How to Become a Foster Parent in Arizona

Description

Foster care in Arizona provides temporary family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is generally pursued when it can be achieved safely, while DCS also evaluates relatives, kin, guardianship, adoption, and other permanent family options. Foster parents provide daily care while working with the Arizona Department of Child Safety, the child's parents and relatives, the licensing agency, courts, schools, healthcare providers, Tribal representatives when applicable, and other members of the child's team. Caregivers are expected to support family relationships, visitation, education, medical and behavioral-health care, cultural identity, normal childhood activities, and the child's case and permanency plans.

Agency

The Arizona Department of Child Safety, commonly called DCS, oversees foster-home licensing and the state child-welfare system. Most prospective foster parents work with a DCS-contracted child-placing or licensing agency. The agency recruits and prepares the family, assists with the application, provides training, conducts the home study, supports the family after licensure, and recommends qualifying homes to DCS. The DCS Office of Licensing and Regulation makes or administers licensing decisions and conducts regulatory oversight.

Who Can Apply

Adults age 21 or older may apply to become licensed foster parents. Arizona welcomes single adults, married couples, and adults in committed relationships. If applicants are married, both spouses must complete the licensing requirements. Applicants must be legally present in the United States, capable of appropriately caring for children, financially able to meet their own household expenses, medically qualified, able to pass the required background checks, and willing to complete training, a home study, and a Life Safety Inspection.

Average Time To License

Arizona does not guarantee a particular completion time. The process proceeds through online orientation, selection of a licensing agency, application and document collection, fingerprint-clearance cards, criminal and child-abuse history checks, preservice training, interviews, references, medical qualification, the home study, and a Life Safety Inspection. Missing documents, criminal-history review, fingerprint delays, repairs, requested exceptions, or scheduling issues may extend the process.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A regular foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. Arizona applies different rules to certain kinship applicants; an unlicensed kinship foster-care applicant may qualify beginning at age 18 under applicable law.

Residency

Applicants must be legally present in the United States and must have a residence that can be assessed and inspected under Arizona foster-home licensing standards. Applicants generally work with a licensing agency serving the county or region where they live. The agency may request information about previous addresses and may need criminal-history or child-abuse clearances from other states or jurisdictions in which applicants or household members previously lived.

Marital Status

Applicants may be single, married, or in a committed relationship. If an applicant is married, both spouses must complete all foster-home licensing requirements. Other adults residing in the home are also included in background-clearance and household-assessment requirements. The licensing agency evaluates relationship stability, household functioning, and each adult's role in caring for children.

Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that they can meet their household's existing living expenses without relying on foster-care maintenance payments. Foster-care payments are intended to help reimburse the cost of caring for a child placed by DCS and are not meant to serve as the family's primary source of income. The licensing agency may review employment, income, expenses, debts, benefits, and other household resources.

Home Ownership

Home ownership is not required. Applicants may rent or own a house, apartment, manufactured home, or other suitable residence, provided it meets Arizona's foster-home licensing and Life Safety Inspection requirements. Renters should verify that their lease, landlord, homeowners association, and property rules allow the intended household arrangement.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide safe, appropriate sleeping arrangements and sufficient space for each child. Foster children may share bedrooms when the arrangement complies with Arizona licensing rules and is appropriate for the children's ages, sex, relationships, development, behaviors, privacy, and individual needs. Each child must have an appropriate bed and space for clothing and personal possessions. The licensing agency and Life Safety Inspector determine the home's approved capacity and whether proposed bedroom arrangements satisfy current requirements.

Transportation

The family must have a dependable plan for transporting children to family visits, school, healthcare appointments, counseling, court, childcare, extracurricular activities, and emergencies. Vehicles used to transport foster children must be properly licensed, registered, insured, and safely maintained. Drivers must hold valid licenses, and children must use seat belts, car seats, booster seats, and other restraints required by Arizona law.

