- 1). Contact your local agency to find out age and income requirements for your area. The minimum age requirement for a foster parent varies between 18 and 21, depending on the state, and the prospect must have a steady job and financial stability. When looking at your financial stability, keep in mind that the financial subsidies paid to foster families to reimburse them for expenses incurred on behalf of foster children is the same for all children regardless of age. Caring for an infant is substantially more expensive than caring for an older child, so those who intend to foster babies should be financially capable of covering some of the cost of caring for that infant out of pocket.
- 2). Complete a foster home application, and file it with the Department of Child Services. The application will contain questions about your basic information as well as about personal topics including lifestyle choices and living arrangements. Make sure you mark on the application that you would prefer to foster infants.
- 3). Provide evidence of a stable family unit. This varies largely from state to state. In Texas, you must provide a marriage license; in several other states you must prove that you have lived with your partner for a a minimum of 24 consecutive months. When placing infants for long-term foster care and possible adoption, preference is given to couples who have a longstanding partnership and who own a home or can show evidence of a long-term lease.
- 4). Undergo foster care training. This totals a minimum of 20 hours of continued education. It prepares you as a foster parent for some of the challenges that go with the foster care system, and exposes you to the child services expectations for you as a foster parent. Fostering infants requires additional training hours that cover medical emergencies and special needs infant care. This is because nearly all the infants who enter the foster system have been exposed to poor nutrition and drugs in-utero, which results in a multitude of serious medical complications. The long-term effects of these medical conditions can be minimized if dealt with proactively.
- 5). Compile a list of references. These can include friends, family members, clergy and professional contacts. These references should be able to attest to your ability as a foster parent as well as be able to speak of your ability to meet the needs of infants. It is helpful if they have seen you interact with and care for other infants in your life.
- 6). Undergo a background check. Child Protective Services will require you to complete a fingerprinting and background check before allowing children into your home. This will include a through examination of your criminal history and an examination of any records you may have with that department.
- 7). Complete a home study. A case worker will come into your home and monitor the interactions of your family. The case worker will also interview each member of the current family looking for emotional stability and well-being. The condition of the home will also be examined to ensure that it is a safe and appropriate environment for an infant. Baby-proof your home in advance of the home visit. Demonstrate that you have the space necessary for a baby, including his or her own room.
- 8). Get and maintain infant CPR, first-aid training, no-physical discipline and medicine administration training, and appropriate licensing. These are valuable for any parent, and they are required of foster families in most states. Additional certification that addresses the specific medical needs of your foster child may be required for an infant who is suffering from drug addiction and withdrawal. This is especially common in infants placed in the foster system immediately after birth.
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