caregiver by blood or affinity. Foster parents are not related to the child. In the cases of both fostering and kinship care, the individual(s) must be licensed by the state. KinshipAdoption is making a lifelong commitment to a child.

For both adoption and guardianship, the caregiver is making a lifelong commitment to the child, which is approved by the court. In the case of adoption, the child’s biological parents rights have been terminated. For guardianship, the biological parents’ rights have not been terminated.

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Have a clean child abuse/neglect or criminal history
  • Be employed or have adequate income; complete a financial verification form
  • Have the space in your home to accommodate children
  • Complete training:
    • 8 hours for kinship caregivers
    • 30 hours for foster care caregivers
  • Participate in the home study process
  • Provide references, including personal, medical, and employer
  • Secure items required for licensing such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, or beds.
    • These may be provided to the kinship caregiver, if there is need.
    • Foster caregivers must supply them.

Kinship caregivers often receive children in their home with no time to prepare. (Don’t worry! The Coalition will support you!). Kinship caregivers must be licensed within 90 days of the child being placed in their home.

Foster caregivers must be licensed within 120 of the date they start training. Being licensed does not guarantee an immediate placement, but when you do, our staff will visit with you within 24 business hours.

  1. Receive placement of a child to whom you are related by blood or affinity
    • Kinship caregiver
  2. Submit inquiry
    • Foster caregiver
  3. Participate in a short screening process
    • Foster caregiver
  4. Complete state application
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers
  5. Register for and pass background checks
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers
  6. Complete training
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers
  7. Participate in the home study process
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers
  8. Matched with licensing agency (the Coalition does not hold parent licenses, but we’ll match you with one)
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers
  9. Become licensed!
    • Both kinship and foster caregivers

There is no fee.

No.

Yes

No. Both kinship and foster parents may own, rent, or be in the process of buying a home, condo, or apartment. Families who rent must have their landlord’s permission. Your local municipality may require an occupancy permit.

There is no income requirement to become either a kinship or foster caregiver. In both cases, caregivers must have enough income to meet their own family’s needs. Most kinship and foster families have modest incomes but manage their finances well.

No. Individuals with or without children can become either a kinship and foster parents.

It depends. In all circumstances, the goal is to return the child home to the biological parent(s) once they complete their court-ordered plan. While a child is in foster care, the preference is to place children with their relatives, which is kinship care.

Youth placed with kin experience less trauma and exit foster care more quickly. If you are a non-relative foster caregiver, a child may be placed with you for a few days, until a kinship caregiver can be identified. In some cases, children may remain with you for months or even years.

Generally, when children are placed in foster care, the state takes legal custody . This allows the state to make certain primary life decisions for the child, such as where they will live, to consent to medical treatment, and to sign other routine consents. The biological parents retain some rights, such as the right to visit.

When a child is placed in your home as a foster placement, you will receive a monthly reimbursement for board, clothing, and personal allowance. The rate depends upon the child’s age and level of care required.

  • Medical and dental insurance (Medicaid) is provided to children in foster care.
  • If counseling or therapy services are needed, the state provides those services.
  • A small yearly clothing allowance is available to children in foster care.
  • Children ages 12 and younger are provided a day care subsidy, if all caregivers work outside of the home. There are a variety of guidelines, which we will gladly explore with you.
  • Finally, the Coalition provides a wide range of support services to our families.

Children may attend their origin district (school the child was attending) or resident district (foster parent’s school district) depending on what is determined to be in the child’s best interest. In most instances, it is preferable for the child to remain in their original school district for consistency in their young lives.

No. All children should have their own bed. Children six and younger can share a room. At age seven and older, children may share a room, but must identify as the same gender. Children may not share a room with an adult.

Children in foster care have the right to practice their religion of origin and foster parents are required to support the child. If the child does not have a religious affiliation, they may attend services with their foster family. It is important for the foster parent to check with the child’s case manager to determine the child’s religious needs.

Yes, most often. One of the foster parent’s roles is to support biological parents as they visit their children.

Each adult in the prospective foster or adoptive family/household (age 17+) is subject to screening for child abuse/neglect history and criminal history. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you cannot foster or adopt. The seriousness and nature of the offense and when it occurred will be considered. It is very important for you to be honest.

Children enter foster care because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

You can find children waiting to be adopted by clicking HERE. If you are either a kinship or foster caregiver, and the child becomes legally free for adoption, you will be asked if you would like to adopt the child.

Yes! There are many volunteer opportunities available to help children in foster care, such as mentoring, granting a child’s Little Wish, becoming a Birthday Buddy, or donating clothing. We can help direct you to what matches your interests.

Inquire About Becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent

Name

Mailing Address

Email Type
Phone Type
Are you licensed?
Are you interested in fostering, adopting or both?

If you are experiencing issues with this form, please call the Coalition at 314-367-8373 to inquire about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.