How to Become a Foster Parent in California

Description

Foster care in California provides temporary, safe, stable, and nurturing family-based care for children and nonminor dependents who cannot safely remain with their parents. California calls approved foster, adoptive, and guardianship caregivers Resource Families. Resource parents provide daily care, supervision, advocacy, transportation, educational support, healthcare coordination, normal childhood experiences, and emotional stability while working with the child's parents, relatives, siblings, Tribe when applicable, social worker, probation officer, attorneys, court, school, healthcare providers, and other members of the child's team. Reunification is generally the initial permanency goal when it can be safely achieved.

Agency

The California Department of Social Services establishes statewide Resource Family Approval standards and oversees California's child-welfare system. County child-welfare departments and county probation departments approve Resource Families directly. California-licensed Foster Family Agencies may also recruit, train, assess, approve, supervise, and support Resource Families for children placed through their programs.

Who Can Apply

Adults age 18 or older may apply to become Resource Families. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, partnered, or living with another adult and may rent or own their home. Applicants must demonstrate suitable character, emotional stability, mature judgment, financial stability, safe parenting practices, adequate health, a supportive household, an understanding of trauma and loss, and the ability to work cooperatively with children, parents, relatives, Tribes, agencies, courts, and service providers.

Average Time To License

No single completion period applies throughout California. Resource Family Approval requires an application, orientation, pre-approval training, references, criminal-record and child-abuse clearances, a home environment assessment, a comprehensive family evaluation, interviews, and a written approval report. Delays may occur when documents are incomplete, applicants have lived outside California, background records require additional review, a criminal-record exemption is requested, household members are unavailable, or the home requires health and safety corrections.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A Resource Family applicant must be an adult who is at least 18 years old. The approving agency evaluates maturity, judgment, caregiving ability, life experience, support systems, and suitability in addition to chronological age.

Residency

Applicants generally apply through the county child-welfare or probation agency serving the county where they live or through a California-licensed Foster Family Agency serving their community. The applicant's residence must be available for assessment, approval, placement supervision, annual updates, and complaint investigations. Applicants who have lived in another state or country may be required to complete additional criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, or licensing checks from previous jurisdictions.

Marital Status

California permits qualified single adults, married couples, domestic partners, unmarried partners, divorced adults, and widowed adults to apply. When spouses or partners will share parenting responsibilities or both adults are applicants, each participates in the training, interviews, family evaluation, and background-clearance process. The approving agency evaluates the stability of relationships within the household and the commitment of each adult to fostering.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have sufficient lawful income and financial resources to meet the household's existing needs without relying on foster-care maintenance payments. The approving agency may review employment, income, expenses, debts, housing costs, childcare arrangements, insurance, and the family's overall financial stability. Foster-care payments are intended to help reimburse the expenses of caring for a child and are not intended to provide the household's primary income.

Home Ownership

Applicants are not required to own their residence. A rented or owned house, apartment, condominium, manufactured home, or other suitable residence may be approved when it provides adequate space, utilities, sanitation, privacy, sleeping arrangements, and safety. Renters may need to comply with lease terms, occupancy limitations, landlord requirements, or property rules, but renting does not by itself prevent approval.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide safe and appropriate sleeping arrangements for every household member and child placed there. Each child generally must have an individual bed with a clean mattress and suitable bedding. Children may share bedrooms when the arrangement is appropriate for their ages, gender identities, relationships, privacy, developmental needs, trauma histories, behaviors, and case plans. The approving agency determines the home's capacity and whether each proposed sleeping arrangement protects the health, safety, privacy, and personal rights of the children.

Transportation

The family must have a reliable and safe plan for transporting children to school, family visitation, medical and dental appointments, counseling, court-related activities, childcare, extracurricular activities, cultural or religious activities, and emergencies. Applicants are not necessarily required to own a vehicle, but drivers transporting children must be properly licensed and vehicles must be legally operated, appropriately insured, safely maintained, and equipped with required seat belts, car seats, booster seats, helmets, and other safety restraints.

Health Requirements

Applicants must have the physical, mental, and emotional ability to provide safe and consistent care. Each applicant completes a health questionnaire and may be required to provide medical information or professional verification. A medical diagnosis, disability, mental-health history, prescribed medication, or previous treatment does not automatically disqualify an applicant. The approving agency evaluates whether any condition affects the applicant's ability to supervise, protect, and meet the needs of children.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals are permitted when they do not create an unreasonable health or safety risk. Applicants must disclose animals living in or regularly present at the home and maintain appropriate vaccination, licensing, sanitation, confinement, and supervision. The approving agency may evaluate an animal's size, behavior, health, history of aggression, disease risk, and access to children. An animal presenting a foreseeable danger may require restricted access, additional safeguards, a written plan, or removal from the home.

Firearm Policy

Firearms and other dangerous weapons are permitted only when stored in compliance with California law and Resource Family health and safety standards. Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a secure location or made inoperable through an approved locking device. Ammunition must be locked and stored separately from firearms unless an alternative arrangement is specifically permitted. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain inaccessible to children.

Contact Agency

Contact the Resource Family Approval unit of the county child-welfare department where you live, contact the county probation department when seeking to serve probation-supervised youth, or contact a California-licensed Foster Family Agency serving your area. The agency can explain current placement needs, local requirements, orientation schedules, training, approval procedures, and available support services.

