How to Become a Foster Parent in Georgia

Description

Foster care in Georgia provides temporary, safe, family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is generally the first permanency goal whenever it can safely be achieved. Foster parents provide daily supervision, transportation, advocacy, educational support, healthcare coordination, emotional stability, and normal family experiences while working with DFCS, birth families, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and other professionals involved in the child's case.

Agency

The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), a division of the Georgia Department of Human Services, administers Georgia's public foster-care program and establishes statewide licensing requirements. Licensed Child Placing Agencies (CPAs) may also recruit, train, assess, license, supervise, and support foster families serving specialized populations or geographic areas.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply to become foster parents. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or unmarried partners. Applicants must demonstrate emotional stability, financial stability independent of foster-care reimbursement, good physical and mental health, reliable transportation, appropriate parenting skills, and the ability to safely care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, grief, separation, and loss.

Average Time To License

Although individual timelines vary, many Georgia families complete licensing within approximately four to six months. The process includes orientation, IMPACT training, submission of required documentation, background screening, fingerprinting, medical reports, references, interviews, home study, home inspection, and final licensing approval.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

Georgia foster-parent applicants must generally be at least 21 years old. Licensing staff also evaluate maturity, emotional stability, judgment, caregiving ability, support systems, and readiness to safely parent children in foster care.

Residency

Applicants generally apply through the DFCS office or licensed Child Placing Agency serving the county where they reside. The residence must be available for inspection, licensing, annual reevaluation, and ongoing supervision. Applicants who previously lived outside Georgia may be required to complete additional child-abuse and criminal-history checks from prior states of residence.

Marital Status

Georgia permits qualified single adults, married couples, and unmarried adults to become foster parents. Couples generally participate together throughout training, interviews, home study, and licensing. Licensing staff evaluate relationship stability, communication, household functioning, and each adult's commitment to fostering.

Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient income to support their household without relying upon foster-care maintenance payments. Licensing staff review employment, income, expenses, debts, housing costs, insurance, and overall financial stability during the home study. Foster-care reimbursement is intended to offset the child's expenses rather than serve as household income.

Home Ownership

Applicants are not required to own their residence. Houses, apartments, condominiums, manufactured homes, and other suitable residences may qualify if they comply with Georgia licensing standards regarding space, sanitation, utilities, sleeping arrangements, fire safety, and environmental safety.

Bedroom Requirements

Each foster child must have an individual bed and adequate storage for clothing and personal belongings. Bedroom arrangements must provide appropriate privacy and supervision based upon children's ages, sex, developmental needs, sibling relationships, behaviors, trauma history, and licensing requirements. Sleeping arrangements are evaluated during the home study and home inspection.

Transportation

Applicants must maintain reliable transportation. Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Foster children must use seat belts and age-appropriate child restraints in accordance with Georgia law.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of safely caring for children. Medical statements, health histories, mental-health information, medications, and other relevant information may be reviewed during the licensing process. Certain medical conditions do not automatically prevent licensure if they do not interfere with safe caregiving.

Pet Policy

Pets are permitted when they are appropriately vaccinated, safely supervised, and do not present a health or safety risk to children. Animals displaying aggressive behavior may require additional safeguards or restrictions before licensure.

Firearm Policy

Firearms and other weapons must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to children. Ammunition must generally be stored separately in locked storage. Licensing staff verify firearm storage during home inspections.

Contact Agency

Contact your local Georgia DFCS office, submit an online foster-care inquiry through Georgia DFCS, or contact a licensed Georgia Child Placing Agency serving your area.

Attend Orientation

Attend the required foster-parent orientation provided by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency. Orientation introduces Georgia's foster-care system, licensing requirements, reunification, foster-parent responsibilities, reimbursement, support services, and the licensing process.

Choose Agency

Applicants may pursue licensure through their local DFCS office or through a licensed Child Placing Agency. Private agencies may specialize in therapeutic foster care, medically complex children, sibling groups, adolescents, or other specialized placement programs.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster-home application
• Government-issued identification for each applicant
• Information about every household member
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and required household members
• Authorization for state and federal criminal-history background checks
• Authorization for Georgia child-abuse registry and child-welfare history reviews
• Out-of-state child-abuse and criminal-history checks when applicable
• Personal references
• Medical statements and health histories
• Proof of household income
• Employment information
• Marriage, divorce, or relationship documentation when applicable
• Housing or lease information when requested
• Driver's licenses
• Vehicle registration and automobile insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Fire and disaster evacuation plans
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Information regarding firearms, pools, and other household hazards
• Documentation regarding previous foster-care or adoption experience
• Certificates showing completion of IMPACT training
• CPR and First Aid certification when required
• Additional documentation requested during the licensing process

Required

Yes

Description

Georgia requires prospective foster parents to attend an orientation before beginning the licensing process. Orientation explains foster-parent responsibilities, children's needs, reunification, permanency planning, the licensing process, IMPACT training, background screening, home study requirements, reimbursement, and available support services.

