How to Become a Foster Parent in Connecticut

Description

Foster care in Connecticut provides temporary, safe, stable, and nurturing family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is generally the initial permanency goal whenever it can be achieved safely. Foster parents provide daily care, supervision, advocacy, transportation, educational support, healthcare coordination, normal childhood experiences, and emotional stability while working with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, DCF social workers, attorneys, courts, schools, healthcare providers, service professionals, and other members of the child's team.

Agency

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families, commonly called DCF, administers the state's public child-welfare and foster-care system and directly licenses foster and prospective adoptive families. Connecticut-licensed child-placing agencies may also recruit, assess, approve, supervise, and support foster families for the programs and children they serve. The Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families assists with recruitment, information sessions, training support, and caregiver resources.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or partnered and may rent or own their residence. Applicants must demonstrate good character, emotional maturity, sound judgment, sufficient income independent of foster-care payments, appropriate physical and mental health, safe parenting and discipline practices, reliable transportation, a stable household, and the ability to care for children who have experienced trauma, separation, grief, abuse, neglect, and instability.

Average Time To License

No single statewide completion period applies. The licensing process includes an inquiry or open house, application, state-approved foster-parent training, references, medical reports, fingerprint-based criminal-history checks, child-protection checks, DMV and local record reviews, interviews, a home study, and inspection of the residence. Delays may occur when documents are incomplete, applicants recently lived outside Connecticut, background records require additional review, household members are unavailable, or repairs and safety corrections are needed.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A Connecticut foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. DCF or the approving child-placing agency also evaluates the applicant's maturity, judgment, emotional stability, experience, support system, and capacity to safely parent children who have experienced trauma and separation.

Residency

Applicants generally must reside in Connecticut in a home that can be inspected, licensed or approved, and monitored by DCF or a Connecticut-licensed child-placing agency. The license or approval applies only to the applicants and residence identified in the application and is not transferable to another family or address. Applicants who recently lived outside Connecticut may need criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, or licensing checks from previous jurisdictions.

Marital Status

Connecticut permits qualified single adults, married couples, unmarried partners, divorced adults, and widowed adults to foster. When a married or partnered couple applies, both adults generally must participate in the application, preparation, background checks, home study, interviews, and licensing or approval process. The agency evaluates the stability of the relationship and each adult's commitment to caring for children.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have sufficient income and financial resources to meet their household's existing living expenses before receiving a foster-care maintenance payment. DCF or the child-placing agency may review employment, income, expenses, debts, housing costs, childcare arrangements, and overall financial stability. Foster-care reimbursement is intended to help cover a placed child's expenses and is not intended to serve as the family'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 dwelling may qualify if it meets Connecticut's space, sanitation, utility, sleeping, fire-safety, and environmental standards. Connecticut's public guidance generally states that the home must have at least two bedrooms. Renters should ensure that the lease, landlord, occupancy limits, and property rules permit the intended household arrangement.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must generally contain at least two bedrooms and provide safe, approved sleeping space for each foster child. Every foster child must have an individual bed with appropriate bedding and space for clothing and personal belongings. Foster children may share a bedroom with other children when the arrangement is safe and appropriate. Children of opposite sexes may generally share a bedroom only until age 3 unless an approved child-specific exception applies. The licensing worker evaluates privacy, age, development, relationships, gender identity, behavior, trauma history, and the needs of every child when approving sleeping arrangements.

Transportation

The family must have a safe and reliable plan for transporting children to school, family visitation, medical and dental appointments, counseling, court-related activities, childcare, extracurricular activities, and emergencies. Drivers transporting foster children must have valid licenses and acceptable driving records. Vehicles must be legally registered, appropriately insured, safely maintained, and equipped with seat belts, car seats, booster seats, and other restraints required by Connecticut law.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of providing safe and consistent care. Connecticut requires a healthcare-provider report or physical examination information for prospective foster parents and health information for everyone living in the home. Applicants do not need to be in perfect health, and a diagnosis, disability, counseling history, or prescribed medication does not automatically prevent licensure. DCF evaluates whether any condition could affect supervision, judgment, stamina, household stability, or child safety.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals are permitted when they do not create a foreseeable health or safety risk. Applicants may be required to provide veterinary documentation, including current rabies vaccinations when applicable. Foster parents must maintain sanitary animal areas, appropriate confinement, and supervision of children's interactions with animals. An animal with aggressive behavior or another identified risk may require additional safeguards, restricted access, a written safety plan, or removal from the home.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, hunting equipment, and other dangerous weapons must be stored securely and remain inaccessible to children. Firearms must be unloaded and kept in locked storage or otherwise secured through an arrangement accepted by DCF or the approving agency. Ammunition must be maintained in separate locked storage. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under the control of a responsible adult.