Attend Orientation

Participate in the orientation or introductory meeting required by the county or Foster Family Agency. Orientation explains Resource Family Approval, the role of foster parents, reunification, adoption and guardianship, concurrent planning, children commonly needing placement, family visitation, trauma, discipline restrictions, confidentiality, mandated reporting, reimbursement, training, support services, and expectations for working with children's families and professional teams.

Choose Agency

Decide whether to apply directly through a county child-welfare or probation department or through a California-licensed Foster Family Agency. County agencies generally place children directly from the county child-welfare or probation system. Foster Family Agencies may serve specific geographic areas, age groups, sibling groups, treatment needs, cultural communities, or specialized-care populations. Training schedules, placement types, supervision, respite, support services, and agency expectations may differ.

Documents Needed

• Completed Resource Family Application
• Completed confidential application forms required by the approving agency
• Government-issued identification and identity information for each applicant
• Information about every adult and child living in the household
• Information about adults who are regularly present in the home
• Criminal Record Statement forms for applicants and covered adults
• Live Scan fingerprint submissions for applicants and other covered adults
• Child Abuse Central Index and child-welfare background-check authorizations
• Out-of-state criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect clearances when applicable
• Residential-address history for the period requested by the approving agency
• Names and contact information for required references
• Health questionnaires for each applicant
• Medical information or professional health verification when requested
• Tuberculosis screening or other communicable-disease information when required
• Income, employment, expense, and financial-stability information
• Marriage, domestic-partnership, divorce, separation, or relationship information when applicable
• Housing, mortgage, lease, landlord, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for household members who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance information
• Information identifying childcare providers, respite providers, alternative caregivers, and emergency support persons
• Emergency and disaster-preparedness information
• Pet vaccination, licensing, or veterinary records when requested
• Information about firearms, ammunition, and other weapons in the home
• Information about swimming pools, spas, ponds, water hazards, and other potential safety risks
• Information about prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and approvals
• Information about prior child-welfare referrals, investigations, findings, or court involvement when applicable
• Information about arrests, criminal charges, convictions, probation, parole, or restraining orders when applicable
• Documentation supporting a criminal-record exemption request when required
• Certificates documenting completion of orientation, training, CPR, First Aid, or specialized instruction
• Additional explanations, evaluations, records, or safety plans requested during the assessment

Required

Yes

Description

Prospective Resource Families participate in an orientation and preparation process that introduces California's child-welfare and probation systems and the responsibilities of Resource Families. Topics commonly include trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, separation, attachment, child development, behavior, family relationships, reunification, permanency, concurrent planning, cultural humility, sexual orientation and gender identity, confidentiality, mandated reporting, discipline restrictions, reasonable and prudent parenting, normalcy, teamwork, placement transitions, caregiver self-care, and the effect fostering may have on every household member.

How To Register

Contact the Resource Family Approval unit of the county where you live or a licensed Foster Family Agency serving your area. Many agencies allow applicants to register through an online interest form, telephone inquiry, virtual information session, or scheduled in-person orientation. The approving agency provides its current orientation dates, application instructions, and training schedule.

Duration

Orientation length and delivery vary by county and Foster Family Agency. Some agencies provide a single introductory session lasting approximately two to three hours, while others divide orientation across multiple meetings or include it as part of the required pre-approval training curriculum.

Application Process

Applicants submit the Resource Family Application and supporting documents to the county child-welfare department, county probation department, or licensed Foster Family Agency responsible for approving the home. The agency reviews the application, identifies each person who requires a background clearance, arranges Live Scan fingerprinting, requests child-abuse and neglect checks, obtains references, and enrolls the applicants in required training. An RFA worker completes the home environment assessment and comprehensive family evaluation, interviews applicants and household members, evaluates the family's strengths and needs, and requests corrections or additional information when necessary. When all requirements are satisfied, the agency prepares a written report and issues Resource Family Approval.

Required Documents

• Completed Resource Family Application
• Completed confidential Resource Family application forms
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Information about every adult and child residing in the home
• Information about adults who are regularly present in the home
• Resource Family Criminal Record Statement forms
• Background-check and information-release authorizations
• Live Scan fingerprint submissions
• Child Abuse Central Index clearance information
• Out-of-state criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect clearances when applicable
• Residential-address history
• Names and contact information for required personal references
• Health questionnaire for each applicant
• Medical, mental-health, medication, or functional information when requested
• Tuberculosis or communicable-disease screening documentation when required
• Income, employment, expense, and financial-stability information
• Housing, mortgage, rental, lease, landlord, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for household members who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Marriage, domestic-partnership, divorce, separation, or relationship-history information when applicable
• Emergency and disaster-preparedness plan
• Information about childcare providers, respite providers, alternative caregivers, and emergency support persons
• Pet vaccination, licensing, or veterinary information when requested
• Information about firearms, ammunition, and other weapons
• Information about pools, spas, water hazards, and other household risks
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and approvals
• Documentation concerning prior child-welfare investigations or findings when applicable
• Documentation concerning arrests, criminal charges, convictions, probation, parole, or restraining orders when applicable
• Criminal-record exemption documents, court records, rehabilitation evidence, and personal statements when applicable
• Orientation and pre-approval training completion records
• CPR and First Aid certification when required by the approving agency
• Any specialized-care, water-safety, medication, infant-care, or child-specific certifications required for the intended placements
• Any additional explanations, evaluations, records, or safety plans requested by the approving agency

References Required

Applicants must provide personal references as required by the county or Foster Family Agency. References should know the applicants well enough to discuss their character, reliability, relationships, judgment, parenting or caregiving ability, emotional stability, ability to manage stress, and suitability to care for children. The exact number and type of references may vary by approving agency. The agency may contact references through written questionnaires, telephone calls, virtual meetings, or in-person interviews and may request additional references when necessary.