How To Register

Applicants register through their local DFCS office or licensed Child Placing Agency after submitting an inquiry. Orientation sessions may be offered in person or virtually depending upon the local agency.

Duration

Orientation sessions vary by agency but generally last several hours and are completed before IMPACT pre-service training begins.

Application Process

Following orientation, applicants submit the foster-home application and required documentation. The supervising agency initiates background screening, requests references, reviews financial and medical information, schedules IMPACT training, and begins the home study. Interviews are conducted with applicants and household members while the residence undergoes inspection. Once all licensing requirements have been satisfied, the supervising agency submits the completed licensing recommendation for approval.

Required Documents

• Completed foster-home application
• Government-issued identification
• Household member information
• Fingerprint submissions
• State and federal criminal-history authorizations
• Child-abuse registry authorizations
• Out-of-state background checks when applicable
• Medical statements
• Health histories
• Proof of employment and income
• Financial information
• Marriage or relationship documentation when applicable
• Housing documentation
• Driver's licenses
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Emergency plans
• Personal references
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Information regarding household hazards
• IMPACT training documentation
• CPR and First Aid certification when required
• Additional documentation requested by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency

References Required

Applicants must provide the number of personal references required by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency. References should be able to discuss the applicant's character, parenting ability, emotional stability, judgment, relationships, and suitability to become a foster parent.

Interview Process

The licensing assessment includes interviews with applicants individually and jointly when appropriate, along with age-appropriate interviews of household members. Interviews evaluate motivation to foster, parenting philosophy, trauma awareness, discipline practices, family relationships, financial stability, physical and mental health, support systems, placement preferences, willingness to support reunification, and the family's overall ability to safely care for children.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Georgia uses the National Training and Development Curriculum, commonly called NTDC, as its current preservice preparation model for prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers. NTDC replaced the previous IMPACT curriculum beginning with a statewide rollout in 2024. The curriculum prepares caregivers to understand separation, loss, grief, trauma, attachment, child development, behavior as communication, positive parenting, cultural humility, identity, family relationships, reunification, permanency, sexual orientation and gender identity, the effects of abuse and neglect, parental resilience, caregiver self-awareness, access to services, and working collaboratively with parents, relatives, DFCS, Child Placing Agencies, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and other members of the child's team.

Required Hours

Applicants must complete the preservice curriculum required by DFCS or the approving Child Placing Agency before approval. Georgia's current NTDC program is delivered through a combination of classroom or virtual instruction, self-assessment, and related preparation activities. Approved foster caregivers must complete at least 15 hours of Continued Parent Development during each calendar year. Additional training may be required according to the needs of children placed in the home or the requirements of a specialized foster-care program.

Online Available

Yes. Georgia's NTDC curriculum was designed for hybrid delivery and may include virtual and in-person instruction. Right-Time Training modules are available online through Georgia's learning-management system and allow caregivers to obtain child-specific education when a need arises. The exact delivery method and schedule vary by DFCS region and Child Placing Agency.

Certification

Foster caregivers must maintain any certifications required by DFCS or their supervising Child Placing Agency. These may include First Aid, CPR, infant and child CPR, medication-related instruction, water safety, safe sleep, crisis prevention, de-escalation, commercially sexually exploited children, medically fragile care, developmental disabilities, therapeutic foster care, or other specialized preparation based on the family's approval and the children served.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Georgia requires a written comprehensive family assessment, commonly called the Initial Family Evaluation or home study. The assessment includes at least one scheduled in-home interview with each household member. Applicants may be interviewed individually and together, and children and other adults living in the home are interviewed in an age-appropriate manner. The worker evaluates motivation, family functioning, parenting experience, relationships, emotional stability, health, finances, discipline practices, trauma awareness, support systems, cultural responsiveness, and the family's capacity to safely meet children's needs.

Home Visits

The home study must include at least one scheduled on-site visit to assess the residence and determine whether it meets state and local health and safety requirements. The worker observes household interactions and inspects the interior, exterior, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, utilities, emergency exits, smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher, medications, hazardous materials, firearms, animals, pools, transportation arrangements, and other potential risks. Follow-up visits may be required to verify repairs, complete interviews, or resolve concerns before approval.

