Frequently Asked Questions
How is fostering different from adoption?
Both foster care and adoption involve welcoming a child into a caring home. The biggest difference is legal rights. In foster care, the child’s birth parents still keep some rights. In adoption, the adoptive parents have full legal rights and make all decisions for the child. At Families United Network (FUN), we support families through both paths.
How do children and youth enter foster care?
Children and teens usually enter foster care after a report of possible abuse or neglect is made to Children and Youth Services (CYS), also called Children, Youth and Families (CYF). If a child cannot safely stay at home, the agency may place the child with a foster family through a private foster care provider.
A judge must approve every foster care placement. The court also reviews the case regularly to make sure the child is safe and doing well. These hearings usually happen at least every six months and may happen more often if needed. People involved may include the child, birth parents, agency staff, and foster parents.
How long is the process to be approved as a foster parent?
After we receive your application, a Resource Family Specialist will guide you through each step of the approval process. Approval usually takes about two to three months, depending on things like background checks, training, and home assessments. Emergency caretaker approval for referred kinship families can often be completed within 60 days.
What are the requirements to become a foster parent?
Pennsylvania has specific requirements to become a foster parent, and rules may be different in other states. In general, you must be at least 21 years old, pass background checks, complete training, have a stable income, and provide a safe home. We also look at whether you can offer emotional support and meet the needs of the children in your care.
Does a traumatic past disqualify me as a foster parent?
No. Having a difficult past does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a foster parent. We do hope you have had time and support to work through your own experiences. Families United Network believes that understanding hardship can help you show patience and compassion to a child in care. We are not looking for perfect families. Single parents can foster, and you do not need to own a home or be wealthy. You simply need the ability, commitment, and space to care for a child. We welcome people from many different backgrounds.
Do I need to be married or own a home?
No. You do not need to be married or own a home to foster a child. Single adults, renters, and people from many backgrounds can become foster parents as long as they meet the other requirements.
Do foster children need their own bedrooms?
Not always. Foster children do not always need their own bedroom, but they must have their own bed and enough personal space. They may be able to share a room with your children if the arrangement is safe and appropriate for their age and gender. Check with your local agency for the exact rules. Families United Network is always here to answer your questions.
Is there a limit to the number of children I can foster?
Pennsylvania law allows up to six children under age 18 in a foster home. This total includes all children living in the home, including birth, adopted, and foster children. Our foster care team can help you understand what this means for your household.
What ongoing support and training do foster parents receive?
Once a child is placed in your home, a case manager will be assigned to support you and stay in weekly contact—in person, virtually, or by phone. Families United Network also provides 24/7 on-call emergency support. As needed, we can provide referrals for childcare, programs such as WIC and Early Intervention, and counseling services. In addition to pre-approval training, foster parents must complete annual training. Your case manager will share upcoming opportunities, or you may choose approved trainings that fit your needs.
Can I choose the age or gender of a foster child?
Yes. You can share your preferences with us. Families United Network will work to match you with a child based on the child’s needs and your family’s strengths and ability to provide care.
Will I receive financial support when working with a foster child?
Yes. Foster parents receive a daily stipend for each child in their care to help cover the cost of food, clothing, and other basic needs. The amount may vary based on the child’s specific needs. Contact us if you would like more details.
Am I responsible for medical or dental expenses?
No. Children placed through Families United Network have state medical insurance that covers medical, dental, and prescription needs. Your case manager will give you the information you need when the child is placed in your home.
How can I help a foster child adjust?
A warm, stable, and welcoming home can make a big difference. Be patient, consistent, and honest in how you communicate. Respect the child’s boundaries and reassure them as they settle in. Our team is here to guide and support you during the transition.
How do I handle the emotional challenges of fostering?
Fostering can be emotionally challenging, and you do not have to handle it alone. We encourage you to lean on our team, practice self-care, and connect with foster parent support groups. We can also provide counseling referrals when needed.
What transition resources are available for foster families?
Families United Network can connect you with resources to support both your family and the child during the transition. These include:
- Our team: We provide training, guidance, and caseworker support throughout your fostering journey.
- Therapy and counseling: We can connect you with mental health professionals for both the child and family members.
- Support groups: Foster parents can share experiences and advice with others. FUN offers a support group and can also point you to local or online options.
- Educational resources: Workshops, books, and online materials can help you better understand foster care.
- Financial assistance: Daily subsidies and reimbursements can help cover the child’s needs.
These resources can make the transition easier and support a more positive experience for everyone.
Where will my foster child go to school?
