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If you are considering becoming a foster parent, you are in the right place! Becoming a foster parent is a significant decision. Review the steps below to walk through the process of becoming a foster parent and what to expect after certification.

How to Get Started

Step 1: Find out More

DHS offers in person orientation and other informational sessions to becoming a certified foster parent. Orientation and information sessions are great opportunities to talk with staff and ask questions. If you are interested in first reading more online, feel free to review the Foster Parent Orientation manual. The information in this manual is covered in the in person foster parent orientation. To find out about your first steps to foster parenting, please connect with our trusted partner, Every Child.

Find out more about foster care and foster parenting in the following videos.

Still have questions? Request more information by doing one of the following:

Connect with Every Child Oregon to learn more about foster parenting, and to explore whether it may be the right choice for you

Fill out a connect form with Every Child Oregon or call 1-800-331-0503 to get answers to your initial questions, and get connected with a local DHS office in your county.

Would you like information sent to you? Complete and submit an online inquiry.

Step 2: Make the Decision

Becoming a foster parent will bring big changes to your life. It is essential that every member of your household considers what this journey will mean to them. In thinking through this great decision, here are a list of questions that may help you in your decision making:

Does everyone in our family believe that foster care or adoption is right for us?

Do we have friends or family that will support us in this decision?

Do we practice non-physical forms of discipline?

Do we have adequate space in our home for a child?

Is there an age group or gender that would work best with our family? Would we be open to taking sibling groups?

Are there special needs a child may have that we would not be comfortable taking on

Not sure if you are ready to take the step to be a foster parent? There are other ways you can help!

Even if today you cannot commit to becoming a foster parent or if foster parenting is not for you, there are other ways you can help in your community and to help a child in foster care. Visit "Who can help a child in foster care? You can!"

Step 3: Attend Foundations Training for Caregivers

DHS offices around Oregon offer a series of classes designed to prepare prospective and current caregivers for parenting children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The training is a 24-hour curriculum called Foundations. Topics include:

The importance of birth families

Child Development and the impact of abuse

Behavior management

How to apply effective child rearing practices

Discipline vs punishment

Understanding the effects of abuse, neglect and trauma on children

Valuing the child’s heritage

The delivery and offering of trainings varies between different counties -some are offered during the weeknight evenings and others on the weekend. To find the Foundations training that best fits you, complete and submit an online inquiry,

Step 4: Complete an Application

Submitting a completed application to the local DHS Child Welfare office is the first step in beginning the official journey. A certifier will be assigned to review your application and discuss next steps with you. You will need to complete some paperwork available through your local DHS office; the assigned certifier will provide these documents to you. You will also be required to provide contact information for at least four references.

Every adult member in your household will need to consent to criminal history and child abuse background checks.

Step 5: Have a SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) home study

The SAFE home study is a comprehensive assessment of you and your ability to provide for the health, safety and wellbeing for children who may be placed in your home. A certifier is assigned to do the home study. The process begins a series of interviews, home visits, meeting your children and others who may also live in your home, safety/fire inspections and sometimes medical information from your doctor.

Once a positive home study has been completed, this information is used by staff to determine placement matching between a child and family.

Step 6: Accepting a Child

Once paperwork and background checks are complete and the home study is approved, your certifier will discuss placement of a child(ren) in your home.

Working together with DHS, you will decide which children best suit your family and home. Before a child comes into your home, you will be given information about the child to help you decide if the placement is right for you.

Step 7: Home Visits from Caseworkers, Certifiers, and Others

After a child is placed in your home, you can except regular home visit contacts with the child’s caseworker. Caseworkers are required to see the children monthly, with being at least every other month in your home. The caseworker will want to spend time separately with the child and with you.

Your certifier is required to be in your home at least every six months or more often depending on specific circumstances.

Both the child’s caseworker and your certifier can assist you in locating services needed by the child, for your family, or by answering questions.

When the child enters your home, there are several required assessments that you need to be aware of:

Within 72 hours a DHS Child Welfare Contracted Nurse will come to your home to provide a preliminary health assessment of the child. You will be provided with information regarding any treatment recommendations.

Within 20 days of placement, the caseworker will refer the child for a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANS) Assessment. The CANS screening will occur within 60 days of placement. A CANS screening is a process of integrating information on a child’s needs and strengths for the purposes of case planning, service planning and determining the supervision needs of the child.

Within 30 days of placement, the child must have a complete health assessment with a primary healthcare provider and a dental exam and cleaning. You may be asked by the child’s caseworker to schedule this appointment. Tip Sheet: Required Health Assessments for Children Entering Foster Care

Within 60 days of placement, a child must be seen for a Mental Health Assessment (ages 3+) or Early Intervention Assessment (ages 0-3). The child’s caseworker will make the referral for the appropriate assessment and you may be contacted to schedule the appointment.

If the child is prescribed any medication, you must document the dosage and frequency on a Medication Log. Tip Sheet: Important Information about Giving Foster Child Medication

Others visiting your home: If the child is assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or attorney, these individuals will make contact with you to discuss the child and may request to meet with you and the child in your home. If the child is referred for specific services, these service providers will also make contact with you and may request to meet with you and the child in your home.

Step 8: Next Steps

All certified foster families are required to complete ongoing training during each two year licensing period. There are several opportunities for continued training and resources – visit our training page for further details or ask your certifier.