Offer safety, stability, and love – become a foster parent.

*Requirements may vary depending on the agency you are working with.

1. You must be over the age of 18. Many agencies require you to be 21 or older.

2. You must be a US Citizen and WV resident.

3. Have a stable & secure income.

4. Be in good physical and mental health.

5. Pass a home safety inspection.

6. Free of any substantiated protective service neglect/abuse reports and clearance through WV CARES criminal background system.

7. You can be married, single, same sex, cohabitating or divorced. However, you should have a stable relationship or support system.

Each child needs a bed of their own, not a bedroom of their own. They also need a space for their personal belongings. In some instances, however, there may be child-to-square-feet requirements or behavioral concerns that will prevent children from being able to share a room. Children may share a room with other children of the same gender.

There is essentially no cost to become a certified foster or adoptive parent. Agencies may charge small fees for background checks and there may be costs associated with buying items for your home - for example, a fire extinguisher. Private agencies may have fees for children who are not adopted through foster care such as infant or international adoptions.

You do not have to be a stay at home parent to be a foster parent. Many families work and most of those work outside the home. You only need a support system. Child care is paid for when foster parents work and use a state certified provider.

When you become certified to foster, you get to choose the specific criteria, including the age, gender, and number of children you’d like to care for.