Contact Agency

Call Connecticut's foster and adoptive parent information line at 1-888-KID-HERO, or 1-888-543-4376, submit the state's electronic foster-care inquiry form, or contact the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families. Prospective parents may pursue licensure directly through DCF or explore a Connecticut-licensed child-placing agency that serves the children and placement types in which they are interested.

Attend Orientation

Attend a DCF or agency information session, often called an Open House. The session explains the role of foster parents, Connecticut's current placement needs, reunification and permanency, training, licensing requirements, background checks, the home study, reimbursement, support services, family visitation, and the effect fostering may have on every household member.

Choose Agency

Decide whether to seek a foster-family license directly through DCF or approval through a Connecticut-licensed child-placing agency. DCF recruits and licenses families for children in the state's public child-welfare system. Private child-placing agencies may specialize in therapeutic foster care, medically complex children, adolescents, sibling groups, children with developmental needs, or other populations. Training schedules, supervision, placement types, respite, and agency support may differ.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster-family or foster and prospective adoptive family application
• Government-issued identification and identity information for each applicant
• Information about every adult and child living in the household
• Information concerning adults who are regularly present or may provide care in the home
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and other covered household members
• Authorization for Connecticut and federal criminal-history background checks
• Authorization for local police and other required criminal-record checks
• Authorization for DCF child-protection and adoption and foster-care background checks
• Out-of-state child-abuse, neglect, criminal-history, or licensing checks when applicable
• Department of Motor Vehicles background checks for applicants and other household drivers
• Residential-address history for the period requested by DCF or the approving agency
• Names and contact information for required personal references
• Physical examination or healthcare-provider report for each applicant
• Health information or medical reports for other household members
• Financial information showing that the household can meet its expenses independently of foster-care payments
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, civil-union, domestic-partnership, or relationship information when applicable
• Housing, mortgage, rental, lease, landlord, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport foster children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Information identifying childcare providers, respite providers, emergency caregivers, and support persons
• Emergency, evacuation, fire-safety, and disaster-preparedness information
• Veterinary statements and animal-vaccination records when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, bows, weapons, pools, water hazards, and other household risks
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and approvals
• Information concerning prior child-welfare referrals, assessments, investigations, substantiations, or registry findings when applicable
• Information concerning arrests, criminal charges, convictions, probation, parole, protective orders, or other court involvement when applicable
• Certificates documenting completion of required pre-licensing training
• CPR, First Aid, medication, water-safety, or specialized-care certificates when required
• Any additional explanations, professional evaluations, records, waivers, or safety plans requested during the licensing assessment

Required

Yes

Description

Prospective foster parents attend an Open House or comparable information session before or near the beginning of the licensing process. Orientation introduces Connecticut's foster-care system and explains the responsibilities of foster parents, current placement priorities, trauma and loss, reunification, adoption and guardianship, family visitation, sibling relationships, confidentiality, discipline restrictions, training, background checks, reimbursement, support services, and the importance of working as part of a child's family and professional team.

How To Register

Call 1-888-KID-HERO, submit the electronic foster-care inquiry form through the Connecticut DCF website, or contact the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families. Applicants interested in a private program may contact a Connecticut-licensed child-placing agency directly. DCF or the selected agency will provide information-session dates, registration instructions, preliminary screening requirements, and the next available training schedule.

Duration

The length and format of the initial information session vary. An Open House may be offered as a single virtual or in-person meeting, while some child-placing agencies combine introductory information with additional preliminary meetings. The full foster-parent preparation program is completed separately over multiple sessions.

Application Process

After attending an Open House or information session, applicants submit the required foster-family application and supporting documents to DCF or a licensed child-placing agency. The licensing or approving worker reviews the application, identifies each adult requiring background checks, arranges fingerprinting, requests criminal-history, child-protection, DMV, and other records, contacts references, and verifies medical and financial information. Applicants complete the required foster-parent preparation program while the worker conducts interviews, assesses family functioning and parenting capacity, and inspects the residence. When all requirements are satisfied and the family is determined suitable, DCF issues a foster-family license or the child-placing agency grants written approval for the applicants and address identified in the application.

