So… you’ve said “yes” to the next step in becoming a foster parent. Now what?
You’ve thought about it. Maybe you’ve talked it over with your family. Maybe you’ve been reading, watching videos, and asking yourself a hundred questions.
And now you’re thinking: “Okay. I think I’m ready to actually get started.”
The foster care process has several steps, and there will be people along the way to help you understand what’s happening, what comes next, and what’s expected of you. You can ask questions, take things one step at a time, and learn as you go.
Here are some of the questions people often have at the very beginning.
1.What happens now that I’ve said I’m interested and been assigned to an agency?
Your agency will be your main guide through the approval process. They’ll help you understand what needs to be completed, what comes next, and where to go when you have questions. You will have paperwork, training, background checks, interviews, a home study, and other steps along the way.
You don’t have to figure out the whole process today.
Start with the next step your agency gives you.
If you haven’t connected with an agency yet, you can by filling out the form on EveryChildArkansas.org
2. How does becoming a foster parent work?
Becoming a foster parent starts with learning more, not having all the answers. You can learn about foster care as you go and work toward welcoming a child into your home.
Most importantly, you’re in the driver’s seat. You can take your time, pause the process when needed, or ultimately decide if foster care is the right fit for you. Your agency will provide you with a key point of contact who will be there to answer your questions and talk things through. You don’t have to navigate foster care alone.
From there, you may move through steps such as:
- Potential orientation to give you a high-level overview of foster parenting
- Application and background checks
- Training and home study
- Get approved and prepare for first placement
Your agency will explain each step and let you know what you need to do along the way.
It may sound like a lot when you see it all at once, but it’s designed to make sure children are placed in safe homes and that you feel prepared and setup for success.
3. Does contacting an agency mean I’m committing to becoming a foster parent?
No.
Connecting with an agency is a way to learn more and keep exploring. You can ask questions, understand the process, and decide what feels right for you and your family as you go through the process.
You don’t have to know the final answer before you take the first step.
4. How long does the approval process usually take?
There’s no single timeline that works for everyone.
The process usually takes a few months, but it can take more depending on where you live, how quickly paperwork and background checks are completed, training schedules, the home study process, and other factors. It may take some time, but each step is designed to help you feel prepared to welcome a child into your home.
Your agency can give you a better idea of what to expect based on your situation. You should know that if something is moving a little slower at times, that doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Sometimes these things simply take time.
5. Who will help me through the process?
You won’t have to figure it all out on your own—but you may have different people helping with different parts of the journey.
Your agency is your guide through the approval process. They’ll help you with the official steps to become a foster parent, including paperwork, training, background checks, your home study, and other requirements. They’re the ones who will work with you through the approval process and ultimately determine your approval.
Every Child is here to help you feel supported along the way. Through resources like Compass, you’ll have opportunities to learn from other foster parents, get a better sense of what to expect, find helpful information, and discover community resources that can support you along the way. Compass will continue to grow as you move through your foster care journey.
You can lean on both—and you can ask questions whenever you need to.
6. What if I have a question I’m embarrassed to ask?
Ask it anyway.
There are probably other people wondering the same thing.
You can ask about attachment. Birth parents. Money. Discipline. What happens when a child is upset. What happens when you need a break. What happens if you don’t know what to do.
There aren’t bonus points for pretending you aren’t wondering. The questions you ask now can help you feel more prepared later.
7. What happens during a background check?
A background check is a standard part of becoming a foster parent and helps make sure children are placed in safe, supportive homes. You’ll provide the information needed for the required checks, and your foster care team will guide you through the process. It may feel intimidating, but it’s simply one of the ways we help make sure a child is safe and well cared for.
If you’re worried that something from your past automatically means you can’t foster, don’t assume. Talk with your agency about your specific situation.
8. What will I learn in training?
You’ll complete required training designed to help you understand foster care, the needs of children who have experienced trauma, your role as a foster parent, and how to provide a safe and supportive home.
Training isn’t a test you’re expected to ace.
It’s a chance to learn, ask questions, hear from people with experience, and start building your confidence as a new foster parent.
9. What exactly is a home study?
The name can make it sound a little intimidating. It really is a chance for your agency to get to know you, your household, and your home.
You’ll likely talk about things like your family, relationships, routines, experiences, strengths, and why you’re interested in fostering. Your home will also be reviewed for safety.
Think of it less as someone deciding whether your life is “good enough” and more as getting to know the people and home that could become a safe place for a child.
Don’t worry, a few piles of laundry won’t count against you. A perfect home isn’t the goal—a safe and caring one is.
10. What kind of questions will they ask me?
Some questions will be practical. Others may be more personal.
You may talk about your family, relationships, childhood experiences, parenting beliefs, support system, work schedule, household routines, and why you’re interested in fostering.
It may feel a bit vulnerable at times—and that’s normal.
The goal isn’t to have a perfect answer. It’s to be honest and open so your agency can understand your strengths and help determine what type of fostering may be a good fit.