Health Requirements

Foster-parent applicants must be medically qualified by a healthcare professional and physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of safely caring for children. Applicants may be asked to provide medical forms and information concerning health conditions, medications, disabilities, behavioral-health treatment, alcohol or substance use, and any circumstance that could affect caregiving. A medical condition does not necessarily prevent approval if the family can demonstrate that children can be cared for safely.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals are permitted when they do not create a health or safety risk. The licensing agency and Life Safety Inspector may evaluate vaccinations, animal licensing, sanitation, confinement, temperament, bite or aggression history, and the family's plan for supervising children's interactions with animals. Arizona law generally requires qualifying dogs to maintain current rabies vaccinations.

Firearm Policy

Firearms and other weapons may be present in a foster home only when stored according to Arizona's licensing and life-safety requirements. Firearms must be secured against unauthorized access by children, and ammunition must also be safely stored. The licensing agency and Life Safety Inspector review the home's specific storage method, access controls, and any additional safety measures required for the ages and needs of children placed there.

Contact Agency

Begin with Arizona DCS's online Foster Care and Adoption Orientation. Prospective parents may also call 1-877-KIDS-NEEDU, or 1-877-543-7633, for assistance with the process or contact the DCS Office of Licensing and Regulation with licensing questions.

Attend Orientation

Complete Arizona's online foster orientation. The orientation explains foster care, adoption, kinship care, the needs of children in care, basic eligibility, licensing expectations, and the responsibilities of resource parents. After completing orientation, applicants can use the DCS agency-matching process to identify contracted licensing agencies that serve their location and family circumstances.

Choose Agency

Review and select a DCS-contracted foster-care licensing agency. Arizona provides an online agency directory and matching process that allows applicants to compare agencies by county, population served, languages, family type, religious affiliation, military-family experience, therapeutic programs, adoption services, and other characteristics. The selected agency becomes the family's primary guide through training, the application, home study, licensing, and post-license support.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster-home licensing application supplied by the selected licensing agency
• Government-issued identification for each applicant
• Evidence of lawful presence in the United States as required
• Information about every adult and child residing in the household
• Residential-address history requested for background-clearance purposes
• Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card applications or valid cards for applicants and other adult household members
• Authorization for state, federal, local, and DCS child-abuse history checks
• Medical qualification forms completed by an appropriate healthcare professional
• Financial information showing that the household can meet its existing expenses
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Names and contact information for personal references
• Marriage, divorce, separation, domestic-partnership, or relationship information when applicable
• Information about biological, adopted, step, foster, or other children in the family
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance information
• Homeowners or renters insurance information when requested
• Landlord approval or lease information when applicable
• Information about childcare, supervision, transportation, and backup-care plans
• Information about pets, livestock, firearms, pools, spas, trampolines, and other potential household hazards
• Documentation concerning prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, behavioral-health, or caregiving history when requested
• Explanations and supporting records relating to criminal history, child-welfare history, or prior licensing actions when applicable
• Any additional documents, photographs, safety plans, or records requested by the licensing agency or DCS

Required

Yes

Description

Arizona's online orientation introduces prospective families to foster care, adoption, and kinship care; explains why children enter care; describes reunification and permanency; reviews basic licensing qualifications; and helps families consider whether foster parenting is appropriate for their household. The orientation includes informational steps and knowledge checks. After completing it, prospective applicants can be matched with contracted licensing agencies that fit their location and preferences.

How To Register

Visit the Arizona DCS foster-care website and select the Foster Orientation pathway. Complete the online orientation and follow the prompts to request agency matching. Applicants who need assistance may call 1-877-543-7633. Kinship caregivers should use the separate Kinship Orientation pathway and work with the DCS specialist and contracted agency assigned to the child's case.

Duration

Arizona presents the orientation as a self-paced online process rather than a fixed in-person class. Completion time varies according to how quickly the applicant reviews the videos, written material, and knowledge-check steps. The much longer preservice training and family-assessment process begins after the applicant selects a licensing agency.