Required Documents

• Completed foster-family or foster and prospective adoptive family application
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Information identifying every adult and child residing in the home
• Information about adults who are regularly present or may provide supervision or care
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and other covered adults
• Federal, state, and local criminal-history consent and authorization forms
• DCF Adoption and Foster Care Background Check authorization
• Child Abuse and Neglect Registry and child-protection record authorizations
• Out-of-state criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect checks when applicable
• Department of Motor Vehicles record authorizations for applicants and household drivers
• Residential-address history
• Names and contact information for qualifying personal references
• Physician's statement, physical examination, or healthcare-provider report for each applicant
• Health information for children and other adults living in the household
• Financial statement or information about income, assets, expenses, debts, and household resources
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, civil-union, domestic-partnership, or relationship-history information when applicable
• Housing, mortgage, rental, lease, landlord, occupancy, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license information for adults who may transport foster children
• Vehicle-registration and automobile-insurance documentation
• Information identifying childcare providers, respite providers, emergency caregivers, and support persons
• Emergency, fire, evacuation, severe-weather, and disaster-preparedness plans
• Veterinary statement and current animal-vaccination records when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, bows, hunting equipment, pools, spas, ponds, and other household hazards
• Information about prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications, licenses, or approvals
• Documentation concerning previous child-welfare reports, investigations, substantiations, or registry findings when applicable
• Documentation concerning arrests, criminal charges, convictions, probation, parole, protective orders, or other legal matters when applicable
• Certificates or records documenting completion of required pre-licensing training
• CPR, First Aid, medication-administration, water-safety, infant-care, or child-specific certifications when required
• Any additional records, written explanations, professional evaluations, waivers, or safety plans requested by DCF or the approving agency

References Required

Applicants must provide personal references in the number and format required by DCF or the approving child-placing agency. References should know the applicants well enough to discuss their character, reliability, emotional stability, relationships, judgment, parenting or caregiving ability, ability to manage stress, and suitability to care for children. The agency may require non-relative references, may contact references through written questionnaires or interviews, and may request additional references when the available information is incomplete or raises concerns.

Interview Process

The home-study and licensing assessment 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, emergency caregivers, healthcare providers, therapists, or others whose information is relevant to the family's suitability. Topics include motivation to foster, childhood and family history, relationships, communication, conflict resolution, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, grief and loss, cultural responsiveness, support for reunification, attitudes toward children's parents and relatives, health, finances, employment, support systems, criminal and child-welfare history, placement preferences, and the ability to provide safe temporary care and permanency when appropriate.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Connecticut requires prospective foster parents to successfully complete the state's approved pre-licensing foster-parent preparation program before receiving a foster-home license. Training prepares applicants to understand the child-welfare system, the effects of abuse and neglect, trauma-informed parenting, child and adolescent development, attachment, grief and loss, positive discipline, behavior management, cultural responsiveness, supporting birth families, reunification, permanency planning, educational advocacy, medical and behavioral healthcare, confidentiality, mandated reporting, documentation requirements, normalcy, the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, medication responsibilities, and collaboration with DCF, schools, healthcare providers, attorneys, courts, and other members of the child's treatment team.

Required Hours

Connecticut requires applicants to complete the full DCF-approved foster-parent preparation program before licensure. The curriculum is commonly delivered over approximately ten weeks or multiple scheduled sessions depending on DCF region or licensed child-placing agency. After licensure, foster parents must complete ongoing in-service training each year as required by DCF or their supervising agency. Additional specialized training may be required for medically complex children, therapeutic foster care, infants, adolescents, or other specialized placements.

Online Available

Yes. Connecticut DCF and licensed child-placing agencies may provide virtual, hybrid, or in-person training depending upon scheduling, regional availability, and program needs. Portions of the curriculum may be completed remotely, although certain activities, interviews, and home-study requirements must still be completed directly with the assigned licensing worker.

Certification

Depending upon the supervising agency and placement type, foster parents may be required to maintain current CPR and First Aid certification and complete additional instruction regarding medication administration, trauma-informed care, behavioral intervention, safe sleep practices, water safety, medically complex children, adolescent development, developmental disabilities, or other specialized topics appropriate for children placed in the home.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Connecticut requires a comprehensive home study before foster-home licensure. The licensing worker conducts multiple interviews with each applicant individually and jointly when applicable. Age-appropriate interviews are also conducted with children and other household members. The assessment evaluates the applicants' motivation, parenting philosophy, family relationships, emotional stability, communication, coping skills, health, finances, discipline practices, trauma awareness, cultural responsiveness, support systems, and readiness to safely care for children involved with DCF.