Interview Process

The comprehensive family evaluation includes individual and joint interviews with the applicants and age-appropriate interviews with children and other adults living in the household. The worker may also interview adult children, former spouses or partners, relatives, references, frequent visitors, alternative caregivers, or others whose information is relevant to the assessment. Topics include motivation to foster, childhood and family history, relationships, parenting experience, discipline practices, trauma awareness, grief and loss, cultural responsiveness, attitudes toward children's parents and relatives, willingness to support reunification, communication, conflict resolution, health, finances, employment, support systems, criminal and child-welfare history, placement preferences, and ability to provide permanency if the child's case plan changes.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

California's pre-approval training prepares applicants to provide temporary care, support reunification, and offer permanency when needed. Required subject areas include Resource Family orientation; an overview of the child-protective and probation systems; the effects of trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, separation, and loss; child and adolescent development; attachment; positive discipline and behavior management; the importance of birth parents, siblings, relatives, Tribes, and other significant relationships; reunification and permanency; cultural humility; confidentiality; mandated reporting; personal rights; sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; reasonable and prudent parenting; normal childhood activities; medication-related responsibilities; caregiver self-care; and working cooperatively with counties, probation departments, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and service professionals.

Required Hours

Each applicant must complete at least 12 hours of pre-approval training before Resource Family Approval. A county or Foster Family Agency may require additional hours based on its program, the family's experience, or the needs of children the family expects to serve. After approval, each Resource Parent must complete at least eight hours of training every 12 months by the family's approval anniversary date. Additional specialized or child-specific training may also be required.

Online Available

Yes. California permits counties and Foster Family Agencies to use qualified online training sources for some or all required instruction. Virtual, hybrid, classroom, individual, and self-paced options vary by approving agency. CPR and First Aid training may be completed through an approved in-person or online program, although a hands-on skills component is strongly recommended for courses involving practical emergency-response skills.

Certification

Each Resource Parent must provide proof of current CPR and First Aid certification no later than 90 days after Resource Family Approval and must renew the certifications before they expire. Training must be obtained through a qualified provider, such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, an Emergency Medical Services Authority-approved program, an accredited college or university, or another provider accepted by the approving agency. Specialized training may be required for infant care, medically fragile children, psychotropic medications, water safety, commercially sexually exploited children, LGBTQ+ youth, intensive services foster care, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, or other child-specific circumstances.

Required

Yes

Interviews

California calls the home-study component the comprehensive family evaluation. Each applicant must participate in at least two face-to-face interviews. When more than one person applies, the process includes at least one individual interview with each applicant and at least one joint interview with all applicants. At least one required interview occurs in the applicant's residence and includes observation of the family environment and, when applicable, parent-child interactions. Other adults, children, nonminor dependents, and biological, adopted, or guardianship children residing in the home are generally interviewed separately in an age-appropriate manner.

Home Visits

The approving agency conducts a home environment assessment that includes one or more visits to the residence. The worker inspects the interior and exterior of the home, meets household members, verifies proposed sleeping arrangements, and assesses fire safety, sanitation, utilities, exits, medications, hazardous materials, weapons, animals, vehicles, pools, spas, water hazards, outdoor areas, and other potential risks. At least one family-evaluation interview must occur in the home. Follow-up visits may be required to verify repairs, complete interviews, review a Documented Alternative Plan, or confirm that health and safety concerns have been corrected.

Topics Covered

• The applicants' motivation to foster, adopt, or provide guardianship
• Understanding that foster care is temporary and reunification is generally the initial goal
• Willingness to support the child's case plan and permanency goal
• Ability to support contact with parents, siblings, relatives, Tribes, and other important people
• Ability to work cooperatively with birth parents, relatives, social workers, probation officers, courts, schools, and service providers
• Personal, family, and childhood history of each applicant
• Family relationships, household functioning, communication, and conflict resolution
• Marital, domestic-partnership, or significant-partner stability when applicable
• The effect of fostering on biological, adopted, guardianship, step, and other children in the household
• Parenting and caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding of trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, loss, attachment, and separation
• Ability to recognize behavior as communication of underlying needs
• Discipline beliefs and ability to comply with prohibited-discipline requirements
• Ability to provide structure, supervision, nurturing care, and age-appropriate independence
• Understanding and application of the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard
• Physical health and caregiving stamina
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to safe caregiving
• Alcohol, cannabis, controlled-substance, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence, relationship violence, restraining orders, or other household-safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect information
• Prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving experience
• Financial stability and household budgeting
• Employment schedules and work-related responsibilities
• Childcare, respite, transportation, and alternative-caregiver arrangements
• Family, community, faith, cultural, and professional support systems
• Emergency and disaster planning
• Cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, disability, sexual-orientation, gender-identity, and gender-expression awareness
• Ability to preserve a child's identity, culture, community, language, religion, and significant relationships
• Understanding of confidentiality and protection of children's personal information
• Understanding of mandated-reporting responsibilities
• Household members' attitudes, expectations, and feelings about foster care
• Pets, firearms, ammunition, pools, spas, water hazards, smoking, vaping, cannabis, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, beds, storage, privacy, emergency exits, and proposed household capacity
• Placement preferences concerning children's ages, number, sibling groups, behaviors, medical needs, developmental needs, and levels of care
• Ability to support education, healthcare, visitation, extracurricular activities, and normal childhood experiences
• Ability to manage placement transitions, grief, reunification, guardianship, or adoption
• The family's strengths, limitations, training needs, and support needs
• Willingness to maintain records and cooperate with ongoing supervision, annual updates, and agency visits