Topics Covered

• The applicants' reasons for becoming foster parents
• 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 visitation and relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, fictive kin, and other important people
• Ability to work cooperatively with DFCS, Child Placing Agencies, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and service professionals
• The personal and family history of each applicant
• Childhood experiences and the effect of those experiences on parenting
• Current family relationships, communication patterns, and household functioning
• Marital or partner stability when applicable
• The anticipated effect of fostering on every household member
• Parenting philosophy and prior caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding of trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, separation, loss, and attachment
• Ability to recognize behavior as communication of underlying needs
• Discipline beliefs and compliance with Georgia's prohibited-discipline rules
• Ability to provide nurturing care, structure, supervision, consistency, 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, controlled-substance, marijuana, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence, relationship violence, protective orders, or other household-safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-protection information
• Previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving experience
• Employment history and work schedules
• Financial stability and the effect of adding a child to the household
• Childcare, respite, backup-caregiver, and supervision plans
• Reliable and safe transportation
• Emergency, evacuation, severe-weather, and disaster preparedness
• Family, community, faith, peer, and professional support systems
• Cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, disability, sexual-orientation, gender-identity, and gender-expression awareness
• Ability to preserve a child's identity, culture, community, religion, language, and important relationships
• Confidentiality and protection of children's personal information
• Mandatory-reporting responsibilities
• Household members' expectations, concerns, and willingness to foster
• Pets, exotic animals, firearms, pools, water hazards, smoking, vaping, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, privacy, storage, sleeping supplies, and proposed home capacity
• Placement preferences concerning children's ages, number, sibling groups, medical needs, developmental needs, behaviors, and levels of care
• The family's strengths, limitations, support needs, and continued-development needs
• Ability to maintain records and cooperate with ongoing supervision, monthly visits, and annual reevaluation

Timeline

Georgia does not establish one guaranteed statewide timeline for completing the Initial Family Evaluation. Timing depends on completion of preservice training, applicant and household-member availability, references, physical examinations, tuberculosis screening, fingerprinting, safety screenings, home visits, and correction of any health or safety concerns. The assessment is complete only when the approving agency has sufficient information to determine that the family and residence meet Georgia's standards.

Bedroom Rules

The home must provide each foster child with a safe sleeping space, an age-appropriate mattress and linens, reasonable privacy, and adequate space for clothing and personal belongings. Only bedrooms may be used as routine sleeping space. Foster children may not co-sleep or share a bed with an adult. A foster child older than 24 months generally may not sleep in the same room as an adult. Children older than age 5 generally may not share a bedroom with a child of a different sex. Limited bed-sharing between children is permitted only when both children are of the same sex, both are younger than age 5, and they use a double or larger bed. Infants must follow Georgia's safe-sleep requirements.

Smoke Detectors

The home must have at least one working smoke detector on every occupied level and at least one detector near all sleeping areas. At least one working carbon-monoxide detector must also be installed on every occupied level and near sleeping areas. Detectors must be inspected regularly and remain operational.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must have at least one working fire extinguisher that is readily accessible. The residence must be free of obvious fire hazards, including defective heating equipment and improperly stored flammable materials. Foster caregivers must maintain a written evacuation plan, post it prominently, review it with children, and keep emergency telephone numbers and First Aid supplies readily available.

Medications

Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, cannabis products, and other potentially harmful medical items must be stored so they are inaccessible to children according to each child's age and development. Prescription medication must remain in its original container and may be administered to a foster child only by an authorized caregiver in accordance with the child's instructions and agency policy.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, poisonous substances, alcohol, pesticides, fuels, tools, pool chemicals, and other hazardous materials must be stored so they are inaccessible to children. The interior, exterior, and surrounding property must remain clean, sanitary, reasonably maintained, and free from hazardous objects, debris, uncontrolled insects, and rodents.

Firearms

Firearms and ammunition must be stored under lock and key and remain inaccessible to children. Ammunition must be removed from firearms before storage. Keys to firearm or ammunition storage must remain in the possession of an adult or be otherwise secured so children cannot gain access.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, ponds, and other bodies of water must meet state and local safety requirements and be protected against unsupervised access. Children require direct adult supervision around water at all times. Swimming pools must have a barrier on every side. A fence used as the barrier must be at least four feet high and have a locking gate. Above-ground pool ladders or steps must be removed or secured when the pool is not in use. Pools must have lifesaving and flotation equipment, and hot tubs and spas must have locked safety covers when not in use.

