How to Become Foster Parents in Texas

Wondering how to become foster parents in Texas? Foster In Texas (FIT) works with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to find loving families for thousands of children each year. We know that getting started as a new foster parent can seem scary, so we’ve simplified the process into nine steps that paint a clear picture of how to become foster parents in Texas.

1. Qualify to Apply for Foster Care Placement

To qualify to become a foster parent in Texas, you must:

Be single or married (if married, for a minimum of two years)

Be retired or employed

Be 21 years of age or older

Be emotionally and physically healthy

Have a regular source of income (cannot be dependent on the foster care payment for expenses, nor can you be on government assistance)

Have no criminal history, or have proof of rehabilitation

Not have a history of abusing a child or another adult

If you qualify to foster in Texas, then you must then go through a verification process. These steps, though tedious, are critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of children and are usually completed in about three months. To become verified, foster parents must complete the following:

2. Initial Application

3. Background Check

4. Orientation Meeting

After completing the first few steps — an application and background check — the next step is to get the basic knowledge you need to know about foster care. At Upbring, our orientation meeting is approximately one hour, and done on site. You are taught the basics, and your questions are answered by one of our area directors.

5. STAR Pre-Service Training

Specialized Training And Resources for foster parents (STAR) is an eight hour pre-service training required by the State of Texas for all new foster parents. It is taken one time on site at one of our 14 local offices and is taught by Foster In Texas (FIT) staff. It includes information that is required by minimum standards like:

foster care experiences

removal process

abuse/neglect

health and safety requirements

trauma introduction

communicable disease training

6. CPR & First Aid Training

A basic CPR and first aid training course must be taken every two years, and usually takes about four hours and thirty minutes to complete.

7. SMART Behavioral Intervention Training

(SMART) is an eight hour training that is required for every family during the verification process, and then annually for verified foster homes. As part of our Emergency Behavior Interventions (EBI), this training goes over debriefing, appropriate discipline interventions, and restraint education. Families are required to show comprehension of the approved restraints by demonstrating those at the conclusion of the class. This is also an 8 hour class taught on site by field staff.

8. Psychotropic Medications & Medications Administration Training

There are three requirements for in-process families:

Online Medical Consent – An online course with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). This takes approximately one hour.

Medication Training Part I. This online DFPS course takes two hours.

Medication Training Part II. This in-house course is taught by a registered nurse (RN) and takes two hours.

9. A Home Screening & Safety Inspection

A home-screen and safety inspection is the final step before being approved as a licensed foster home. Once Upbring has all of the required documentation and training collected, we submit that documentation to a home-screen professional (HS). The HS contacts the family and schedules a visit to the home — where they meet with all household members, and conduct interviews about every aspect of their home. These interviews includes questions about finances, physical environment, quality of marital relationships, discipline practices, and so on. Once the assessment is complete, the HS sends the home study to the Area Director who approves the home, and the foster care license!

Other Things To Consider

If you’re wondering how to become foster parents in Texas, we’d also suggest understanding what we’ve learned to be characteristics of successful foster families. Successful foster families usually exhibit:

A strong desire to help children

Open mindedness and welcoming attitude to children of all age groups

Flexibility with the children and the treatment team

Coping skills to work with challenging behaviors

Values for diversity and the support children’s cultural needs

Openness to children who have experienced trauma

Want more information about becoming a foster parent in Texas? Fill out the Interest Form (click here) and we’ll get back to you at our earliest convenience!