Application Process

After completing orientation and selecting a DCS-contracted licensing agency, applicants work with an assigned licensing specialist to complete the foster-home application and licensing record. The process includes document collection, fingerprint-clearance cards, criminal and child-abuse history checks, medical qualification, personal references, preservice training, CPR and First Aid requirements, interviews with applicants and household members, a written home study, and a Life Safety Inspection conducted under Arizona licensing rules. The licensing agency prepares the family for inspection and submits the completed licensing record and recommendation to the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

Required Documents

• Completed foster-home license application provided by the contracted licensing agency
• Government-issued identification for each applicant
• Documentation of lawful presence in the United States as required
• Information about every adult and child who lives in or regularly stays in the home
• Residential-address history requested for background-clearance purposes
• Valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Cards or applications for each applicant and other adult household members
• Authorization for federal, state, local, and DCS child-abuse history checks
• Medical qualification or physical-examination forms completed by an appropriate healthcare professional
• CPR and First Aid certification records as required by the licensing agency
• Financial information showing that the household can meet its expenses without foster-care reimbursement
• Employment information and work schedules
• Names and contact information for personal references
• Marriage, divorce, separation, domestic-partnership, or relationship information when applicable
• Information about biological, adopted, step, foster, and other children in the family
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Homeowners or renters insurance information when requested
• Lease information or landlord approval when applicable
• Childcare, supervision, transportation, and backup-care plans
• Emergency, evacuation, fire-safety, and disaster plans
• Information about pets, livestock, firearms, ammunition, pools, spas, trampolines, and other potential hazards
• Information concerning prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, behavioral-health, or caregiving licenses and applications
• Explanations and supporting records concerning criminal history, child-welfare history, prior licensing actions, or other possible barriers
• Any safety plans, waivers, photographs, inspection records, or additional documentation requested by the licensing agency or DCS

References Required

Applicants provide personal references who can discuss their character, reliability, relationships, parenting or caregiving ability, judgment, emotional stability, and suitability to care for children. The exact number, relationship restrictions, and form of the references are established through the licensing agency and Arizona licensing requirements. The licensing specialist may interview references and request additional references when more information is needed.

Interview Process

Applicants participate in an extensive interview and home-study process with the licensing specialist. Interviews generally include each applicant separately and together, as well as children and other adults living in the household when appropriate. The specialist explores motivation to foster, family relationships, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, finances, health, employment, support systems, cultural responsiveness, ability to support reunification, placement preferences, and the effect fostering may have on the household. Additional interviews, evaluations, or supporting records may be required when questions arise about safety or suitability.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Arizona Foster Parent Pre-Service Training prepares applicants to understand the child-welfare system and the responsibilities of licensed foster parenting. Topics include the role of the foster parent and licensing agency; teamwork with DCS, parents, relatives, courts, schools, and service providers; trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, loss, attachment, and separation; child development; behavior as communication; trauma-responsive caregiving; discipline restrictions; reunification and permanency; family contact and shared parenting; cultural identity; confidentiality; mandatory reporting; reasonable and prudent parenting; normal childhood activities; placement transitions; caregiver self-care; and available services and supports.

Required Hours

Arizona law requires proof of at least 6 actual hours of approved initial foster-parent training before a license may be issued. Arizona's practical preservice program is more extensive: DCS currently describes Foster Parent Pre-Service Training as 11 online courses plus 15 hours of instructor-led training. Foster parents must also complete at least 12 actual hours of approved ongoing training during each two-year licensing period.

Online Available

Yes. Arizona currently offers an online component consisting of 11 courses, combined with instructor-led training. Instructor-led sessions may be offered virtually or in another approved format according to current DCS schedules and the licensing agency's instructions. Applicants should register through their agency rather than enrolling independently.

Certification

Applicants must successfully complete the required preservice training and satisfy CPR and First Aid requirements established by DCS and the licensing agency. Specialized homes or families caring for children with medical, developmental, behavioral, or therapeutic needs may need additional instruction or certification. Training completion is documented in the licensing record and ongoing training is reviewed at renewal.

Required

Yes

Interviews

The home study includes extensive interviews with each foster-parent applicant and appropriate household members. The licensing specialist evaluates character, judgment, emotional stability, relationships, parenting experience, trauma awareness, discipline practices, motivation, support systems, finances, health, employment, childcare arrangements, transportation, cultural responsiveness, and the family's ability to cooperate with the child's parents, relatives, Tribe when applicable, DCS, courts, schools, and service providers.

