Foster Parent/Family Homes

General Information
Requirements
Where to Begin

North Carolina state law requires that all foster homes be licensed to care for children in their care. These licenses are issued by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services (Licensing Authority). Supervising agencies, county departments of social services and private child private agencies, are authorized to work with potential foster parents to assist them with the licensing process and to provide them with ongoing supervision and support.

Requirements for foster families to be licensed include but are not limited to:

1. All foster parent applicants must participate in and complete 30 hours of pre-service training provided by the supervising agency, county departments of social services or private child-placing agencies, Most supervising agencies use a curriculum called Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP).  The frequency and times for this training varies from agency to agency.
2. Prospective therapeutic foster parent applicants must complete an additional 10 hours of therapeutic foster parent training. Most agencies utilize a curriculum called Becoming a Therapeutic Foster Parent, a pre-service curriculum created by the NC Division of Social Services in partnership with community stakeholders. 
3. All foster parent applicants must complete an application and a mutual home assessment through the assistance of the supervising agency.
4. The applicant’s home must pass a fire inspection. The supervising agency will provide information regarding how to attain a fire inspection in your community.
5. The applicant’s home must pass an Environmental and Health Regulations Check that is conducted by a licensing professional from the supervising agency.  
6. Applicants and household members must meet minimum physical and mental health requirements as indicated by a physical examination that is completed by a licensed medical provider.  Applications are denied if applicants or household members are registered on the NC Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry or the Health Care Personnel Registry.  
7. All adult family members 18 years old and up must have a TB skin test. If the skin test is positive, documentation from a licensed medical provider must be provided that the person has no active disease.  The children of foster parents are only tested for TB if one or more of the parents test positive.    
8. NC law requires that a criminal history check be conducted on all foster parent applicants and all adult members (18 years old and up) who reside in a licensed foster home. Each adult must meet licensing requirements according to NC General Statue 131D. Fingerprints are used to check State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records to determine if individuals meet these requirements. 
9. Records from local courts and the NC Department of Corrections must be checked on all adult household members.        
10. Applicants must meet the minimum age requirement of 21 years old. There is no upper age limit.  
11. Foster families need to have adequate income to financially support their own family without relying on the foster care payment.  The foster care payment reimburses for room, board and supervision.   
12. Foster parents must be willing to participate in Shared Parenting at a level determined adequate to meet the needs of children placed in the home.
13. The foster home must have a working telephone.
14. The foster home must provide each child with their own personal bed.

Where Do I Begin?
First, contact your local county department of social services or a private child-placing agency. Once you contact them they will give additional information on what you need to do.

We strive to keep this information as accurate as possible. If information on this page needs to be updated, please Email us.

Page Modified 10/15/2012