Timeline

California does not guarantee one statewide timeframe for completing the comprehensive family evaluation. Timing depends on the availability of applicants and household members, completion of required interviews, training, references, background clearances, health information, home visits, and any requested evaluations or supporting documents. The assessment is not complete until the approving agency has enough information to determine that the applicants can safely care for children and can provide permanency when appropriate.

Bedroom Rules

Each child or nonminor dependent must have an individual bed with a clean, comfortable mattress and appropriate linens, blankets, and pillows. Bedrooms must have adequate storage for clothing and personal belongings and at least one operable window or door that provides a safe, direct emergency exit to the outside. Rooms commonly used for other purposes—including halls, stairways, public passageways, unfinished attics or basements, garages, storage areas, sheds, and similar detached structures—generally may not be used as bedrooms unless properly converted and determined safe. No more than four children or nonminor dependents generally may share a bedroom. A child may not ordinarily share a bedroom with a Resource Parent except under a permitted infant, medical, parenting-youth, or other approved circumstance. Children of different genders may share when each child is under age 8, when the children are siblings, when a minor parent shares with their child, or when the arrangement is consistent with a child's gender identity and is otherwise safe and appropriate.

Smoke Detectors

The home must have working smoke alarms or smoke detectors that comply with California law and are appropriately located to protect sleeping and living areas. A working carbon-monoxide detector is also required when applicable under state law. The approving worker verifies that alarms are properly installed, operational, accessible for testing, and appropriate for the residence. Passageways, stairs, ramps, porches, and emergency exits must remain free of obstructions.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must maintain appropriate fire-safety protections based on its construction, heating equipment, cooking areas, local requirements, and the needs of children placed there. The approving agency may require a functioning and readily accessible fire extinguisher and may verify its location, condition, rating, and accessibility during the home environment assessment. Fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, freestanding heaters, and space heaters must be maintained and operated safely, and the family must have a workable emergency-evacuation plan.

Medications

Medicines must be stored where they are inaccessible to children and nonminor dependents unless a youth is authorized and developmentally able to possess or self-administer medication. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, cannabis products, and other potentially harmful medical substances must be properly labeled and securely maintained. Storage precautions must account for each child's age, development, behavior, medical history, and risk of accidental ingestion or misuse. Controlled substances and refrigerated medicines may require additional safeguards.

Cleaning Supplies

Disinfectants and cleaning solutions must be stored where they are inaccessible to children. Poisons and other dangerous items must be kept in locked storage. Pesticides, fuels, solvents, pool chemicals, alcohol, cannabis products, vaping liquids, sharp tools, and other hazardous materials must be safely secured according to the risks they present and the ages and abilities of children in the home. Hazardous materials should remain in properly labeled containers and may not be stored in a manner that could contaminate food or medicine.

Firearms

Firearms and other dangerous weapons must be stored in a locked container, such as a lock box or gun safe. Instead of locking the entire firearm in a container, the family may use an approved trigger lock, cable lock, or other legally recognized firearm-safety device. Ammunition must be kept in a locked container separate from firearms. Keys, combinations, and locking devices must remain inaccessible to children and nonminor dependents. The approving worker verifies the storage arrangement during the home environment assessment.

Pools

Pools, spas, hot tubs, ponds, fountains, and other bodies of water that create a drowning risk must be made inaccessible to children who lack sufficient swimming ability or judgment. An in-ground pool generally must be isolated from the home by a compliant enclosure or protected by an approved safety pool cover. When those protections are not physically possible, the county may approve qualifying exit alarms or another written protection plan that provides equal or greater safety. Above-ground pools must be inaccessible when not in use, and ladders must be removed or secured when appropriate. Pools must remain clean, properly maintained, and equipped with an operative pump and filtration system when they cannot be emptied after each use. An adult who can swim must provide continual supervision when a child uses a pool or other protected body of water.

Pets

Animals must not create a foreseeable health or safety danger. The Resource Family must maintain appropriate vaccination, licensing, veterinary care, sanitation, confinement, and supervision. The approving agency evaluates any animal that may adversely affect a child's health or safety and requires the concern to be resolved before approval. Considerations may include aggression, biting history, disease risk, animal size, the child's fears or allergies, and access to bedrooms or play areas. A safety plan, restricted access, additional containment, or removal may be required.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport children must be safely maintained, legally registered, appropriately insured, and operated by drivers with valid licenses. Every child must use a seat belt, rear-facing or forward-facing car seat, booster seat, helmet, or other restraint required by California law and appropriate to the child's age, size, development, and activity. The approving agency may review Department of Motor Vehicles records for applicants and adults who may frequently transport children. The family must maintain reliable transportation plans for school, healthcare, family contact, counseling, court, childcare, activities, and emergencies.