11. What happens after I’m approved?
Once you’re approved, you’re ready to begin welcoming children into your home. Your foster care agency will work with you when a placement opportunity comes up. They’ll help you understand what to expect, and when that first placement call comes, you’ll have support as you take the next step. Finding the right fit can take some time, so you may not receive a placement call right away—and that’s okay.
When an opportunity does come your way, you’ll have a chance to learn more about the child’s needs and talk with your agency about whether the placement feels like a good fit for your family. You don’t have to say yes to every call. The goal is to find a placement where you feel prepared to provide the care and support a child’s needs.
12. What does being a foster parent actually involve?
Being a foster parent means providing a child with a safe, stable, and caring home while they navigate a time of uncertainty. A lot of it looks like everyday life: making meals, getting ready for school, helping with homework, keeping routines, listening, laughing, and being there when a child has a hard day.
You’ll also help support their needs and, when appropriate, their connections with parents, siblings, relatives, school, and other important people in their life. Your agency and the child’s team will help you understand what that looks like for the child in your care.
At its heart, you’re giving a child something incredibly important: a safe place to be a kid while the adults around them work toward stability and what comes next.
13. How long might a child stay with me?
Every foster care journey is different, so there’s no set timeline. A placement may last a few days or weeks or continue for several months or longer, depending on the child’s situation and case plan. Whenever possible, the goal is to safely reunite children with their families. No matter how long a child is with you, what matters most is providing stability and consistency for as long as they need it. You can discuss a child’s situation with your caseworker before saying “yes” to that placement to have a better idea of the child’s ongoing needs.
14. Do I get to choose which children will live with me?
You will have a voice in what types of placements may be a good fit for your family.
You’ll talk with your agency about things like age range, sibling groups, behaviors or needs you’re prepared to support, and the space and resources you have available.
You won’t be expected to say yes to every situation.
The goal is to find placements where you can provide the care and support a child needs—and where your family can realistically do that, too.
When a placement opportunity comes up, your agency will share information about the child and their needs so you can talk through whether the placement is a good fit. If you say yes, you’ll get information and support as you welcome the child into your home.
There may be a lot to learn in those first days. That’s normal. You aren’t expected to know exactly what to do from day one.
15. Can I take a break or say no to a placement?
Yes. You can talk with your agency about your availability, your family’s needs, and the types of placements you feel prepared to support. When a placement opportunity comes up, your agency will share what they can about the child and their needs so you can talk together about whether it feels like a good fit.
You won’t be expected to say yes to every placement. In fact, being honest about what you can realistically take on helps everyone—including children—find placements where their needs and your family’s capacity are a good match.
And taking a break is okay, too. Respite care can give foster parents a planned break from caregiving when they need some time to recharge, attend to other responsibilities, or simply have some breathing room. Your agency can help you understand when respite may be available and how it works in your area.
Saying no to a placement or asking for a break doesn’t mean you’re giving up or that you aren’t committed. Knowing your limits is part of being a thoughtful foster parent. You don’t have to prove your commitment by taking on more than you can reasonably handle.
16. Why do children enter foster care?
Children may enter foster care when their home is experiencing circumstances that make it difficult to keep them safe or meet their needs. This can include abuse or neglect, a parent facing a serious crisis, family instability, or other situations that require a child to temporarily live somewhere else. Foster care gives children a safe, stable place to be while their family works toward stability and a safe path forward.
17. What kinds of children need foster homes?
Children of all ages, backgrounds, and needs may need a foster home—with most being school-aged or older. They’re kids who simply need a safe, stable place to be. There is a higher need for homes for teens, sibling groups, children who want to stay connected to their culture, and children who may need medical or other specialized care.
You don’t have to be prepared for every kind of placement. Foster parents can talk with their agency about the types of care they feel ready and able to provide.
At the same time, you may be surprised by what feels possible once you learn more. Many people begin the process thinking they’re only open to a certain age or type of placement, then hear a child’s story or learn more about their needs and realize they might be able to offer something they hadn’t considered before.
You can start with what feels right for you and stay curious as you learn. Your agency can help you understand what different placements may involve so you can make thoughtful decisions about what your family is ready to take on.
18. Are children in foster care waiting to be adopted?
Foster care is primarily about giving a child a safe, stable home while their birth parents work toward stability and get the support they need. Parents work with their support team to address the circumstances that led to foster care and safely bring their children home. When safe and possible, reunification is the primary goal of foster care. Over time, if reunification isn’t possible, adoption or another permanent option may be considered. This is navigated with the child’s support team on a case-by-case basis.
19. What happens when a child leaves my home?
When a child leaves your home, it may be because they’re returning to their family when it’s safe to do so, moving to live with a relative or someone they already know, or transitioning to another safe, permanent placement. Every child’s journey is different, and your role is to provide care and support for as long as they need you.
Even when you know a transition is coming, saying goodbye can be emotional. You may feel happy for the child, sad to see them go, worried about how they’ll adjust, or even surprised by how deeply you’ve grown to love them. Caring deeply about a child means the goodbye can be hard, even when the transition is a positive step.