Home Visits

The licensing specialist visits the home during the assessment process to meet household members, review family routines, discuss placement preferences, and prepare the family for the formal Life Safety Inspection. The Arizona DCS Office of Licensing and Regulation conducts or oversees the Life Safety Inspection to verify compliance with the facility-safety rules in Arizona Administrative Code Title 21, Chapter 8. Follow-up visits or reinspections may be required if corrections, repairs, documentation, or safety plans are needed.

Topics Covered

• Motivation to become a foster parent
• Understanding that foster care is temporary and reunification is generally the initial goal
• Willingness to support the child's case plan and permanency plan
• Ability to support relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and other important people
• Ability to work with DCS, the licensing agency, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and service teams
• Family relationships and household stability
• Marital, partner, or co-parenting relationships when applicable
• The effect fostering may have on children and adults already living in the home
• Parenting and caregiving experience
• Understanding of child and adolescent development
• Knowledge of trauma, grief, loss, separation, and attachment
• Discipline beliefs and ability to follow prohibited-discipline rules
• Ability to provide supervision, structure, nurturing, and age-appropriate independence
• Physical health and medical qualification
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to caregiving
• Alcohol, marijuana, and other substance use
• Domestic violence and household-safety history
• Criminal-history and child-abuse history
• Prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, or caregiving experience
• Financial stability and household budgeting
• Employment and work schedules
• Childcare and backup-care plans
• Transportation and vehicle safety
• Family, community, faith, and professional support systems
• Emergency, fire, evacuation, and disaster planning
• Cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, disability, sexual-orientation, and gender-identity awareness
• Understanding of Tribal involvement and the Indian Child Welfare Act when applicable
• Confidentiality and protection of children's personal information
• Pets, firearms, pools, spas, trampolines, smoking, vaping, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, beds, personal storage, privacy, and the home's proposed capacity
• Placement preferences involving age, sibling groups, behaviors, medical needs, and level of care
• The family's strengths, limitations, training needs, and support needs
• Willingness to cooperate with ongoing monitoring and license renewal

Timeline

Arizona DCS currently reports that the average period from intake to licensure is approximately four to six months. The actual timeline depends on how quickly applicants and the licensing agency complete training, paperwork, fingerprint-clearance cards, medical forms, interviews, references, the home study, and required home modifications. Background issues, missing records, safety corrections, or requested exceptions can extend the process.

Bedroom Rules

The home must provide sufficient approved sleeping space, privacy, ventilation, exits, beds, bedding, and personal-storage space for children placed there. The licensing specialist evaluates room sharing according to each child's age, sex, relationships, developmental needs, behaviors, and safety. Bedrooms used by foster children must meet the applicable Life Safety Inspection requirements, including approved methods of emergency egress. A room designated as a foster child's bedroom may not create direct, unsafe access to a swimming-pool area.

Smoke Detectors

The residence must have at least one working smoke detector on every level and at least one working smoke detector in each bedroom. Inspectors test the alarms during the Life Safety Inspection. Carbon-monoxide alarms may be required based on fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, or applicable local safety requirements.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must maintain the fire-extinguishing equipment required by the Life Safety Inspection rules and preparation guide. Equipment must be operational, properly located, accessible to adults, and maintained according to the manufacturer's directions. Applicants must also maintain unobstructed exits and a household emergency and evacuation plan.

Medications

Children's access must be prevented, according to their age and development, to prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, cannabis products, and other substances that could cause harm. Arizona defines a qualifying lock as a device requiring a key, combination, magnet, keycard, or similar tool. Medications requiring refrigeration or presenting additional risks may require separate locked storage.

Cleaning Supplies

The home must prevent children's access, as appropriate to age and development, to poisonous materials, cleaning products, pesticides, fuels, solvents, alcoholic beverages, and other hazardous substances. Highly toxic items may require locked storage. Hazardous products should remain labeled and may not be stored in food or beverage containers.

Firearms

Weapons and ammunition must be stored securely so children cannot gain unauthorized access. Arizona licensing rules permit locks operated by a key, combination, magnet, keycard, or similar access tool. The exact storage arrangement is reviewed during the Life Safety Inspection and may require locked weapon storage, secured ammunition, inaccessible keys or combinations, and additional precautions based on the children placed in the home.