Home Visits

The licensing worker completes one or more visits to the residence during the home-study process. Visits include inspection of sleeping arrangements, emergency exits, utilities, fire safety, sanitation, medication storage, hazardous materials, firearms, pets, pools, transportation resources, and other environmental safety concerns. Follow-up visits may be conducted to verify repairs, review updated documentation, complete interviews, or confirm correction of identified licensing deficiencies before approval.

Topics Covered

• The applicants' motivation for becoming foster parents
• Understanding that reunification is generally the primary permanency goal
• Ability to support the child's permanency and treatment plan
• Ability to support relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and other significant individuals
• Ability to work cooperatively with DCF social workers, attorneys, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and service providers
• Family history and childhood experiences
• Current family relationships and household functioning
• Marital, partner, or relationship stability
• The impact of fostering on biological, adopted, guardianship, stepchildren, and other household members
• Parenting philosophy and caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding trauma, abuse, neglect, attachment, grief, separation, and loss
• Positive discipline practices and prohibited discipline methods
• Ability to recognize behavior as communication of unmet needs
• Ability to provide nurturing care, supervision, healthy boundaries, and structure
• Physical health and caregiving stamina
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to caregiving
• Alcohol, controlled-substance, marijuana, nicotine, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence, relationship violence, or household safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-protection background information
• Financial stability and budgeting
• Employment schedules and childcare arrangements
• Transportation resources
• Emergency preparedness and disaster planning
• Family, church, community, and professional support systems
• Cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, disability, sexual-orientation, gender-identity, and gender-expression awareness
• Protection of confidential information
• Household members' expectations regarding foster care
• Pets, firearms, pools, smoking, vaping, marijuana, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, storage, privacy, and approved household capacity
• Placement preferences concerning children's ages, sibling groups, medical conditions, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, and treatment needs
• The family's strengths, limitations, support needs, and continuing education needs
• Ability to maintain required documentation and cooperate with DCF supervision and relicensing

Timeline

Connecticut does not establish one guaranteed statewide home-study timeline. Completion depends upon scheduling interviews, completing required training, obtaining references, processing fingerprint and child-protection background checks, receiving medical documentation, completing home inspections, correcting safety concerns, and the workload of DCF or the supervising child-placing agency.

Bedroom Rules

Connecticut generally requires foster homes to contain at least two bedrooms. Every foster child must have an individual bed with a clean mattress, appropriate bedding, and adequate storage for clothing and personal belongings. Bedrooms must provide reasonable privacy, adequate lighting, ventilation, and emergency exits. Foster children generally may not sleep in unfinished basements, garages, attics, hallways, living rooms, or other public living spaces. Opposite-sex children generally may share a bedroom only until age 3 unless DCF approves a child-specific exception.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed in appropriate locations throughout the residence in accordance with Connecticut law and local fire codes. Carbon monoxide detectors must also be installed where required. The licensing worker verifies that detectors are operational, properly located, and regularly maintained.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must maintain appropriate fire-safety equipment and emergency evacuation procedures. DCF may require a readily accessible residential fire extinguisher depending upon the home's layout and local requirements. Foster parents should understand emergency evacuation procedures and ensure all household members know how to exit the home safely.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, marijuana products, controlled substances, and other potentially harmful medical supplies must be securely stored where children cannot access them. Medication storage should reflect the ages, developmental abilities, and behavioral needs of children placed in the home. Controlled medications may require additional security.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, poisonous substances, pesticides, fuels, automotive chemicals, pool chemicals, alcohol, marijuana products, vaping liquids, sharp tools, and other hazardous materials must be safely stored and inaccessible to children. Hazardous materials should remain in their original labeled containers whenever practical.

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded and stored in locked storage or secured by an approved locking device. Ammunition must be stored separately in locked storage. Keys, combinations, trigger locks, cable locks, and other access devices must remain inaccessible to children. The licensing worker verifies firearm storage during home inspections.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, ponds, streams, and other water hazards must be appropriately protected to prevent accidental access by children. DCF may require fencing, self-latching gates, approved covers, alarms, rescue equipment, written supervision plans, or additional safeguards depending upon the property. Children using pools or other recreational water features must receive continuous adult supervision.