Fingerprinting

Each applicant and each non-exempt adult residing or regularly present in the home must complete fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history checks. California generally uses the Live Scan system to submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Required adults must receive a criminal-record clearance, an approved transfer of an existing clearance, or an approved criminal-record exemption before residing or being regularly present in a Resource Family home.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and covered adults are reviewed through the California Child Abuse Central Index. The approving agency considers substantiated allegations of child abuse or severe neglect and reviews available investigative reports, child-welfare records, interviews, and other evidence when determining whether a person presents a risk. An applicant or adult household member who lived in another state during the five years preceding the application must generally complete an out-of-state child-abuse and neglect registry check for each applicable state.

Criminal History

The approving agency reviews California and federal criminal-history information for each applicant and covered adult. The review may include arrests, convictions, pending charges, warrants, probation or parole, subsequent-arrest notifications, and criminal records from other jurisdictions. Criminal history is evaluated together with child-welfare history, references, interviews, licensing history, administrative actions, rehabilitation evidence, and any other information affecting the safety and well-being of children.

Disqualifying Offenses

California law prohibits approval or presence in the home for certain convictions for which no criminal-record exemption may legally be granted. Other convictions may require a criminal-record exemption. An exemption is not automatic and may require court records, a personal statement, character references, evidence of rehabilitation, information about the person's role in the home, and proof that the individual currently presents no risk to children. If a required exemption is denied or rescinded and the affected adult will continue residing or being regularly present in the home, the Resource Family application may be denied or an existing approval may be rescinded.

Additional Checks

The background assessment may include a Megan's Law registered-sex-offender check; Department of Motor Vehicles records for adults who may frequently transport children; prior licensing actions contained in California's Administrative Action Records System; prior Resource Family administrative actions and Notices of Action; prior criminal-record exemption denials or rescissions; county child-welfare records; out-of-state child-abuse or neglect registries; references; court records; and any additional information necessary to determine whether the household can safely care for children.

Steps

• Contact the county Resource Family Approval program, county probation department, or a licensed Foster Family Agency.
• Complete the agency's initial inquiry, information session, and orientation.
• Submit the Resource Family Application and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete Live Scan fingerprinting and all required criminal-history clearances.
• Complete Child Abuse Central Index and out-of-state child-abuse or neglect checks when applicable.
• Provide the required personal references.
• Complete at least 12 hours of pre-approval training or any greater amount required by the approving agency.
• Participate in individual, joint, household-member, and other required family-evaluation interviews.
• Complete the comprehensive family evaluation.
• Complete the home environment assessment and health and safety inspection.
• Correct any health or safety concerns identified during the assessment.
• Complete any criminal-record exemption, risk assessment, medical review, or Documented Alternative Plan required by the agency.
• Receive the written approval report and Resource Family Approval certificate.
• Complete CPR and First Aid certification no later than 90 days after approval.
• Cooperate with annual approval updates, ongoing training, home visits, and continuing agency supervision.

Average Timeline

Many California Resource Family approvals are completed in approximately three to six months, although California does not guarantee one statewide approval timeline. Completion depends on orientation and training schedules, application accuracy, references, fingerprint processing, child-abuse and neglect clearances, family-evaluation interviews, home inspections, health and safety corrections, out-of-state records, criminal-record exemptions, and the workload of the county or Foster Family Agency.

Renewal Requirements

Resource Family Approval does not expire automatically each year, but the approving county or agency must update the approval at least once every 12 months. The update includes verification of information in the written report, a new home health and safety assessment, review of household changes, confirmation of continued background-clearance compliance, review of training and CPR and First Aid records, and evaluation of any concerns, incidents, complaints, or changes affecting the family's suitability. Additional updates are required after significant household changes, relocation, addition or removal of a Resource Parent, certain emergency placements, or a request to accept children beyond a child-specific approval.

Ongoing Training

Each Resource Parent must complete at least eight hours of training during every 12-month approval period. When a child or nonminor dependent is placed in the home, part of the annual training must address the needs of that child or youth. Resource Parents must also maintain current CPR and First Aid certification and complete any additional training required by the county, Foster Family Agency, placement agreement, specialized-care program, or child's assessed needs.

How Placements Work

After approval, the county child-welfare agency, probation department, or Foster Family Agency may contact the Resource Family when a child or nonminor dependent needs placement. The placing agency considers the family's approved capacity, location, experience, training, household composition, placement preferences, strengths, limitations, and ability to meet the child's assessed needs. Decisions also consider safety, sibling relationships, school-of-origin stability, family and relative connections, Tribal placement preferences when applicable, cultural identity, medical and behavioral needs, visitation, transportation, permanency goals, and the child's best interests.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Resource Families may decline a proposed placement when they do not believe they can safely or appropriately meet the child's needs. Families should ask for available information about the child's age, needs, behaviors, health, education, family contact, transportation, supervision, placement history, and permanency plan before deciding. Declining an individual placement does not automatically affect Resource Family Approval, although repeated refusals that are inconsistent with the family's stated availability may lead the agency to discuss whether the family's preferences or approval should be updated.