Pools

Swimming pools and other qualifying bodies of water must comply with Arizona foster-home safety rules and applicable local codes. Generally, a barrier must separate the pool from the home or any building used for children's care. The exterior side of the barrier must be at least 5 feet high, with secure and self-closing or self-latching access as required. Animal doors may not allow a child to bypass the barrier. Additional rules address pool covers, gates, doors, spas, above-ground pools, lifesaving equipment, and direct adult supervision.

Pets

Animals must be maintained in a manner that does not endanger children or create unsanitary conditions. The licensing specialist may review vaccination records, licenses, temperament, aggression or bite history, confinement, sanitation, and supervision. A dangerous animal may require restricted access, a written safety plan, or removal from areas used by foster children.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be registered, insured, safely maintained, and operated by drivers with valid licenses. Each child must use a seat belt, car seat, booster seat, helmet, or other restraint required by Arizona law and appropriate to the child's age, size, and activity. The family must have a workable transportation plan for visitation, school, healthcare, counseling, court, childcare, activities, and emergencies.

Fingerprinting

Each foster-parent applicant and every other adult member of the household must obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Fingerprints are used for state and federal criminal-record checks. A foster-home license cannot be issued unless the required adult household members hold valid clearance cards.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members are subject to Arizona Department of Child Safety child-abuse and neglect history checks. The licensing agency and DCS may also request child-protection clearances from other states or jurisdictions where an applicant or household member previously lived. Prior reports, investigations, substantiated findings, and other child-welfare history are evaluated for their relevance to child safety and caregiver suitability.

Criminal History

Applicants and adult household members must pass the required FBI, state, and local criminal-history checks and qualify for Level One Fingerprint Clearance Cards. Applicants must disclose arrests, charges, convictions, probation, incarceration, and other criminal-history information requested during the licensing process. The licensing agency reviews this information together with fingerprint results, court records, references, interviews, and the overall home study.

Disqualifying Offenses

Some criminal offenses prevent the Arizona Department of Public Safety from issuing a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card and therefore prevent regular foster-home licensure. Certain offenses may qualify for a good-cause exception through the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting, while other offenses are permanently precluding. Eligibility depends on the specific offense, disposition, applicable statute, time elapsed, rehabilitation evidence, and the outcome of the fingerprint-clearance process.

Additional Checks

The licensing agency and DCS may review prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, behavioral-health, healthcare, or other caregiving licenses and applications; previous licensing denials, suspensions, revocations, or corrective actions; court and protective-order records; driving history when relevant; references; prior DCS involvement; and any other information reasonably necessary to evaluate household safety and suitability.

Steps

• Complete Arizona's online Foster Care and Adoption Orientation.
• Select a DCS-contracted foster-care licensing agency.
• Complete the agency's intake and initial screening process.
• Submit the foster-home licensing application and supporting documents.
• Apply for or provide valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Cards for all required adults.
• Complete state, federal, local, and DCS child-abuse history checks.
• Provide medical qualification forms and complete any required physical examinations.
• Provide financial information and personal references.
• Complete Arizona Foster Parent Pre-Service Training.
• Complete CPR and First Aid requirements.
• Participate in interviews with the licensing specialist.
• Complete the written home study.
• Prepare the residence for the Life Safety Inspection.
• Complete the Life Safety Inspection.
• Correct any deficiencies identified during the inspection or assessment.
• Have the licensing agency submit its completed record and recommendation to DCS.
• Receive the Arizona foster-home license.
• Complete ongoing training and renewal requirements during each two-year licensing period.

Average Timeline

Arizona DCS describes the average intake-to-licensure period as approximately four to six months. The actual timeline depends on training schedules, fingerprint-clearance processing, background reviews, medical forms, references, interviews, home-study completion, Life Safety Inspection scheduling, and correction of any deficiencies.

Renewal Requirements

Arizona foster-home licenses are generally valid for two years. Renewal requires continued compliance with licensing and life-safety standards, valid fingerprint-clearance cards for covered adults, updated household and health information when required, completion of ongoing training, continued agency monitoring, and resolution of any outstanding corrective-action or safety issues.

