How to Become a Foster Parent in Delaware

Description

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

Agency

The Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, Division of Family Services, commonly called DFS, administers the state's public foster-care program, assesses and trains applicants, and approves foster family homes. Delaware-licensed child placing agencies may also recruit, assess, license, supervise, and support foster families for the programs and populations they serve.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply. Applicants may be single, married, unmarried partners, or adults who share a home. They must demonstrate household and relationship stability, functional literacy in at least one applicant, sufficient financial resources independent of foster-care assistance, appropriate physical and emotional health, safe parenting practices, reliable transportation, and the ability to care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, grief, separation, and instability.

Average Time To License

No single completion period applies to every applicant. The process includes a three-hour information session, prescreening, 30 hours of preservice training, submission of an application, at least four references, medical and financial documentation, fingerprinting and child-abuse checks, Family Court and agency record reviews, a Foster Family Home Assessment, a physical-environment inspection, final review, and execution of the Foster Home Agreement. The formal home-assessment phase is generally expected to be completed within 90 days after the assessment contractor receives the application, unless an approved extension applies.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A Delaware foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. The Division of Family Services or licensed child placing agency also evaluates maturity, judgment, household stability, caregiving ability, life experience, and readiness to meet the needs of children in foster care.

Residency

Applicants generally apply through the Delaware Division of Family Services or a Delaware-licensed child placing agency. The residence must be available for assessment, inspection, approval, annual review, and ongoing monitoring. Applicants who recently lived outside Delaware may be required to complete criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, or licensing checks from previous jurisdictions.

Marital Status

Delaware permits married couples, unmarried couples, single adults, and related or unrelated adults who share a home to apply. Married or unmarried couples must demonstrate a stable relationship and generally must have been married or living together for at least one year. All applicants and relevant household members participate in the assessment and background-review process.

Income Requirements

Applicants must be financially stable and able to meet their household's existing basic needs independently of foster-care board payments. Pay stubs, tax returns, or other financial records are reviewed during the home assessment. Foster-care stipends are intended to assist with the expenses of a child placed in the home and may not serve as the household's primary means of support.

Home Ownership

Applicants are not required to own their residence. A rented or owned house, apartment, manufactured home, or other suitable residence may qualify if it complies with state and local residential requirements and provides adequate space, utilities, sanitation, safe drinking water, sleeping arrangements, and environmental safety. A landlord reference or lease information may be required for rented homes.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide a separate bed for every child placed there. Children older than age 5 may share a bedroom only with children of the same sex unless an approved exception applies. A child older than age 1 generally may not share a bedroom with an adult unless there is a documented disability, medical condition, or other approved need. Bedroom arrangements are reviewed through the Physical Environmental Checklist and must provide adequate safety, privacy, ventilation, and space for belongings.

Transportation

Every foster home must have access to a vehicle and a licensed driver capable of transporting children. Applicants must provide proof of driver's licenses, automobile insurance, and liability coverage for applicable household members. The family must be able to transport children safely to school, family visitation, healthcare appointments, counseling, court-related activities, childcare, extracurricular activities, and emergencies.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to care for and supervise children. Health histories are required for all household members. Applicants must provide documentation of a recent physical examination and a negative tuberculosis test within the period required by DFS. Mental-health conditions, substance-use concerns, prescribed psychotropic medications, and medical marijuana use must be disclosed when applicable. Additional medical documentation or evaluation may be required when a condition could affect child safety or caregiving capacity.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals are permitted when they are safe around children and properly licensed and vaccinated. Foster parents must supervise children's interactions with animals and maintain appropriate sanitation, confinement, and veterinary care. An animal with aggressive behavior or another identified safety risk may require additional safeguards, restricted access, a written safety plan, or removal from the home.

Firearm Policy

Weapons and ammunition must be stored separately, locked, unloaded, and inaccessible to children. Keys, combinations, and other access devices must remain under the control of a responsible adult. The storage arrangement is reviewed during the home assessment and physical-environment inspection.

Contact Agency

Contact the Delaware Division of Family Services Foster Care Program at 302-633-2657, email [email protected], or register through the state's online Foster Care Information Session form. Applicants may also contact a Delaware-licensed child placing agency if they are interested in a specialized private-agency foster-care program.

Attend Orientation

Attend Delaware's required three-hour foster-parent information session. The session provides an overview and history of foster care, explains the approval process and expectations, answers basic questions, and connects prospective applicants with prescreening and the next available preservice-training program.