Emergency Placements

California permits a county to place a child or nonminor dependent with a relative or nonrelative extended family member before full Resource Family Approval when statutory emergency-placement requirements are met. Required preliminary criminal-record and home-safety reviews must occur before placement, and the caregiver must promptly begin the RFA application and assessment process. California generally requires the comprehensive assessment and written report to be completed within 90 calendar days after an emergency placement unless documented good cause outside the county's control causes a delay. A county may also authorize placement with another applicant before approval when a compelling reason exists, such as preserving a child's family or family-like connections, after required safety and background reviews are completed.

Sibling Groups

California seeks to place siblings together whenever doing so is safe and consistent with their best interests. Placement workers consider whether a Resource Family has sufficient approved capacity, bedroom space, transportation, supervision, training, and support to care for the entire sibling group. When siblings cannot live together, the agency must consider arrangements that preserve their relationships through visits, communication, shared activities, coordinated case planning, and placement in nearby homes when possible.

Age Preferences

During the Resource Family Approval assessment, applicants discuss the ages, number of children, sibling groups, developmental stages, identities, behaviors, medical conditions, disabilities, placement types, and levels of care they feel prepared to support. These preferences help guide placement calls but do not guarantee placement of a particular child. A family should accept only placements that fall within its approval, household capacity, training, and realistic caregiving ability.

Monthly Board Rate

Approved Resource Families receive a monthly foster-care maintenance payment to help cover the ordinary costs of caring for a child placed in the home. California's basic foster-care maintenance payment is determined through the state's Home-Based Family Care (HBFC) funding model, which combines a base foster-care rate with a Level of Care (LOC) supplement based on the child's assessed needs. Additional specialized-care payments may be available for eligible children depending on state and county policies. Because payment rates are periodically adjusted by legislation, Resource Families should verify current reimbursement amounts with their placing county or Foster Family Agency.

Clothing Allowance

California's Home-Based Family Care rate includes funding intended to assist with routine clothing expenses. When a child enters care without adequate clothing or has extraordinary clothing needs, additional clothing assistance or emergency clothing funds may be available through the placing county, Foster Family Agency, charitable organizations, or other approved resources.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support a child's placement and to allow a Resource Parent to maintain employment, participate in approved education or training, attend required appointments, or meet other case-plan requirements. Eligibility, provider approval, reimbursement procedures, and prior authorization requirements vary depending upon the county, Foster Family Agency, funding source, and the child's individual circumstances.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in California foster care generally receive Medi-Cal coverage. Resource Parents coordinate routine medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, specialty-care, developmental, and emergency services through the child's social worker or probation officer, healthcare providers, managed-care plan, and other authorized service providers. Certain services require prior authorization or court approval depending upon the child's legal status and applicable law.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement may be available for transportation required by the child's case plan, including family visitation, court appearances, medical and dental appointments, counseling, educational meetings, independent-living activities, and other approved travel. Reimbursement policies, documentation requirements, reimbursement rates, and prior authorization procedures vary by county and Foster Family Agency.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's assessed needs and placement type, Resource Families may receive Level of Care supplements, Intensive Services Foster Care payments, infant supplements, clothing assistance, transportation assistance, childcare assistance, respite services, behavioral-health consultation, educational support, interpreter services, independent-living supports for eligible youth, therapeutic services, and other county- or state-authorized benefits.

Respite Care

Respite care is available to provide temporary relief for Resource Families and to help maintain stable placements. Respite providers must satisfy applicable approval requirements, and respite arrangements are coordinated through the placing county, probation department, or Foster Family Agency. The availability, frequency, and funding of respite services vary according to the child's needs, placement type, and local resources.

Support Groups

California offers numerous support groups for Resource Families through county child-welfare agencies, Foster Family Agencies, Foster and Kinship Care Education programs, the California Alliance of Caregivers, Foster Parent Associations, Kinship Support Services Programs, Regional Centers, and community organizations. Many agencies also provide continuing education, conferences, peer networking, and online support communities.

Mentoring

Many counties and Foster Family Agencies pair newly approved Resource Families with experienced caregivers who provide mentoring, encouragement, practical guidance, and peer support during the family's first placements. Informal mentoring opportunities are also available through Foster Parent Associations, kinship programs, caregiver support groups, and community organizations.

Counseling

Behavioral-health and counseling services for foster children are coordinated through the child's county social worker or probation officer, Medi-Cal providers, county behavioral-health departments, schools, Regional Centers when applicable, and other approved service providers. Resource Parents also receive consultation and guidance regarding children's emotional, developmental, educational, and behavioral needs.

Crisis Support

Resource Families have access to assistance from their county social worker or probation officer, Foster Family Agency social worker, after-hours emergency contacts, placement staff, crisis-response teams, behavioral-health professionals, law enforcement when necessary, and emergency medical services. Resource Parents are expected to promptly notify the child's team whenever significant medical, behavioral, placement, safety, or legal concerns arise.

Available

Yes. California's Resource Family Approval program was specifically designed to provide one approval process for foster care, adoption, and legal guardianship. Families interested in adoption should indicate that interest during the Resource Family Approval process. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification while understanding that some children may ultimately become eligible for adoption if reunification cannot be safely achieved.

Process

Children generally enter California foster care with reunification as the primary permanency goal whenever it can be achieved safely. Throughout the dependency or probation case, the court and placing agency evaluate reunification services, placement with relatives or nonrelative extended family members, legal guardianship, and adoption. If reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and the court changes the child's permanent plan to adoption, the placing agency determines the adoptive placement that best serves the child's interests. A Resource Family already caring for the child may be considered based upon the child's attachments, stability, sibling relationships, cultural and family connections, special needs, wishes when appropriate, and overall best interests. Adoption is never guaranteed simply because a child has been placed in a Resource Family home.

