Foster Care

Getting Started
What is Foster Care?
Foster Care Flowchart
Who can Foster?
Types of Foster Care?
Licensing Checklist & WACs

Getting Started

We understand that becoming a foster parent is not an overnight decision and that the more information you have, the better able you will be to make the right decision for you and your family. Below is a Foster Care Flowchart to help guide you through the licensing process. For a printable version of this Flowchart, please Click Here.

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What is Foster Care?

Foster care is the temporary placement of children with families or individuals outside of their own homes into licensed homes due to child abuse or neglect. The goal of foster care is to provide for the physical, emotional and social needs of children in a "substitute" family setting until the child can be reunited with their own family. In those cases where this is not possible, those children may ultimately be placed for adoption.

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Foster Care Flowchart

For a printable version of this flowchart, please Click Here.

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Who can Foster?

All potential foster parents must meet the licensing requirements set by the State of Washington. Following is a list of some of the basic requirements for the licensing process to help you decide if foster care is right for you. Please note that private agencies must follow the same minimum licensing requirements as the state and may also add additional requirements. For a list of agency specific licensing requirements, please contact the individual agency. For a printable version of this information, please Click Here. 

Basic Licensing Requirements

The basic licensing requirements for anyone applying to be a licensed foster parent are:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must not have been convicted of a crime of violence nor have been found to be a perpetrator of child abuse. For a list of Disqualifying Crimes, please Click Here.
• Applicants and others living in the home (age 18 or older) must have background/criminal-history clearance with the state to include a digital fingerprinting process. Youths aged 16-18 will only need to complete a Washington State Patrol Check.
• Applicants must complete the foster/adoptive parent Orientation training, "Pre-Service" training and
  First-Aid/CPR/BBP training.
• Applicants and other adults (18 and older) in the home must submit current Tuberculosis (TB) test results.
• Applicants must provide the names of at least 3 personal references.
• Applicants may be a homeowner or a renter, but the home must be inspected and approved by the licensor. 
• Applicants must provide the licensor detailed information about themselves and their families so that the licensor can thoroughly assess whether the applicants will be suitable foster parents.
• Applicants must have sufficient income to support themselves without relying on foster care payments. For more information on income requirements, please Click Here.
• While foster parents must have a regular source of income to meet their family's needs, assistance is available to help with the costs of caring for a foster child. This assistance includes medical/dental care for the child, assistance with child care for working caregivers and a monthly stipend for the care of the child. For a detailed list of assistance provided, please Click Here.
• Applicants must agree to discipline children in a positive manner without the use of physical punishment.

What can an application be denied for?

• Felony convictions, past crimes of violence or pending criminal charges.
• Past abuse, neglect or exploitation of anyone in the applicant's care.
• Revocation or denial of a license to care for others in the past, by any agency.
• Providing materially false statements in the application.
• Illegal or excessive use of intoxicants by the applicant.
• An assessment that the applicant does not demonstrate adequate judgment or stability to provide care for abused/neglected children or appears incapable of cooperating with the agency requirements or personnel.

What are some of the basic requirements for the foster home?

• The home must be clean, safe and in good repair, with telephone service.
• Medications, cleaning solutions, firearms and poisons, etc., must be kept locked up.
• The home needs an approved 2A10BC rated or larger all purpose ABC fire extinguisher, 5 lbs or more; smoke detector(s) in sleeping areas, and first-aid supplies including a CPR mask.
• Swimming pools must be fenced with a locked gate to make the pool inaccessible to children when not in use. Pools, hot tubs, spas, etc. shall be inaccessible to children when not in use and appropriate adult supervision is always required when in use. 
• If you have water hazards on the premises, you will need to work out a safety plan with your licensor.
• Each child needs to have his/her own bed in a bedroom with a window. The bedroom size will determine how many children can share a room. Children under age 6 can share a bedroom with the opposite gender.

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Types of Foster Care

From short term Respite Care to providing a forever home to a foster child through adoption, there are many ways to get involved and support your comfort level and availability. For a printable list of different types of foster care, please Click Here. 

Respite Homes

Provide short-term relief care for other foster parents by caring for their foster children in your home. Can be anywhere from one day to a few weeks.

Receiving Care Homes

Provide care for children when they are first brought into the protective custody of the state. Children may come directly from the hospital or their parent's home and may not always come with any personal belongings. Can be anywhere from overnight to up to 30 days.

Native and Minority Homes

Provide culturally appropriate care for minority children. Bilingual (Spanish) homes are especially needed.

Homes for (PAY) Physically Assaultive and (SAY) Sexually Aggressive Youth

PAY & SAY youth cannot be placed in homes with younger children and often need their own room. These children have usually been victims themselves and need experienced care and understanding. We do not recommend that you begin providing this level of care until you have experience. The State and some Private Agencies will license for this level of care. 

Homes for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Provide care for children with mental and/or physical delays such as Down Syndrome,  Autism, etc.

Homes for Medically Challenged Youth

Provide care for children with medical needs including drug affected babies and children with such condition as diabetes, feeding tubes, severe asthma and communicable diseases, etc.

Homes for Children 0-5 years olds

Provide care for our youngest and most vulnerable children. Childcare and therapeutic daycare is available for working foster parents.

Homes for Children 6-11 years old

Provide care for our elementary school aged children who need someone who can advocate for their
educational needs.

Homes for Children 12–18 years old

Provide care for one of our most difficult to place age group and help keep them out of Group Homes. Your investment in the lives of these children will make a difference.

Foster-Adopt/Adoptive Homes

There are thousands of children in Washington State either waiting for a pre-adoptive home or are legally free and waiting to be adopted. In the majority of cases the state reimburses your adoption fees.

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Licensing Checklist & WACs

Licensing Checklist: Use this checklist to keep track of the licensing requirements. Please note that some Private Agencies may have additional requirements, so please check with your licensor for your agency's requirements. For a printable version of this checklist, please Click Here.

WACs (Licensing Requirements for Foster Homes)          English          Spanish

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