Choose Agency

Decide whether to pursue approval directly through the Division of Family Services or through a Delaware-licensed child placing agency. DFS approves most public foster homes. Private agencies may serve particular children, treatment levels, medical needs, age groups, sibling groups, or specialized programs. Training, supervision, reimbursement administration, respite, and support services may vary by agency.

Documents Needed

• Completed Delaware Foster Care Application
• Completed prescreening packet
• Government-issued identification and identifying information for each applicant
• Information about every adult and child living in the household
• Adult Household Member Information Waiver forms when applicable
• DSCYF fingerprint submissions for applicants and all household members age 18 or older
• Authorization for criminal-history and Delaware Child Protection Registry checks
• DELJIS and other criminal-justice record checks
• Family Court record review authorizations
• Out-of-state criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect checks when applicable
• Pay stubs, W-2 forms, prior-year income-tax returns, or other proof of sufficient income
• Health history for every household member
• Recent physical examination documentation for each applicant
• Negative tuberculosis testing documentation within the required period
• Information about prescribed psychotropic medications, medical marijuana, mental-health treatment, or substance-use concerns when applicable
• Names and contact information for at least four references
• School references for school-age household children when requested
• Landlord reference or rental information when applicable
• Driver's-license information for applicable household members
• Proof of automobile insurance and liability insurance
• Childcare plan for applicants who work, operate a business, or provide other care services
• Copies of applicable home-business licenses when a business is operated from the residence
• Written approval from other placing or licensing agencies when another care program operates in the home
• Emergency-contact information
• Emergency, evacuation, fire-safety, and disaster-preparedness plans
• Physical Environmental Checklist
• Safe-drinking-water testing or documentation when required
• Pet licensing and vaccination documentation when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, pools, water hazards, and other household risks
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or child placing agency applications and service history
• Signed confidentiality, discipline, smoking, and transportation agreements
• Completed W-9 and direct-deposit forms
• Preservice-training completion certificate
• CPR and First Aid certification
• Any additional professional evaluations, written explanations, records, exceptions, or safety plans requested during assessment

Required

Yes

Description

Delaware begins the DFS foster-parent process with a required three-hour information session and the Orientation to Foster Care module. The orientation provides an overview and history of foster care, explains children's experiences and placement needs, describes the roles of foster parents, agency staff, and birth parents, outlines reunification and permanency expectations, and introduces the application, training, background-review, home-assessment, and approval process.

How To Register

Register through the official Delaware Foster Care Information Session form, call the Foster Care Program at 302-633-2657, or email [email protected]. Information sessions are generally offered monthly in New Castle County and monthly in Kent or Sussex County, with dates and locations subject to change. A licensed child placing agency may operate its own approved orientation process.

Duration

The initial DFS foster-parent information session lasts approximately three hours. Delaware's website states that sessions are commonly scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The information session is followed by the broader 30-hour preservice-training curriculum.

Application Process

Prospective applicants first attend orientation and submit the prescreening packet and release forms. The assigned Foster Home Coordinator reviews the prescreening information and completes preliminary DELJIS and DFS record checks. Applicants who pass prescreening are referred to the training contractor for the mandatory 30-hour preservice program and receive the foster-home application packet no later than the second training session. After training, the completed application is referred to the assessment contractor, who conducts the comprehensive Foster Family Home Assessment, assists the family in completing required documents, inspects the residence, and prepares a written recommendation for approval or denial. DFS completes the final review, meets with approved applicants, and issues a Foster Home Agreement and approval certificate.