Ongoing Training

Arizona requires foster parents to complete at least 12 actual hours of approved ongoing foster-parent training during each two-year licensing period. A licensing agency or DCS may require additional training based on the family's experience, identified needs, specialized approval, or the medical, developmental, behavioral, cultural, or permanency needs of children placed in the home.

How Placements Work

After licensure, DCS and placement staff consider the child's safety, age, needs, legal status, sibling relationships, family and cultural connections, school stability, medical and behavioral-health needs, geographic location, and permanency plan. They also consider the foster home's licensed capacity, approved age range, experience, training, household composition, preferences, strengths, and ability to meet the child's identified needs. The licensing agency continues supporting the family after placement.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents should review the information available about a proposed placement and decide whether the child can be cared for safely within the home's license, experience, household circumstances, and current capacity. Families should ask about medical needs, behaviors, visitation, school, siblings, transportation, safety concerns, and services before accepting. A family should communicate honestly with its licensing worker when a proposed placement is not appropriate for the home.

Emergency Placements

Arizona may need foster homes for children who require immediate placement because they cannot safely remain in their current setting. Emergency placement requests may occur outside normal business hours and may involve limited information at the time of the initial call. Licensed caregivers should obtain as much available information as possible and promptly work with DCS and their licensing agency to address medical care, medications, clothing, school, family contact, and immediate safety needs.

Sibling Groups

Arizona seeks to place siblings together or in close proximity whenever possible and consistent with each child's safety and best interests. When siblings cannot live in the same home, the child's team should support appropriate contact and visitation. Families approved for sibling groups may be asked whether they can safely accept multiple children while remaining within licensed capacity or an authorized overcapacity arrangement.

Age Preferences

Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling-group size, placement types, behaviors, medical needs, developmental needs, and levels of care they believe they can safely support. These preferences become part of the home-study and licensing record. Families may update their preferences through their licensing agency as their experience, training, household circumstances, or capacity changes.

Monthly Board Rate

Arizona pays licensed foster caregivers a daily maintenance rate for each eligible child placed in the home. The payment is issued according to the number of placement days and may vary by the child's age, placement type, service level, and approved special needs. Arizona's current Child Placement Rates and Special Allowances Approval Matrix became effective December 1, 2025, and should be consulted for current amounts rather than relying on older rate tables.

Clothing Allowance

Arizona may authorize clothing payments or special allowances in addition to the regular maintenance rate when permitted by DCS policy. Available assistance can depend on the child's age, placement circumstances, immediate needs, prior allowances, and approval level. Caregivers should retain receipts and obtain advance authorization whenever required by the child's specialist or licensing agency.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when it is necessary to maintain the placement, support an approved caregiver's employment or education, or meet the child's case-plan needs. Authorization, provider eligibility, payment limits, and copayment responsibilities depend on current DCS policy and the family's circumstances. Caregivers should coordinate childcare before enrollment with the child's DCS specialist and licensing-agency worker.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Arizona foster care generally receive state-supported medical and behavioral-health coverage. Caregivers coordinate routine, emergency, dental, vision, behavioral-health, prescription, and specialty care with the child's DCS specialist, health-plan providers, and other assigned team members. Foster parents should obtain required consent and authorization before non-emergency treatment when applicable.

Mileage Reimbursement

Transportation reimbursement or other travel assistance may be available for qualifying case-related travel under current DCS policy. Covered travel can depend on the purpose, distance, authorization, placement agreement, and whether transportation is already included in another payment. Foster parents should obtain instructions and approval from the child's DCS specialist or licensing-agency worker before claiming mileage or other travel expenses.

Additional Benefits

Depending on the child's circumstances, additional assistance may include special allowances, enhanced or service-level payments, respite care, childcare, behavioral-health services, clothing support, educational assistance, transportation support, training, placement stabilization services, and help obtaining equipment or supplies needed for a child's documented medical or developmental needs.

Respite Care

Arizona DCS contracts with foster-care licensing agencies to provide licensed foster parents with up to six days, or 144 hours, of respite care annually. Families arrange respite through their licensing-agency worker and must use caregivers who satisfy applicable approval and safety requirements. Availability and scheduling depend on qualified providers and agency procedures.