Legal Risk

Resource Families should understand that foster care is temporary and that many children safely reunify with their parents or are placed with relatives. California expects Resource Families to actively support reunification, visitation, family engagement, and the child's court-approved case plan. Although many foster families eventually adopt, every placement involves legal uncertainty until parental rights have been terminated and adoption has been approved by the court.

Adoption Subsidy

Children who meet California's eligibility requirements may qualify for the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP). Adoption assistance may include a negotiated monthly subsidy, Medi-Cal coverage, reimbursement of eligible non-recurring adoption expenses, and other benefits authorized under California law. Eligibility and the adoption-assistance agreement are generally established before the adoption is finalized.

Available

Yes. California gives strong preference to placement with relatives and Nonrelative Extended Family Members (NREFMs) whenever such placements are safe and appropriate. Maintaining children's family relationships, cultural identity, community connections, and stability is an important objective of California's child-welfare system. Counties actively search for relatives and other important adults early in every dependency case.

Licensing Differences

Relatives and Nonrelative Extended Family Members may receive emergency placement before completing full Resource Family Approval when California's statutory emergency-placement requirements have been satisfied. Following placement, caregivers generally complete the same Resource Family Approval process required of non-relative foster families, including the application, home environment assessment, family evaluation, background clearances, references, training, and interviews. California permits certain temporary flexibilities during the emergency-placement period, but full approval is generally required for continued placement and ongoing foster-care maintenance payments.

Financial Support

Approved relative and Nonrelative Extended Family Member Resource Families generally receive the same foster-care maintenance payments available to approved non-relative Resource Families. Depending upon the child's circumstances and permanency plan, additional financial assistance may also be available through the Adoption Assistance Program, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) Program, Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Option Program, CalWORKs child-only grants, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, Medi-Cal, childcare assistance, educational benefits, Regional Center services, and other county, state, or federal programs.

Can I become a Resource Parent in California if I am single?

Yes. California permits qualified single adults, married couples, domestic partners, and unmarried partners to become Resource Families. The approving agency evaluates each applicant's stability, maturity, support system, parenting ability, and capacity to meet children's needs.

How old must I be to foster in California?

A Resource Family applicant must be at least 18 years old. The approving county or Foster Family Agency also evaluates the applicant's maturity, judgment, life experience, support system, and ability to safely care for children.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own a house, apartment, condominium, manufactured home, or other suitable residence as long as it meets California's space, sleeping, sanitation, utility, and health and safety requirements.

What is Resource Family Approval?

Resource Family Approval, commonly called RFA, is California's unified caregiver-approval process. It combines the previous foster-home licensing, relative-caregiver approval, adoption-assessment, and guardianship-assessment processes into one approval system.

Does Resource Family Approval allow me to foster, adopt, or become a guardian?

Yes. Once approved, a Resource Family is generally considered eligible to provide foster care and may be considered for adoption or legal guardianship without completing an entirely separate caregiver-approval process. Placement, guardianship, and adoption decisions remain child-specific and require any additional legal and case-related steps.

Should I apply through my county or through a Foster Family Agency?

Applicants may apply through the county child-welfare department where they live or through a licensed Foster Family Agency. County agencies generally place children directly from the county system. Foster Family Agencies may serve particular regions, populations, sibling groups, treatment needs, or specialized placement programs and often provide additional agency supervision and support.

Can Resource Parents work full time?

Yes. Employment does not automatically prevent approval. Applicants must demonstrate workable plans for supervision, childcare, transportation, family visits, school, healthcare appointments, court-related activities, emergencies, and the child's other needs.

How much pre-approval training is required?

Applicants must complete the pre-approval training required by their county or Foster Family Agency. Foster Family Agency applicants generally complete at least 12 hours, and an approving agency may require additional hours based on its program and the types of children the family expects to serve.

Is continuing training required after approval?

Yes. Each Resource Parent must generally complete at least eight hours of continuing training during every 12-month approval period. Additional training may be required based on the needs of children placed in the home or the family's specialized approval.

Do I need CPR and First Aid certification?

Yes. Resource Parents must obtain and maintain current CPR and First Aid certification according to the approving agency's requirements. California generally requires proof of certification no later than 90 days after Resource Family Approval.

What is Live Scan fingerprinting?

Live Scan is California's electronic fingerprint-submission system. Applicants and other covered adults use Live Scan so the California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation can complete required state and federal criminal-history checks.

Will a criminal record automatically disqualify me?

Not every criminal record results in automatic disqualification. Certain convictions legally prohibit approval, while other offenses may qualify for a criminal-record exemption. The exemption process may consider the nature of the offense, time passed, rehabilitation, court records, references, current circumstances, and potential risk to children.

Can I become a Resource Parent if I have a prior child-welfare investigation?

A previous investigation does not necessarily result in automatic denial. The approving agency reviews the nature, outcome, severity, recency, surrounding circumstances, and any evidence of current risk. Applicants must fully disclose requested information and cooperate with additional assessment.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes, when the arrangement complies with California requirements and is appropriate for the children's ages, relationships, gender identities, privacy, trauma histories, developmental needs, behaviors, and case plans. No more than four children or nonminor dependents generally may share one bedroom.

Can a foster child share a bedroom with me?