Required Documents

• Completed Delaware Foster Care Application
• Completed prescreening form and release-of-information documents
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Information identifying every adult and child residing in the household
• Adult Household Member Information Waiver forms when applicable
• DSCYF fingerprint submissions for all household members age 18 or older
• Criminal-history and Child Protection Registry authorization forms
• DELJIS and Family Court record-review documentation
• Out-of-state criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, or licensing checks when applicable
• Copies of pay stubs, W-2 forms, prior-year tax returns, or other income verification
• Adult and child physical-health forms
• Recent applicant physical-examination documentation
• Negative tuberculosis-test documentation
• Medical or mental-health documentation requested by DFS
• Names and contact information for at least four personal references
• School references when requested
• Landlord reference when applicable
• Driver's-license copies for applicable household members
• Proof of automobile insurance and liability insurance
• Childcare and supervision plan
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Copies of applicable home-business licenses
• Written approvals from other care-program licensing or placing agencies when applicable
• Emergency-contact information
• Emergency, fire, evacuation, severe-weather, and disaster plans
• Completed Physical Environmental Checklist
• Safe-drinking-water documentation or test results when required
• Pet vaccination, licensing, or veterinary information when applicable
• Information concerning weapons, ammunition, pools, water hazards, and other environmental risks
• Information about prior foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or child placing agency applications and service history
• Documentation concerning child-welfare reports, investigations, findings, or registry records when applicable
• Documentation concerning arrests, criminal charges, convictions, probation, protection orders, or other legal matters when applicable
• Signed Confidentiality Pledge
• Signed Discipline Pledge
• Signed Smoking Agreement
• Signed Transportation Agreement
• Completed W-9 and direct-deposit forms
• Preservice-training completion certificate
• Current CPR and First Aid certification
• Any additional records, explanations, professional evaluations, exceptions, or safety plans requested by DFS or the approving agency

References Required

Applicants must authorize at least four reference checks. References are used to evaluate character, honesty, reliability, emotional stability, family relationships, parenting or caregiving ability, judgment, and suitability to care for children. DFS may also obtain school references, landlord references, previous child placing agency references, and information concerning prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, or other service history.

Interview Process

The Foster Family Home Assessment includes interviews and discussions with each applicant and relevant household members. The assessment examines the family's strengths, skills, qualifications, life experiences, household relationships, stability, parenting practices, discipline, health, finances, childcare plan, transportation, support network, trauma awareness, attitudes toward birth parents, ability to promote reunification, cultural responsiveness, placement preferences, and capacity to participate as a member of the child's professional planning team. Additional interviews, explanations, medical statements, evaluations, or safety plans may be required when concerns arise.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Delaware requires prospective foster parents to complete the Division of Family Services' 30-hour preservice training program before approval. The curriculum 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, behavior management, positive discipline, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, mandated reporting, educational advocacy, medical and behavioral healthcare, reunification, permanency planning, visitation, documentation requirements, normalcy, the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, medication responsibilities, and collaboration with DFS, schools, healthcare providers, courts, and other members of the child's professional team.

Required Hours

Applicants must complete 30 hours of mandatory preservice training before approval. Following approval, Delaware generally requires foster parents to complete at least 5 hours of continuing education annually. Additional specialized training may be required depending upon the child's age, behavioral needs, medical needs, developmental disabilities, therapeutic placement, or other specialized foster-care services.

Online Available

Delaware may offer portions of foster-parent preparation through virtual or hybrid instruction depending upon scheduling and provider availability. Some components of the assessment, interviews, home study, and home inspection must still be completed in person. Applicants should confirm the current training format with the Division of Family Services or their supervising child placing agency.

Certification

Approved foster parents must maintain current CPR and First Aid certification. Additional certifications or instruction may be required for medication administration, medically fragile children, therapeutic foster care, infant care, adolescent placements, developmental disabilities, trauma-informed intervention, de-escalation techniques, or other specialized placement programs.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Delaware requires completion of a comprehensive Foster Family Home Assessment before approval. The assessment includes multiple interviews with each applicant individually and jointly when applicable, along with age-appropriate interviews of children and other household members. The assessment evaluates motivation, parenting philosophy, family relationships, communication, emotional stability, physical and mental health, financial stability, discipline practices, trauma awareness, support systems, cultural responsiveness, and the family's ability to safely care for children in foster care.

Home Visits

The assessment contractor conducts one or more visits to the residence during the Foster Family Home Assessment. The visits include inspection of bedrooms, emergency exits, utilities, sanitation, fire safety, medication storage, hazardous materials, firearms, pets, transportation resources, and other environmental safety concerns. Additional visits may be completed to verify repairs, review documentation, complete interviews, or confirm correction of licensing deficiencies before approval.