Support Groups

Contracted licensing agencies and community organizations offer foster-parent support groups, caregiver events, continuing education, peer networking, and family activities. Availability varies by agency and region. Foster parents should ask their licensing worker about local groups, statewide virtual options, and groups designed for kinship, adoptive, therapeutic, or medically complex caregiving.

Mentoring

Some Arizona licensing agencies connect newly licensed foster parents with experienced caregivers who can provide practical guidance, encouragement, and peer support. Mentoring programs differ by agency, so families should ask during agency selection and after licensure what formal or informal caregiver-mentoring options are available.

Counseling

Medical and behavioral-health services for children in foster care are coordinated through the child's DCS specialist, assigned health plan, behavioral-health providers, schools, and other members of the service team. Foster parents may participate in treatment planning and receive education or consultation to help them respond safely to trauma-related, developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs.

Crisis Support

Foster parents should contact the child's DCS specialist, their licensing-agency worker, the agency's after-hours contact, or emergency services according to the urgency and nature of the situation. Arizona also offers caregiver assistance through DCS support channels, including the DCS Warm Line. Families should request and keep current written contact information for after-hours placement, medical, behavioral-health, runaway, missing-child, and safety emergencies.

Available

Yes. Arizona families may pursue foster care, adoption, or both through a DCS-contracted licensing agency. A foster family may later be considered as an adoptive resource for a child in its care if reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's approved permanency plan.

Process

Children generally enter foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal. DCS also searches for relatives and significant people in the child's life and may consider guardianship or adoption when reunification cannot be achieved safely. If adoption becomes the plan, the child's team evaluates prospective adoptive resources based on safety, attachment, sibling relationships, family and cultural connections, Tribal preferences when applicable, special needs, placement stability, and the child's best interests. A foster family interested in adopting should communicate that interest to the child's DCS specialist and its licensing-agency worker.

Legal Risk

Foster care does not guarantee adoption. A child may reunify with parents, move to relatives or kin, enter guardianship, or achieve another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to support the child's current case plan, family contact, reunification services, and important relationships even when they would be willing to adopt if the permanency plan later changes.

Adoption Subsidy

Children who meet Arizona's adoption-assistance eligibility requirements may qualify for post-permanency support. Assistance may include a negotiated monthly subsidy, medical coverage, reimbursement of qualifying non-recurring adoption expenses, and referrals or support related to educational, behavioral-health, medical, and social needs. The assigned adoption worker helps the family complete the subsidy application, and the written agreement should be approved before adoption finalization.

Available

Yes. Arizona prioritizes placement with relatives and other adults who have a significant relationship with the child when placement is safe and appropriate. Kinship caregivers may be grandparents, adult siblings, extended relatives, godparents, family friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors, or other people with an established family-like connection to the child.

Licensing Differences

Kinship caregivers may be licensed or unlicensed. Most kinship caregivers initially receive an assessment through Arizona's Kinship Support Services program. An unlicensed caregiver may care for a child in DCS custody while meeting applicable assessment and safety requirements. A caregiver who chooses to become licensed works with a contracted licensing agency and generally completes the application, fingerprinting, background checks, training, home study, and Life Safety Inspection. Arizona may consider waivers or accommodations allowed by law when licensing a relative or significant person, but child-safety requirements remain applicable.

Financial Support

Licensed kinship foster parents may receive the foster-care maintenance rate and supports available to licensed foster homes. Unlicensed kinship caregivers may qualify for an unlicensed caregiver payment, cash assistance through the Arizona Department of Economic Security, medical and behavioral-health coverage for the child, Kinship Support Services, childcare assistance, and other benefits depending on eligibility. Permanent guardians of eligible children may qualify for a guardianship subsidy after the required approval and court process.

Can I become a foster parent in Arizona if I am single?

Yes. Arizona permits qualified single adults, married couples, and adults in committed relationships to apply. If applicants are married, both spouses must complete the licensing requirements.

How old must I be to become a foster parent?

A regular foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. Different age provisions may apply to certain kinship-care arrangements.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own a house, apartment, manufactured home, or other suitable residence as long as it meets Arizona licensing and Life Safety Inspection requirements.

Can foster parents work full time?

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate workable plans for childcare, supervision, transportation, family visits, school, healthcare appointments, court, services, activities, and emergencies.