You won’t have to navigate that transition alone. Your agency and support team can help you prepare the child, talk through your feelings, and understand what to expect. Depending on the circumstances and the child’s needs, there may be opportunities to help them prepare for the move, share important routines or information with their next caregiver, and make the transition feel a little less overwhelming.
It’s also important to remember that foster care is about supporting a child’s needs, not about how long they stay in your home. When reunification is the goal, supporting a child also means supporting their family as they work toward being together again. You can love a child, make a meaningful difference in their life, and still celebrate progress toward that goal.
You may not always see the full impact of your time together, and you may not know what happens next. But the comfort and care you provide matter. You gave that child a place to land during a time of uncertainty, and that experience is meaningful, even after they leave your home.
20. What if the child’s family is still involved?
In many cases, yes—the child’s family will still be an important part of their life. Foster care isn’t about replacing a child’s family. When reunification is the goal, foster parents can play an important role in helping a child stay connected with their parents, siblings, relatives, culture, and community when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
It’s also important to remember that having a child placed in foster care can be an incredibly vulnerable experience for their parents and family. They may be navigating a lot of emotions of shame, grief, and deep desire to stabilize their life while also trying to stay connected to their child. You may have feelings of your own, too. There can be uncertainty, sadness, gratitude, discomfort, or even moments when you’re not sure what to say or do.
You don’t have to navigate those relationships by yourself. Your agency and the child’s team will help you understand your role, what contact should look like, and how to support the child’s connections. Depending on the circumstances, visits and other forms of contact may be facilitated or supervised by agency staff or other approved professionals. In other situations, there may be different arrangements that evolve over time.
The details will be different for every child and family. What stays consistent is the goal of helping the child maintain important relationships whenever it is safe and possible.
You aren’t being asked to replace anyone. You’re being asked to care for a child while the adults around them work toward what comes next—and your agency will help you understand how to do that.
21. What if I’m nervous about getting attached?
Foster care is designed to support children and their families while working toward reunification when it is safe and possible. That means foster parents may eventually say goodbye to a child they’ve grown to love.
Saying goodbye can hurt, especially when you’ve shared the everyday moments, the hard days, and the good ones. But the care you give a child doesn’t disappear when they leave your home. The safety you provided and the memories you made can become part of their story for years to come.
It can be hard. And that doesn’t make the love any less meaningful. Sometimes, loving a child for a season is exactly what they need.
22. What if I’m nervous or worried I won’t be a good foster parent?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous. Becoming a foster parent is meaningful, and it’s okay to have moments when you wonder, Can I really do this? or What if I don’t know what to do?
You don’t have to feel completely ready, and you certainly don’t have to be perfect. You’ll have training, your agency, resources, and people around you who can help you learn and navigate the harder moments.
Being a thoughtful foster parent also means knowing your own limits, asking for help when you need it, and being willing to keep learning. And if you’re nervous? That may simply mean you understand that this matters. Give yourself permission to take the process one step at a time.
23. What if I change my mind?
That’s okay. You’re allowed to change your mind without judgement.
Learning more may make you feel even more ready. It may raise new questions. It may make you realize you need more time.
The purpose of the early process is to help you understand foster care and decide whether it’s right for you and your family.
Asking questions isn’t backing out. It’s part of figuring it out.
24. Will I have support once I’m approved?
You’re not expected to figure everything out on your own. Foster parenting is a team effort, and your support system can include people helping in different ways.
Your foster care agency will be an important source of support, helping you navigate questions, appointments, routines, challenges, and the practical parts of foster parenting. You may also work with professionals who support the child, such as caseworkers, therapists, teachers, medical providers, or other specialists. They can help you understand the child’s needs and work together to support them.
Outside of that team, there may be community resources that can make everyday life a little easier—support groups and other foster parents, mentoring programs, childcare or respite care, family and community organizations, educational resources, and other services available in your area.
Respite care can provide temporary care for a child when you need time to recharge, attend to other responsibilities, or simply take a breather. Taking a break is part of building a sustainable support system, not a sign that you’re struggling.
As you prepare, start thinking about the people and resources you can turn to for a listening ear, practical help, encouragement, or a little breathing room.
You’re not meant to do this alone. There’s a team around you—and part of preparing to foster is learning who’s on it.
25. What should I do before I start?
You don’t need a giant to-do list.
For now, you can:
- Talk with the people who will be part of your support system.
- Write down the questions you’ve been wondering about.
- Learn about the children and families who need foster care in your community.
- Think about what kinds of situations you may feel prepared to support.
- Connect with your agency to learn about the next step.
That’s enough for now.
One step at a time is good enough.
Up until now, foster care may have been something you were learning about or imagining. Now you’re taking real steps toward becoming a foster parent—and it’s completely normal for that to bring up a whole new set of questions.
Your agency will help you navigate the official approval process, and Every Child will be here with encouragement, stories, resources, and ways to help you feel more prepared for what’s ahead. There may be moments when it feels exciting, overwhelming, or a little bit of both. That’s okay. You’re not expected to know how to be a foster parent before you become one. You’re learning—and you don’t have to do it alone.
If you haven’t already connected with an agency, and you’re ready to take the first step in becoming a foster parent, fill out the connect form to get started!