Topics Covered

• Applicants' motivation for becoming foster parents
• Understanding that reunification is generally the primary permanency goal
• Ability to support family visitation and the child's permanency plan
• Ability to work cooperatively with DFS workers, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and service providers
• Family history and childhood experiences
• Current household relationships and family functioning
• Marital, partner, or relationship stability
• Impact of fostering on biological, adopted, guardianship, and other household children
• Parenting philosophy and caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding abuse, neglect, trauma, attachment, grief, separation, and loss
• Positive discipline practices and prohibited discipline methods
• Ability to recognize behaviors related to trauma
• 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, marijuana, nicotine, controlled-substance, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence or household safety concerns
• Criminal-history and Child Protection Registry 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 regarding children's ages, sibling groups, medical conditions, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, and therapeutic needs
• The family's strengths, limitations, ongoing support needs, and continuing education needs
• Ability to maintain required documentation and cooperate with annual reassessment and ongoing DFS supervision

Timeline

After the completed application is referred to the assessment contractor, Delaware generally expects the Foster Family Home Assessment to be completed within 90 days unless an approved extension is granted. Completion depends upon scheduling interviews, receiving references and medical documentation, processing background checks, completing home inspections, correcting safety concerns, and the overall complexity of the assessment.

Bedroom Rules

Every foster child must have an individual bed with a clean mattress and appropriate bedding. Children older than age 5 generally may share bedrooms only with children of the same sex unless an approved exception applies. Children older than age 1 generally may not share a bedroom with an adult unless approved because of a documented medical condition, disability, or other child-specific need. Bedrooms must provide adequate space, ventilation, privacy, emergency exits, lighting, and storage for clothing and personal belongings. Foster children may not sleep in unfinished basements, garages, hallways, living rooms, or other public living areas.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed throughout the residence in accordance with Delaware law and local fire codes. Carbon monoxide detectors must also be installed where required. The Physical Environmental Checklist includes verification that all required detectors are operational and properly maintained.

Fire Extinguisher

The foster home must maintain appropriate fire-safety equipment and emergency evacuation procedures. Fire extinguishers should be readily accessible, properly maintained, and appropriate for residential use. Foster parents should ensure that every household member understands the home's emergency evacuation procedures.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, marijuana products, and other potentially dangerous 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, alcohol, marijuana products, pool chemicals, 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

Weapons and ammunition must be stored separately, unloaded, locked, and inaccessible to children. Trigger locks, safes, locked cabinets, or other approved storage methods may be used. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under adult control. Compliance is verified during the Physical Environmental Checklist and home assessment.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, streams, and other water hazards must be protected against unauthorized access. DFS may require fencing, self-latching gates, approved covers, alarms, rescue equipment, written supervision plans, or additional safeguards depending upon the property. Children must receive continuous adult supervision whenever using recreational water features.

Pets

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

Vehicle Requirements

Households must maintain access to reliable transportation. Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Children must be transported using seat belts, child safety seats, booster seats, and other restraints required by Delaware law.

Fingerprinting

Delaware requires fingerprint-based criminal-history background checks for all foster-parent applicants and every household member 18 years of age or older. Fingerprints are submitted before approval may be granted and are reviewed through state and federal criminal-history systems.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members must complete Delaware Child Protection Registry checks. Applicants who have lived outside Delaware may also be required to complete child-abuse and neglect registry checks from previous states of residence.

Criminal History

DFS reviews state and federal criminal-history records together with DELJIS records, Family Court records, Child Protection Registry information, and other available background information. Criminal-history information is evaluated together with references, home-study findings, interviews, and any additional information relevant to child safety.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain felony convictions and other serious criminal offenses permanently prohibit foster-home approval under federal law and Delaware regulations. Other 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. Certain offenses cannot be waived.

Additional Checks

Additional reviews may include Family Court records, DELJIS records, prior foster-care or childcare licensing history, previous child placing agency records, prior home studies, Department of Motor Vehicle records for household drivers, out-of-state child-protection records, references, court documents, and any other information DFS determines necessary to evaluate the safety and suitability of the foster home.

Steps

• Attend the required three-hour Foster Care Information Session.
• Complete the prescreening packet and preliminary background reviews.
• Successfully complete the required 30-hour preservice training program.
• Submit the Delaware Foster Care Application and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks.
• Complete Child Protection Registry, DELJIS, Family Court, and other required background reviews.
• Provide the required personal, school, landlord, and other references when applicable.
• Complete the Foster Family Home Assessment, including interviews and home visits.
• Complete the Physical Environmental Checklist and home safety inspection.
• Correct any health or safety concerns identified during the assessment process.
• Receive final approval from the Division of Family Services.
• Sign the Foster Home Agreement.
• Receive foster-home approval and begin accepting placements.
• Maintain annual reassessment requirements and continuing education.