Do I have to be a United States citizen?

Arizona requires foster-parent applicants to be legally present in the United States. The licensing agency will explain which identity and lawful-presence documents are required.

How much training is required?

Arizona's current preservice program includes 11 online courses and 15 hours of instructor-led training. State law establishes a minimum of 6 actual hours of initial training and at least 12 hours of ongoing training during each two-year licensing period.

How long does the licensing process take?

Arizona DCS describes the average intake-to-licensure period as approximately four to six months. The actual timeline depends on training, documents, fingerprint clearances, medical forms, interviews, the home study, and the Life Safety Inspection.

How long is an Arizona foster-home license valid?

An Arizona foster-home license is generally valid for two years, provided the home remains compliant with licensing requirements.

What is a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card?

It is a fingerprint-based clearance issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Foster-parent applicants and other adult household members must obtain and maintain valid cards as required for licensure.

Can I foster if I have a criminal record?

Possibly, depending on the specific offense and whether the applicant can obtain a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Some offenses may qualify for a good-cause exception, while permanently precluding offenses do not.

Can I foster if I have biological or adopted children?

Yes. Existing children do not prevent approval. The licensing specialist assesses how fostering may affect everyone in the household and whether the family has sufficient space, time, support, and caregiving capacity.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes, when the arrangement satisfies Arizona licensing rules and is appropriate for the children's ages, sex, relationships, privacy, development, behavior, and individual safety needs.

Can I choose the ages and number of children I foster?

Applicants identify preferred ages, sibling-group size, placement types, behaviors, medical needs, and levels of care during the home study. The home's license and placement decisions reflect both family capacity and children's needs.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents should ask questions about a proposed placement and accept only when they believe they can safely meet the child's needs within their license, household circumstances, experience, and current capacity.

Can I foster if I have pets?

Yes. Animals must be healthy, appropriately supervised, sanitary, and safe around children. Aggression history, vaccinations, confinement, and the family's animal-safety plan may be reviewed.

Can I own firearms and still foster?

Yes. Weapons and ammunition must be secured in accordance with Arizona foster-home licensing and Life Safety Inspection requirements so children cannot gain unauthorized access.

What are Arizona's pool requirements?

Qualifying pools and bodies of water must be separated from areas used by children with an approved barrier. Arizona generally requires a barrier at least 5 feet high, secure access, compliant gates or doors, lifesaving equipment, and direct supervision.

Will I receive financial assistance?

Licensed foster parents receive maintenance payments based on placement days and the child's age, placement category, and approved level of care. Other allowances and services may be available depending on the child's needs.

Do children in Arizona foster care receive medical coverage?

Children in DCS custody generally receive state-supported medical and behavioral-health coverage. Foster parents coordinate care and required authorizations with the child's DCS specialist and assigned providers.

Can I adopt a foster child placed with me?

Possibly. If adoption becomes the child's approved permanency plan, the foster family may be considered. The decision depends on the child's needs, family relationships, attachments, sibling connections, legal status, and best interests. Foster placement does not guarantee adoption.

Do kinship caregivers have to become licensed?

No. Arizona allows both licensed and unlicensed kinship care. Becoming licensed generally provides access to the licensed foster-care payment and additional supports, but it also requires completion of the foster-home licensing process.

What rights do Arizona foster parents have?

Arizona law establishes foster-parent rights concerning respectful treatment, information, participation, notice, support, training, communication, court involvement, and complaint procedures, subject to confidentiality and the child's legal circumstances.

Who can I contact when I need help after placement?

Contact the child's DCS specialist, your licensing-agency worker, or the agency's after-hours number. Arizona's Foster and Kinship Warm Line is also available at 1-877-543-7633, option 3.

State Agency

Arizona Department of Child Safety — Office of Licensing and Regulation

Phone

Foster and adoption information: 1-877-543-7633. Foster and Kinship Warm Line: 1-877-543-7633, option 3.

Email

Foster and Kinship Warm Line: [email protected]. Prospective applicants may also begin through the online DCS orientation and agency-matching process.

Address

Arizona Department of Child Safety, P.O. Box 6030, Site Code C010-23, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6030