The school district will hold a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting soon after a child is placed in your home. This meeting decides which school setting is best for the child. The child may stay in their current school district or enroll in your local district. We will help coordinate transportation if the child attends school outside your district.
What if a foster placement doesn’t work out?
It is usually best for a child to stay with one family during foster care, since moving can add to their trauma. Still, Families United Network understands that some situations may make a placement unable to continue. If that happens, we require 30 days’ written notice.
What are my legal responsibilities as a foster parent?
As a foster parent, you are responsible for helping keep the child safe, stable, and well cared for. You must follow Families United Network policies and court requirements. You will also need to work with our case managers, attend court hearings, and support the child’s reunification or permanency plan.
Must foster children visit their birth families?
Visits with a child’s birth family are often required by the court. Most visits are supervised and take place at the child’s Children & Youth office or at a private visitation agency. Foster parents are usually responsible for transportation. Visit schedules depend on the agency’s expectations, reunification efforts, and the child’s age. As reunification gets closer, visits may happen in the parents’ home or in the community and may last longer or happen more often.
What if the child’s family wants them back?
Reunification with the child’s birth family is always the main goal when it is safe and in the child’s best interest. If the family meets the requirements set by the court and child welfare agency, we will work toward a transition that supports the child, the family, and you as the foster parent.
Can I adopt a child I foster?
Yes. You may be able to adopt a child you are fostering if reunification is not possible and the child becomes legally eligible for adoption. It is natural to build a strong bond with a child in your care. Foster parents are often given priority in adoption cases, and we will support you through the process.
How else can I help?
If you are not ready to foster, there are still many meaningful ways to support the children and families we serve. These include:
- Volunteer: Give your time to local foster care organizations or mentoring programs.
- Donate: Give money, clothing, school supplies, or other needed items to foster care agencies.
- Advocate: Help raise awareness about foster care needs in your community or online.
- Become a respite caregiver: Provide short-term care so foster parents can have a break.
- Support foster families: Offer meals, childcare, or other help to foster families in your area.
- Sponsor events: Help organize or fund activities for children in foster care, such as holiday drives or educational programs.
Every action can make a real difference for the children and families we serve. Contact us to learn how you can get involved.
I have so many more questions. Now what?
Contact your local Families United Network office to set up a conversation with a Resource Parent Specialist or Recruiter. They will be glad to answer your questions about foster care.
How is fostering different from adoption?
Both foster care and adoption involve welcoming a child into a caring home. The biggest difference is legal rights. In foster care, the child’s birth parents still keep some rights. In adoption, the adoptive parents have full legal rights and make all decisions for the child. At Families United Network (FUN), we support families through both paths.
How do children and youth enter foster care?
Children and teens usually enter foster care after a report of possible abuse or neglect is made to Children and Youth Services (CYS), also called Children, Youth and Families (CYF). If a child cannot safely stay at home, the agency may place the child with a foster family through a private foster care provider.
A judge must approve every foster care placement. The court also reviews the case regularly to make sure the child is safe and doing well. These hearings usually happen at least every six months and may happen more often if needed. People involved may include the child, birth parents, agency staff, and foster parents.
How long is the process to be approved as a foster parent?
After we receive your application, a Resource Family Specialist will guide you through each step of the approval process. Approval usually takes about two to three months, depending on things like background checks, training, and home assessments. Emergency caretaker approval for referred kinship families can often be completed within 60 days.
What are the requirements to become a foster parent?
Pennsylvania has specific requirements to become a foster parent, and rules may be different in other states. In general, you must be at least 21 years old, pass background checks, complete training, have a stable income, and provide a safe home. We also look at whether you can offer emotional support and meet the needs of the children in your care.
Does a traumatic past disqualify me as a foster parent?
No. Having a difficult past does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a foster parent. We do hope you have had time and support to work through your own experiences. Families United Network believes that understanding hardship can help you show patience and compassion to a child in care. We are not looking for perfect families. Single parents can foster, and you do not need to own a home or be wealthy. You simply need the ability, commitment, and space to care for a child. We welcome people from many different backgrounds.
Do I need to be married or own a home?
No. You do not need to be married or own a home to foster a child. Single adults, renters, and people from many backgrounds can become foster parents as long as they meet the other requirements.
Do foster children need their own bedrooms?
Not always. Foster children do not always need their own bedroom, but they must have their own bed and enough personal space. They may be able to share a room with your children if the arrangement is safe and appropriate for their age and gender. Check with your local agency for the exact rules. Families United Network is always here to answer your questions.
Is there a limit to the number of children I can foster?