Average Timeline

Although Delaware does not guarantee one statewide approval timeline, many families complete the process in approximately four to six months. After the application is referred to the assessment contractor, the Foster Family Home Assessment is generally expected to be completed within 90 days unless an approved extension is granted. Processing times vary depending upon training schedules, references, medical documentation, fingerprint processing, background reviews, home inspection results, and correction of licensing deficiencies.

Renewal Requirements

Delaware foster homes are generally reassessed annually. Annual reassessment includes updated household information, review of continued compliance with approval standards, annual home visits, completion of continuing education requirements, maintenance of CPR and First Aid certification, updated background checks when required, review of significant household changes, complaints, investigations, or incidents, and continued approval by the Division of Family Services or supervising child placing agency.

Ongoing Training

Approved foster parents must complete at least five hours of continuing education annually. Additional training may be required for therapeutic foster care, medically fragile children, infants, adolescents, behavioral intervention, trauma-informed care, medication administration, developmental disabilities, de-escalation techniques, or other specialized placement needs.

How Placements Work

After approval, the Division of Family Services or supervising child placing agency contacts foster families when children require placement. Placement staff consider the family's approved capacity, experience, training, strengths, location, household composition, transportation resources, and placement preferences. Placement decisions also consider the child's safety, sibling relationships, educational stability, behavioral and medical needs, cultural identity, permanency plan, and existing family connections in order to identify the most appropriate placement.

Can Decline Placements

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

Emergency Placements

Delaware may request emergency placements whenever children require immediate removal from their homes for safety reasons. Approved foster homes may receive placement requests at any time of the day or night. Delaware also permits emergency placement with approved relatives or kinship caregivers when allowed under state law and Division policy while required assessments, background reviews, and approval activities continue. Emergency placements remain subject to ongoing safety reviews and court decisions.

Sibling Groups

The Division of Family Services makes every reasonable effort to keep siblings together whenever doing so is safe and consistent with their best interests. Placement staff evaluate the foster home's approved capacity, available bedroom space, supervision, transportation resources, training, and available support services when considering sibling-group placements. When siblings cannot safely remain together, DFS seeks to preserve sibling relationships through visitation, communication, and coordinated permanency planning whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

During the Foster Family Home Assessment, applicants discuss the ages, number of children, sibling groups, medical needs, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, and placement types they feel prepared to support. Placement decisions balance these preferences with each child's individual needs and the family's demonstrated strengths and abilities.

Monthly Board Rate

Approved foster parents receive a non-taxable daily board payment intended to offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes. Delaware currently states that reimbursement generally ranges from approximately $20 to $55 per day depending upon the child's age, level of care, assessed needs, and the foster parent's skills and specialized training. Current payment schedules should always be confirmed with the Division of Family Services before publication.

Clothing Allowance

The daily foster-care reimbursement helps 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 the Division of Family Services.

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 Division policy.

Medical Coverage

Children in Delaware foster care generally receive Delaware Medicaid or other eligible medical coverage. Foster parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, specialty-care, and emergency services through the child's Family Services Specialist, healthcare providers, managed-care organizations 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 the Division of Family Services or supervising child placing agency.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's assessed 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 services for eligible youth, and other state- or federally authorized benefits.

Respite Care

Delaware provides respite services to help foster families maintain stable placements and prevent caregiver burnout. Approved respite providers must satisfy applicable approval requirements, and respite arrangements are coordinated through the Division of Family Services or supervising child placing agency. Availability and funding vary according to the child's needs, placement type, and available community resources.

Support Groups

Foster parents have access to support groups through the Division of Family Services, contracted providers, licensed child placing agencies, community organizations, faith-based organizations, and foster-parent associations. These organizations frequently provide conferences, caregiver workshops, continuing education opportunities, peer networking, and online support communities.

Mentoring

Newly approved foster parents may receive mentoring from experienced foster families through the Division of Family Services, contracted agencies, or local foster-parent organizations. Mentors provide practical guidance, encouragement, and peer support throughout the family's early placements and ongoing foster-care experience.

Counseling

Behavioral-health and counseling services for foster children are coordinated through the Division of Family Services, Delaware Medicaid providers, schools, community behavioral-health agencies, developmental-service providers, private therapists, and other authorized professionals. Foster parents also receive consultation regarding children's emotional, developmental, educational, and trauma-related needs.