Pets

Animals must not create an unreasonable health or safety risk. Foster parents are responsible for maintaining current vaccinations, veterinary care, sanitation, supervision, and safe interactions between children and animals. Animals demonstrating aggressive behavior or presenting a foreseeable danger may require restrictions, additional safeguards, or removal from the home.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers with acceptable driving records. Foster children must use seat belts, child safety seats, booster seats, and other restraints required by Connecticut law. Foster parents must maintain reliable transportation for school, visitation, healthcare, counseling, court, extracurricular activities, and emergencies.

Fingerprinting

Connecticut requires fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks for foster-parent applicants and other covered adults living in the home. Fingerprints are submitted for review through the Connecticut State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation before licensure may be granted.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and covered household members must complete Connecticut child-protection background checks through the Department of Children and Families. Applicants who previously lived in another state may also be required to complete child-abuse and neglect registry checks from prior states of residence.

Criminal History

DCF reviews Connecticut and federal criminal-history records together with local police records and other available criminal-history information. Criminal-history information is considered together with child-protection records, home-study findings, interviews, references, licensing history, and any other information relevant to child safety.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain felony convictions and serious offenses prohibit foster-home licensure under federal law and Connecticut regulations. Other criminal offenses require an individualized review considering the nature of the offense, rehabilitation, time elapsed, court records, references, and evidence that the applicant no longer presents a risk to children. Some offenses cannot be waived.

Additional Checks

Additional reviews may include Department of Motor Vehicles driving-record checks, local police record reviews, previous foster-care or childcare licensing history, child-placement agency records, prior home studies, out-of-state child-protection records, references, court documents, and any additional information DCF determines necessary to evaluate the safety and suitability of the foster home.

Steps

• Contact the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) or a licensed child-placing agency.
• Attend a DCF Open House or agency information session.
• Submit the foster-family application and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete the required pre-licensing foster-parent preparation program.
• Complete CPR and First Aid certification if required by the supervising agency.
• Submit fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks.
• Complete Connecticut child-protection and abuse/neglect background checks.
• Complete out-of-state background checks when applicable.
• Provide required personal references.
• Participate in the comprehensive home study and family interviews.
• Complete the home inspection and environmental safety assessment.
• Correct any licensing deficiencies identified during the inspection process.
• Receive foster-home licensure from DCF or approval through the supervising child-placing agency.
• Maintain annual relicensing requirements, continuing education, and ongoing supervision.

Average Timeline

Many Connecticut foster-home licenses are completed within approximately four to six months, although DCF does not guarantee a statewide licensing timeline. Completion depends on training schedules, fingerprint processing, reference verification, medical documentation, home-study completion, background checks, home inspection results, correction of licensing deficiencies, and agency workload.

Renewal Requirements

Connecticut foster-home licenses generally require annual renewal. Renewal includes verification that licensing standards continue to be met, updated household information, continued compliance with background-check requirements, annual home visits, completion of required continuing education, maintenance of any required certifications, and review of significant household changes, complaints, or licensing concerns.

Ongoing Training

Licensed foster parents must complete ongoing in-service training as required by DCF or the supervising child-placing agency. Additional education may include trauma-informed care, behavioral intervention, medication management, infant care, adolescent development, medically complex children, developmental disabilities, cultural competency, permanency planning, or other child-specific training needs.

How Placements Work

After licensure, DCF or the supervising child-placing agency contacts foster families when children require placement. Placement decisions consider the family's approved capacity, experience, strengths, location, household composition, training, transportation resources, and placement preferences. DCF also evaluates the child's safety, sibling relationships, educational stability, medical and behavioral needs, cultural identity, family connections, permanency plan, and the family's demonstrated ability to meet those needs.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline any placement they believe they cannot safely or appropriately support. Families are encouraged to ask questions regarding the child's age, medical conditions, behaviors, educational needs, visitation schedule, permanency plan, medications, transportation requirements, and available supports before accepting placement. Declining an individual placement does not automatically affect licensure, although repeated refusals may prompt discussion regarding the family's stated placement preferences.