Pets

Animals must be vaccinated as required by state and local law. An animal with a history of violence or aggression toward people must be securely confined in a cage, fence, or similar enclosure. Applicants with exotic animals or wildlife must obtain a veterinarian's health and suitability statement and approval from DFCS and, when applicable, the Child Placing Agency director. Any act of animal violence toward a child or another person must be reported to DFCS within 24 hours.

Vehicle Requirements

Caregivers must have reliable, legal, and safe transportation, which may include a properly maintained vehicle or reliable public transportation. A private vehicle used to transport a foster child must be operated by a licensed driver and have current insurance and registration. Each child must use an individual seat belt or an age-appropriate safety seat. Children younger than age 8 must use a federally approved child safety seat, and children age 12 or younger must ride in the rear seat. A child may never be left unattended in a vehicle.

Fingerprinting

Each foster-parent applicant and every adult household member age 18 or older must complete a fingerprint-based criminal-history record check of state and national criminal-information databases. An adult who later joins the household or an existing household member who turns 18 must also complete the required fingerprint check before continuing to reside or provide care in the approved home.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members age 18 or older must complete child-protection safety screenings, including a check of the child-abuse or neglect registry in every state or Tribe where they lived during the preceding five years. Georgia's Safety and Quality Standards generally require covered adults to have no substantiated Child Protective Services history.

Criminal History

The approving agency reviews fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history information and any additional criminal records required by Georgia law. Criminal history is considered together with child-protection records, references, interviews, health information, prior licensing or caregiving history, and the Initial Family Evaluation when determining whether the applicants and household are suitable.

Disqualifying Offenses

Federal and Georgia law prohibit approval when an applicant or covered adult has certain serious criminal convictions or other barrier conditions. Permanently disqualifying offenses generally include specified crimes involving homicide, child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against children, sexual offenses, and other serious violent conduct. Other convictions may require an individualized review or may prevent approval depending on the nature of the offense, the time elapsed, rehabilitation, and applicable law and policy.

Additional Checks

The approving agency may review prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, residential-care, or Child Placing Agency records; previous home studies; court records; sex-offender information; out-of-state child-protection records; driving history for adults transporting children; employment involving children; references; and any additional information necessary to determine whether the household can safely care for children.

Steps

• Submit an inquiry to the local DFCS office or licensed Child Placing Agency.
• Attend the required foster-parent orientation.
• Complete the required preservice training (currently the National Training and Development Curriculum).
• Submit the foster-home application and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks.
• Complete Georgia and out-of-state child-abuse registry checks when applicable.
• Provide required personal references and additional documentation requested by the licensing agency.
• Participate in the Initial Family Evaluation (home study), including interviews with household members.
• Complete the home inspection and environmental safety assessment.
• Correct any licensing deficiencies identified during the inspection or home study.
• Complete any additional medical evaluations, exemptions, or specialized training required by the approving agency.
• Receive final licensing approval from DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency.
• Maintain annual training requirements, cooperate with ongoing supervision, and complete annual reevaluation for continued licensure.

Average Timeline

Many Georgia foster-home licenses are completed within approximately four to six months, although Georgia does not guarantee a statewide licensing timeline. Completion depends upon training availability, fingerprint processing, references, medical documentation, home-study interviews, home inspection results, correction of licensing deficiencies, and agency workload.

Renewal Requirements

Georgia foster homes undergo annual reevaluation to maintain licensure. Renewal includes verification that licensing standards continue to be met, updated household information, annual home visits, review of continued compliance with health and safety requirements, confirmation of required Continued Parent Development training, review of significant household changes, complaints, investigations, or safety concerns, and continued approval by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency.

Ongoing Training

Approved foster parents must complete at least 15 hours of Continued Parent Development training each calendar year. Additional education may include trauma-informed parenting, behavioral intervention, medication management, developmental disabilities, medically fragile children, adolescents, infant care, human trafficking, reunification, permanency, cultural responsiveness, or other child-specific topics identified by DFCS or the supervising agency.

How Placements Work

After licensure, DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency contacts foster families when children require placement. Placement staff consider the family's approved capacity, experience, strengths, location, household composition, transportation resources, and placement preferences. Placement decisions also consider the child's safety, sibling relationships, educational stability, cultural identity, behavioral and medical needs, permanency plan, and the family's demonstrated ability to safely 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, medications, educational needs, visitation schedule, transportation requirements, permanency plan, supervision needs, and available support services before accepting placement. Declining an individual placement does not automatically affect licensure, although repeated refusals may prompt discussion regarding the family's placement preferences.