Crisis Support

Approved foster parents receive assistance from their Family Services Specialist, foster-home coordinator, after-hours emergency contacts, supervising child placing agency when applicable, behavioral-health providers, crisis-response services, law enforcement when necessary, and emergency medical services. Foster parents are expected to promptly report significant medical, behavioral, legal, placement, or safety concerns involving children in their care.

Available

Yes. Delaware allows approved foster families to be considered as adoptive families when adoption becomes the child's approved permanency plan. Foster parents are expected to actively 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 generally enter Delaware foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal whenever it can be safely achieved. Throughout the case, the Division of Family Services evaluates reunification, placement with relatives or kin, guardianship, and adoption. If the Family Court changes the permanency plan to adoption, DFS 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 developmentally appropriate, and overall best interests. Additional adoption-specific documentation, legal proceedings, and court approval are required before adoption may be finalized.

Legal Risk

Every foster-care placement involves legal uncertainty until the court changes the child's permanency plan and all legal requirements have been completed. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives, enter guardianship, or pursue another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to support reunification and healthy family relationships regardless of whether they would later be interested in adopting the child.

Adoption Subsidy

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

Available

Yes. Delaware gives priority to safe placement with relatives and kin whenever appropriate. 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 or family. Kinship placements help preserve family relationships, cultural identity, community connections, school stability, and continuity for children entering care.

Licensing Differences

Delaware may approve emergency placement with relatives or kin while required safety assessments and background reviews are completed. Depending upon the child's legal status and placement type, kinship caregivers may pursue full foster-home approval to receive foster-care maintenance payments and ongoing foster-care services. Certain kinship arrangements may follow modified approval procedures permitted under Delaware law while continuing to meet child-safety standards.

Financial Support

Available financial assistance depends upon the child's legal status, placement type, and the caregiver's approval status. Potential assistance includes foster-care maintenance payments for approved kinship foster homes, Delaware Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, childcare assistance, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, Adoption Assistance, guardianship assistance when eligible, kinship navigator services, and other state or federally authorized support programs.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Delaware welcomes qualified single adults, married couples, unmarried couples, and other eligible adults who meet the state's approval requirements.

How old must I 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 Delaware's foster-home approval standards.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Foster parents may work outside the home if appropriate childcare, supervision, transportation, and scheduling arrangements are available for children placed in the home.

Do I need a certain income level?

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial stability to support their household independently of foster-care reimbursement.

How much preservice training is required?

Delaware requires 30 hours of mandatory preservice training before foster-home approval.

How much continuing education is required?

Approved foster parents generally complete at least five hours of continuing education annually, although additional specialized training may be required depending upon placement needs.

Do I have to complete a home study?

Yes. Every applicant completes a comprehensive Foster Family Home Assessment that includes interviews, home visits, references, and evaluation of the family's readiness to foster.

Will everyone in my household undergo background checks?

Fingerprint-based criminal-history checks are required for applicants and household members 18 years of age or older, along with Child Protection Registry and other required background reviews.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when they are healthy, properly vaccinated, appropriately supervised, and do not present a safety risk to children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and stored separately from locked ammunition in accordance with Delaware requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom sharing must comply with Delaware approval standards regarding age, sex, privacy, safety, and individual child needs.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Families discuss their preferred ages, sibling groups, medical needs, behavioral needs, and placement types during the assessment 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?

Yes. Delaware provides a non-taxable daily foster-care stipend intended to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in foster homes.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Most children in Delaware foster care receive Delaware Medicaid or other qualifying healthcare coverage.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Respite services may be available through the Division of Family Services or 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 permanency plan, the foster family may be considered.

Does foster placement guarantee adoption?

No. Foster placement alone does not guarantee adoption. The child's best interests always determine the final permanency decision.

Does Delaware prioritize kinship placements?

Yes. Delaware gives preference to safe placement with relatives and kin whenever appropriate and consistent with the child's best interests.

Who do I contact to report suspected child abuse or neglect?

Call the Delaware Division of Family Services Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line at 1-800-292-9582. Call 911 immediately if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families — Division of Family Services

Phone

Delaware Foster Care Program: 302-633-2657; Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line: 1-800-292-9582

Email

[email protected]

Address

Division of Family Services, 1825 Faulkland Road, Wilmington, DE 19805