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1. What is foster parenting (also known as "resource parent")?

Caring for a child on a short term basis, until the child can return home, is placed with a relative, or another permanent arrangement is made. Resource Parenting is a commitment to helping a child through a difficult period.

Find out more on the Become a Resource Parent page.

2. What do resource parents do?

Resource Parents provide the basic necessities for children to include, but not limited to: food, clothing, and shelter. Other responsibilities include:
- Foster parents encourage positive relationships between foster children and his/her birth parents.
- Foster parents arrange for medical and dental care.
- Resource parents discipline in a positive way by setting fair, consistent and appropriate rules.
- Resource parents help the child grow through educational, cultural, and social experiences.
- Resource parents love and support the child and work as part of a team with the local Department of Social Services.
- Resource parents help prepare the child to return home, live with relatives or adoptive parents if necessary.

Find out how to Become a Resource Parent.

3. What qualities should resource families have?

General requirements include:
- Resource families must be at least eighteen years old and in good physical and mental health to raise a child.
- Resource parents may be single or married, own a home or rent, stay home with children or work outside the home.
- Resource parents must be able to provide for their own family's financial needs, have stable family relationships, have enough room for a foster child, complete the home study process (to include criminal and central registry background checks, submit driving record, physicals, and references), and resource parents must complete a training program.

Discover how to Become a Resource Parent.

4. What types of children are in foster care?

Children in foster care come from many different backgrounds, races, ethnicities and religions. Foster children range in age from birth to twenty-one. Children are separated from their parents for many different reasons: physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment, physical or mental illness of a parent, death of parents, or parental substance abuse.

Learn more about Foster Care.

5. Can resource parents choose the children they will care for?

Resource parents can generally choose a specific age range or gender, and have input on other factors. However, limiting the type of children you will care for may mean a longer wait for a foster child to be placed in your home. Resource parents may choose to not accept a placement if they feel it would not benefit the child.

Find out more information on the Foster Care page.

6. Are resource parents paid for taking care of foster children?

Resource parents do not receive wages for providing care. However, resource parents do receive a monthly reimbursement that helps cover the cost of the child's food, clothing and other basic needs.

Find more information on the Become a Resource Parent page.