Steps to Become a Licensed Foster Parent

Make a Call

Contact our Orange County Foster & Adoptive Parent Information Line at (888) 871-KIDS (toll-free). We will answer your questions and mail you a welcome packet of information. You may also choose to directly download the packet from our website.

Attend an Agency Orientation

You can sign up to attend a Foster & Adoption Introductory Orientation during your first call to our Foster & Adoptive Parent Information Line or, if you prefer, you can wait until after you receive your packet of information. At the orientation, child welfare professionals will give you an overview of foster care and answer your questions. We offer classes throughout Orange County in both English & Spanish and can provide sign language interpreters if requested.

Attend a Foster Care Orientation and Pick up an Application

Attend a workshop specific to becoming a Licensed Foster Parent. Information specific to the application process will be provided as well as your questions answered by experienced foster home licensing staff members. At the end of the orientation, you will be given an application to take with you.

Submit an Application

Return the completed application, in-person and by appointment. Once social workers have reviewed your application for completeness, they will contact you to conduct a home inspection. Fingerprints (Livescan) will be taken at the time a completed Foster Care Application is submitted.

Complete a PRIDE Training Series

After you have attended the Foster Care Application Workshop you will attend a 9-week PRIDE (Parent   Resources for Information, Development, and Education) Training series. The PRIDE training program will help develop your parenting skills, build confidence and assess your own strengths as a foster parent. You will learn how to work with birth parents, social workers, and will find out about your rights and responsibilities as a foster caregiver. Together, with other experienced foster parents, you will explore how to help children adjust to their temporary home and learn about the resources available to support you and your family.

Become a Licensed Foster Parent

Upon the successful completion of all of the requirements for licensing your home, which include completion of a CPR/First Aid class and TB testing, a home inspection and training, you will become a licensed foster parent. This means that you can now care for foster children in your home.

A Child is placed in Your Home

When you are licensed you can begin receiving calls from our agency to place children in your home. If the match is right, the child(ren) will come to stay with you on either a short-term or longer-term basis. Before a child is placed in your home, the caseworker will tell you about visitation schedules with birth parents and siblings, and will give you information that will help you provide the best care for the child(ren).