Pennsylvania law allows up to six children under age 18 in a foster home. This total includes all children living in the home, including birth, adopted, and foster children. Our foster care team can help you understand what this means for your household.
What ongoing support and training do foster parents receive?
Once a child is placed in your home, a case manager will be assigned to support you and stay in weekly contact—in person, virtually, or by phone. Families United Network also provides 24/7 on-call emergency support. As needed, we can provide referrals for childcare, programs such as WIC and Early Intervention, and counseling services. In addition to pre-approval training, foster parents must complete annual training. Your case manager will share upcoming opportunities, or you may choose approved trainings that fit your needs.
Can I choose the age or gender of a foster child?
Yes. You can share your preferences with us. Families United Network will work to match you with a child based on the child’s needs and your family’s strengths and ability to provide care.
Will I receive financial support when working with a foster child?
Yes. Foster parents receive a daily stipend for each child in their care to help cover the cost of food, clothing, and other basic needs. The amount may vary based on the child’s specific needs. Contact us if you would like more details.
Am I responsible for medical or dental expenses?
No. Children placed through Families United Network have state medical insurance that covers medical, dental, and prescription needs. Your case manager will give you the information you need when the child is placed in your home.
How can I help a foster child adjust?
A warm, stable, and welcoming home can make a big difference. Be patient, consistent, and honest in how you communicate. Respect the child’s boundaries and reassure them as they settle in. Our team is here to guide and support you during the transition.
How do I handle the emotional challenges of fostering?
Fostering can be emotionally challenging, and you do not have to handle it alone. We encourage you to lean on our team, practice self-care, and connect with foster parent support groups. We can also provide counseling referrals when needed.
What transition resources are available for foster families?
Families United Network can connect you with resources to support both your family and the child during the transition. These include:
- Our team: We provide training, guidance, and caseworker support throughout your fostering journey.
- Therapy and counseling: We can connect you with mental health professionals for both the child and family members.
- Support groups: Foster parents can share experiences and advice with others. FUN offers a support group and can also point you to local or online options.
- Educational resources: Workshops, books, and online materials can help you better understand foster care.
- Financial assistance: Daily subsidies and reimbursements can help cover the child’s needs.
These resources can make the transition easier and support a more positive experience for everyone.
Where will my foster child go to school?
The school district will hold a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting soon after a child is placed in your home. This meeting decides which school setting is best for the child. The child may stay in their current school district or enroll in your local district. We will help coordinate transportation if the child attends school outside your district.
What if a foster placement doesn’t work out?
It is usually best for a child to stay with one family during foster care, since moving can add to their trauma. Still, Families United Network understands that some situations may make a placement unable to continue. If that happens, we require 30 days’ written notice.
What are my legal responsibilities as a foster parent?
As a foster parent, you are responsible for helping keep the child safe, stable, and well cared for. You must follow Families United Network policies and court requirements. You will also need to work with our case managers, attend court hearings, and support the child’s reunification or permanency plan.
Must foster children visit their birth families?
Visits with a child’s birth family are often required by the court. Most visits are supervised and take place at the child’s Children & Youth office or at a private visitation agency. Foster parents are usually responsible for transportation. Visit schedules depend on the agency’s expectations, reunification efforts, and the child’s age. As reunification gets closer, visits may happen in the parents’ home or in the community and may last longer or happen more often.
What if the child’s family wants them back?
Reunification with the child’s birth family is always the main goal when it is safe and in the child’s best interest. If the family meets the requirements set by the court and child welfare agency, we will work toward a transition that supports the child, the family, and you as the foster parent.
Can I adopt a child I foster?
Yes. You may be able to adopt a child you are fostering if reunification is not possible and the child becomes legally eligible for adoption. It is natural to build a strong bond with a child in your care. Foster parents are often given priority in adoption cases, and we will support you through the process.
How else can I help?
If you are not ready to foster, there are still many meaningful ways to support the children and families we serve. These include:
- Volunteer: Give your time to local foster care organizations or mentoring programs.
- Donate: Give money, clothing, school supplies, or other needed items to foster care agencies.
- Advocate: Help raise awareness about foster care needs in your community or online.
- Become a respite caregiver: Provide short-term care so foster parents can have a break.
- Support foster families: Offer meals, childcare, or other help to foster families in your area.
- Sponsor events: Help organize or fund activities for children in foster care, such as holiday drives or educational programs.
Every action can make a real difference for the children and families we serve. Contact us to learn how you can get involved.
I have so many more questions. Now what?
Contact your local Families United Network office to set up a conversation with a Resource Parent Specialist or Recruiter. They will be glad to answer your questions about foster care.
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