Foster Care Requirements

Prospective foster parents have many questions about what it takes to become a licensed foster parent. Typically, people consider becoming foster parents long before they take the necessary steps to actually become licensed. Rightly so; foster parenting is a big commitment, and involves the time, effort and commitment of everyone in the household.
The first requirement is a desire and an ability to provide a safe and stable home for children in need. Other requirements, mandated by the state, are:

• Foster parents must be 21 years old. 
• Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services (CCDCFS) will license homes for foster care in Cuyahoga County or one of the five adjacent counties. These are: Lorain, Medina, Summit, Geauga and Lake Counties. You may choose to become licensed by a private agency. If you live outside of this area, please contact a private or public child welfare agency in your area for more information. 
• Foster parents need to have enough living and sleeping space in their homes to accommodate additional children. It's not permissible to use attic, basement or tandem bedrooms for foster children. (A tandem bedroom is one in which you have to walk through another room to get to it; it lacks a separate and private entrance.) 
• If you rent, you'll need your landlord's approval to become a foster parent. 
• Misdemeanor and felony convictions may or may not prohibit you from becoming a foster parent. There are certain convictions which will make you ineligible. However, it's best to discuss this with a social worker from your agency. 

While Adoption Network Cleveland does not offer direct support for foster parents unless they are considering adoption, the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services offers Foster Parent Cluster Meetings monthly. The meetings are co-facilitated by a CCDCFS Staff member, and a foster parent. The clusters are determined geographically.

To learn more about locations and times of meetings, visit the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services website.