A child generally may not share a bedroom with a Resource Parent. Limited exceptions may apply for an infant, a child with a documented medical need, a parenting foster youth and their child, or another child-specific arrangement approved by the placing and approving agencies.

Can I foster babies?

Yes, if the family is approved and prepared for infant placements. The home must have safe sleeping arrangements, appropriate supervision and childcare plans, required infant-related training, and caregivers capable of meeting feeding, medical, developmental, visitation, and transportation needs.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets and other animals are permitted when they are healthy, appropriately vaccinated and supervised, and do not create a foreseeable danger. The agency may require additional confinement, restricted access, or a safety plan for an animal presenting a potential risk.

Can I own firearms and still foster?

Yes. Firearms must be unloaded and securely locked or protected by an approved locking device. Ammunition must generally be locked separately, and keys, combinations, and access devices must remain inaccessible to children.

Can I have a swimming pool or spa?

Yes, provided the pool, spa, or other water hazard meets California safety requirements. Required protections may include fencing, locked gates, approved covers, alarms, secured ladders, rescue equipment, continual adult supervision, or an approved alternative safety plan.

Can I choose the age or number of children I foster?

Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, medical needs, developmental needs, behaviors, and placement types they feel prepared to support. Final placements must remain within the home's approved capacity and be appropriate for both the child and the family.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Resource Families should accept only placements they believe they can safely and appropriately support. Families may ask questions about the child's needs, routines, family visits, education, health, behaviors, transportation, and permanency plan before making a decision.

Are siblings placed together?

California seeks to place siblings together whenever it is safe and consistent with their best interests. When siblings cannot live together, the agency works to preserve their relationships through visits, communication, shared activities, and coordinated case planning.

What is an emergency placement?

An emergency placement may allow a child to live temporarily with a relative or Nonrelative Extended Family Member before the caregiver completes full Resource Family Approval. Preliminary background and home-safety reviews must occur, and the caregiver must promptly begin or continue the RFA process.

What is a Nonrelative Extended Family Member?

A Nonrelative Extended Family Member, commonly abbreviated NREFM, is an adult who is not related to the child by blood, adoption, or marriage but has an established familial, mentoring, or emotionally significant relationship with the child or the child's family.

Will I receive a monthly payment?

Approved Resource Families generally receive a monthly foster-care maintenance payment for each eligible child placed in the home. The amount depends on California's current rate structure, the child's assessed level of care, placement type, specialized needs, and applicable county supplements.

What is a Level of Care payment?

California's Level of Care process evaluates the amount of care, supervision, behavioral support, healthcare coordination, permanency support, and other assistance a child requires. The assessment may result in an additional payment above the basic foster-care rate.

Do children in California foster care receive healthcare?

Children in foster care generally receive Medi-Cal or other eligible health coverage. Resource Parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, and specialty services with the child's social worker, probation officer, health plan, and authorized providers.

Is childcare assistance available?

Childcare assistance may be available when needed to support the placement, the Resource Parent's employment or education, required training, appointments, or the child's case plan. Eligibility, authorization, providers, and reimbursement procedures vary by county and placement program.

Does Resource Family Approval expire every year?

Resource Family Approval does not ordinarily expire on a fixed annual date. However, the approving agency must update the approval at least once every 12 months and review the home, household information, training, background status, certifications, and continued suitability.

Do I have to support reunification?

Yes. Reunification is generally the initial permanency goal when it can be achieved safely. Resource Parents are expected to support family visits, respectful relationships with parents and relatives, the child's case plan, and the child's important family, cultural, community, and Tribal connections.

Can I adopt a child who is placed with me?

Possibly. If reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's court-approved plan, the Resource Family may be considered. Foster placement does not guarantee adoption, and the final decision must serve the child's best interests.

What is the Adoption Assistance Program?

California's Adoption Assistance Program provides eligible adoptive children and families with negotiated financial assistance, medical coverage, reimbursement of certain non-recurring adoption expenses, and other approved benefits. Eligibility and the written agreement are generally established before adoption finalization.

What is Kin-GAP?

The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, commonly called Kin-GAP, provides eligible relative guardians with financial assistance and Medi-Cal benefits after guardianship is established and the child's dependency or wardship case is dismissed. Kin-GAP is intended for cases in which reunification and adoption are not appropriate permanency options.

Do relatives receive the same foster-care payments as non-relative Resource Families?

Approved relative Resource Families generally qualify for the same foster-care maintenance rate structure as approved non-relative Resource Families when the child and placement meet applicable eligibility requirements. Other benefits may depend on the child's funding eligibility and legal status.

Can an eligible young adult remain in California foster care after turning 18?

Yes. California's Extended Foster Care program permits eligible nonminor dependents to remain in foster care until age 21 when they meet at least one qualifying participation condition and continue complying with program requirements.

Who can I contact if I am concerned about a foster child's rights or treatment?

Concerns about the care, placement, services, or rights of a child or youth in foster care may be reported to the California Foster Care Ombudsperson at 1-877-846-1602.

State Agency

California Department of Social Services — Resource Family Approval Program

Phone

Resource Family Approval Policy Unit: 916-651-7465; statewide foster and adoptive parent information line: 1-800-543-7487

Email

[email protected]

Address

Resource Family Approval Policy Unit, California Department of Social Services, 744 P Street, MS 8-13-78, Sacramento, CA 95814