Emergency Placements

Connecticut may request emergency placements when children require immediate removal for their safety. Licensed foster families may receive placement requests at any hour. Connecticut also permits emergency placement with approved relatives or kinship caregivers when permitted by law and DCF policy while required assessments, background checks, and licensing or approval activities continue. Emergency placements remain subject to ongoing safety reviews and court decisions.

Sibling Groups

DCF makes every reasonable effort to place siblings together whenever doing so is safe and consistent with their best interests. Placement staff consider the foster home's approved capacity, bedroom arrangements, supervision, transportation, training, and available supports when evaluating sibling placements. When siblings cannot safely live together, DCF seeks to preserve sibling relationships through visitation, communication, and coordinated permanency planning whenever possible.

Age Preferences

During the home study and licensing process, applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, developmental disabilities, medical conditions, behavioral needs, and placement types they feel prepared to support. Placement decisions balance these preferences with the individual needs of each child and the family's demonstrated abilities.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed foster parents receive a monthly foster-care maintenance payment intended to help cover the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their home. Connecticut establishes payment rates based upon the child's age, assessed needs, placement type, and any approved therapeutic, medically complex, or specialized foster-care program. Current reimbursement schedules should always be confirmed with DCF or the supervising child-placing agency.

Clothing Allowance

The foster-care maintenance payment is intended to help meet a child's routine clothing needs. Additional clothing assistance may be available for emergency placements, children entering care without adequate clothing, seasonal clothing needs, or other extraordinary circumstances as approved by DCF.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support the child's placement and allow foster parents to maintain employment, attend required training, pursue education, or meet other approved responsibilities. Eligibility, authorization procedures, reimbursement, provider requirements, and funding sources vary according to the child's circumstances and DCF policy.

Medical Coverage

Children in Connecticut foster care generally receive HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) or other eligible medical coverage. Foster parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, specialty-care, and emergency services through DCF, healthcare providers, managed-care programs when applicable, and other authorized service providers.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement may be available for transportation required by the child's case plan, including family visitation, court appearances, medical appointments, counseling, educational meetings, evaluations, and other approved travel. Documentation requirements, reimbursement rates, and authorization procedures are determined by DCF or the supervising child-placing agency.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs and placement type, foster families may receive specialized foster-care payments, therapeutic foster-care reimbursement, respite services, childcare assistance, transportation assistance, behavioral-health consultation, educational support, developmental-disability services, independent-living assistance for eligible youth, and other state- or federally authorized benefits.

Respite Care

Connecticut provides respite care to help foster families maintain stable placements and prevent caregiver burnout. Respite providers must satisfy applicable approval requirements, and respite arrangements are coordinated through DCF or the supervising child-placing agency. Availability and funding vary according to the child's needs, placement type, and regional resources.

Support Groups

Foster parents have access to support groups through DCF, the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families, licensed child-placing agencies, community organizations, and faith-based partners. Many organizations also provide conferences, continuing education, caregiver workshops, online support groups, and peer networking opportunities.

Mentoring

Many newly licensed foster parents are paired with experienced foster families or receive peer mentoring through DCF, the Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families, or their supervising agency. Mentors provide encouragement, practical advice, and guidance during early placements and throughout the licensing period.

Counseling

Behavioral-health and counseling services for foster children are coordinated through DCF, HUSKY Health providers, community mental-health agencies, schools, private therapists, developmental-service providers, and other authorized professionals. Foster parents also receive consultation regarding children's emotional, developmental, educational, and trauma-related needs.

Crisis Support

Licensed foster parents receive support from their assigned DCF social worker, licensing worker, after-hours emergency contacts, supervising child-placing agency when applicable, crisis-response services, behavioral-health providers, law enforcement when necessary, and emergency medical services. Foster parents are expected to immediately report significant medical, behavioral, legal, placement, or safety concerns involving a child in their care.

Available

Yes. Connecticut allows licensed foster families to be considered as adoptive families when adoption becomes the child's approved permanency plan. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification, family visitation, and the child's current permanency goal while understanding that some children may ultimately become eligible for adoption if reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate.

Process

Children typically enter Connecticut foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal whenever it can be achieved safely. Throughout the case, DCF evaluates reunification, placement with relatives or kin, legal guardianship, and adoption. If the court changes the permanency plan to adoption, DCF evaluates prospective adoptive families. A foster family currently caring for the child may be considered based upon the child's attachments, stability, sibling relationships, cultural identity, family connections, special needs, wishes when appropriate, and overall best interests. Foster placement alone does not guarantee adoption, and additional legal and adoption requirements must be completed before finalization.

Legal Risk

Every foster-care placement involves legal uncertainty until the court permanently changes the child's permanency plan and all legal requirements have been satisfied. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives, enter guardianship, or pursue another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification and family relationships regardless of their willingness to adopt should the opportunity later arise.

Adoption Subsidy

Eligible children adopted from Connecticut foster care may qualify for Adoption Assistance. Benefits may include a negotiated monthly subsidy, HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid), reimbursement of qualifying non-recurring adoption expenses, and certain approved post-adoption services. Adoption-assistance agreements are generally negotiated and signed before the adoption is finalized.

Available

Yes. Connecticut gives priority to safe placement with relatives and kin whenever possible. Kinship caregivers may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, close family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, or other adults who have a significant relationship with the child. Kinship placements help preserve family relationships, culture, community connections, school stability, and continuity for children entering care.

Licensing Differences

Connecticut may place children with approved relatives or kin on an emergency basis while required assessments and background reviews are completed. Depending on the child's legal status and the type of placement, kinship caregivers may pursue full foster-home licensure in order to receive foster-care maintenance payments and ongoing foster-care services. Certain kinship placements may follow modified approval procedures permitted under Connecticut law while maintaining child-safety standards.

Financial Support

Financial assistance depends upon the child's custody status, placement type, and the caregiver's licensing status. Available assistance may include foster-care maintenance payments for licensed kinship homes, Temporary Family Assistance, HUSKY Health, childcare assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, adoption assistance, subsidized guardianship programs when eligible, kinship navigator services, and other state or federally authorized supports.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Connecticut welcomes qualified single adults, married couples, unmarried partners, divorced adults, and widowed adults. Every applicant must meet the same licensing standards and demonstrate the ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home.

How old do I have to be?

Applicants must generally be at least 21 years old.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own their residence provided it meets Connecticut licensing and safety standards.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Foster parents may work full time if they can provide reliable childcare, transportation, supervision, and meet the child's needs, appointments, visitation schedule, and emergencies.

Do I need a certain income?

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient independent income to support their household without relying upon foster-care reimbursement.

How long does licensing usually take?

Many families complete the licensing process within approximately four to six months, although individual timelines vary.

Do I have to complete training?

Yes. Connecticut requires completion of its approved pre-licensing foster-parent preparation program before licensure, followed by continuing education after licensing.

Will I need a home study?

Yes. Every applicant completes a comprehensive home study that includes interviews, home visits, reference checks, and evaluation of the family's strengths, parenting abilities, and readiness to foster.

Will my entire household undergo background checks?

Background checks are required for applicants and other household members as required by Connecticut law and DCF policy.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when they are healthy, appropriately vaccinated, supervised, and do not create a safety risk for children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to children. Ammunition must generally be stored separately in locked storage.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes, when approved by DCF and consistent with Connecticut licensing standards regarding age, privacy, developmental needs, relationships, and safety.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Applicants discuss their preferred ages, sibling groups, medical needs, behavioral needs, and placement types during the licensing process.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents should accept only placements they believe they can safely and appropriately support.

Will I receive financial assistance?

Licensed foster parents receive monthly maintenance payments to help cover the ordinary costs of caring for a child placed in their home.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Most children in Connecticut foster care receive HUSKY Health (Connecticut Medicaid) or other qualifying healthcare coverage.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Respite care may be available through DCF or the supervising child-placing agency to support placement stability and caregiver well-being.

Can I adopt a child placed with me?

Possibly. If reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's court-approved plan, the foster family may be considered.

Does foster placement guarantee adoption?

No. The child's best interests always determine the permanent placement decision, and foster placement alone does not guarantee adoption.

Does Connecticut prioritize kinship care?

Yes. Connecticut gives preference to safe placement with relatives and other kin whenever appropriate.

Who do I contact if I suspect child abuse or neglect?

Call the Connecticut Child Abuse and Neglect Careline at 1-800-842-2288. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Phone

DCF Foster & Adoptive Parent Information Line: 1-888-KID-HERO (1-888-543-4376); Child Abuse and Neglect Careline: 1-800-842-2288

Email

Prospective foster parents may submit an online inquiry through the Connecticut DCF Foster Care and Adoption website or contact their regional DCF office.

Address

Connecticut Department of Children and Families, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106