Emergency Placements

Georgia may request emergency placements whenever children require immediate removal for their safety. Licensed foster homes may receive placement requests at any hour. Georgia also permits emergency placement with approved relatives or fictive kin when authorized by law and DFCS policy while required assessments, background screening, and licensing activities continue. Emergency placements remain subject to ongoing safety reviews and court orders.

Sibling Groups

DFCS 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 licensed capacity, available bedroom space, supervision, transportation resources, caregiver training, and available support services when considering sibling-group placements. When siblings cannot safely remain together, DFCS seeks to preserve sibling relationships through visitation, communication, and coordinated permanency planning whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

During the Initial Family Evaluation, 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 each child's individual needs and the family's demonstrated strengths and abilities.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed foster parents receive monthly foster-care maintenance payments intended to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes. Georgia establishes reimbursement rates based upon the child's age, assessed needs, placement type, and any approved specialized or therapeutic foster-care program. Current reimbursement schedules should always be confirmed with DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency before publication.

Clothing Allowance

Routine clothing expenses are generally included within the monthly maintenance payment. Additional clothing assistance may be available for emergency placements, children entering care without adequate clothing, seasonal clothing needs, school uniforms, or other extraordinary circumstances as approved by DFCS.

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, provider requirements, reimbursement procedures, and authorization vary according to the child's circumstances and DFCS policy.

Medical Coverage

Children in Georgia foster care generally receive Georgia Medicaid or another qualifying healthcare program. Foster parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, specialty-care, pharmacy, and emergency services through DFCS, 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, placement transitions, and other approved travel. Documentation requirements, reimbursement rates, and authorization procedures are determined by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency.

Additional Benefits

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

Respite Care

Georgia provides respite care to help foster families maintain placement stability and reduce caregiver burnout. Respite providers must satisfy applicable approval requirements, and respite arrangements are coordinated through DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency. Availability and funding vary according to the child's needs, placement type, and local resources.

Support Groups

Foster parents have access to support groups through Georgia DFCS, licensed Child Placing Agencies, the Georgia Center for Resources and Support, local foster-parent associations, 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 approved foster parents are paired with experienced foster families or receive peer mentoring through DFCS, Child Placing Agencies, or regional foster-parent organizations. Mentors provide practical guidance, encouragement, and support throughout the family's early placements and ongoing foster-care experience.

Counseling

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

Crisis Support

Licensed foster parents receive assistance from their DFCS case manager, Resource Development worker, supervising Child Placing Agency when applicable, after-hours emergency contacts, behavioral-health providers, mobile crisis services, law enforcement when necessary, and emergency medical services. Foster parents are expected to immediately report significant medical, behavioral, legal, placement, runaway, abuse, or safety concerns involving children in their care.

Available

Yes. Georgia permits approved foster families to be considered as adoptive resources when adoption becomes a child's approved permanency plan. Prospective foster and adoptive parents generally complete the same initial inquiry, preparation, family-evaluation, background-screening, and home-approval process. Foster caregivers must enter the process prepared to support reunification, family visitation, relative connections, and the child's current case plan rather than expecting adoption.

Process

Children generally enter Georgia foster care with reunification as the first permanency goal whenever reunification can be safely achieved. DFCS also identifies and assesses relatives, fictive kin, guardians, and other adults with significant connections to the child. If reunification is unsuccessful and adoption becomes the court-approved permanency plan, DFCS evaluates prospective adoptive families. A foster family already caring for the child may be considered based on the child's attachments, safety, stability, sibling relationships, family and cultural connections, special needs, wishes when developmentally appropriate, and overall best interests. The family must complete all adoption-specific documentation, subsidy negotiations, placement-supervision requirements, and court proceedings before finalization.

Legal Risk

Foster placement does not guarantee adoption. A child may safely reunify with parents, move to relatives or fictive kin, enter guardianship, or achieve another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to support visitation, reunification services, family relationships, and the child's current case plan throughout the case. Legal uncertainty continues until parental rights have been surrendered or terminated, applicable appeals have concluded, an adoptive placement has been approved, and the court finalizes the adoption.

Adoption Subsidy

Eligible children adopted from Georgia foster care may qualify for Adoption Assistance. Assistance may include a negotiated monthly subsidy, Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of qualifying non-recurring adoption expenses, and approved post-adoption services. Georgia also provides a state income-tax credit for the adoption of a qualified foster child when statutory requirements are met. The written adoption-assistance agreement must generally be completed before adoption finalization.

Available

Yes. Georgia prioritizes safe placement with relatives and other committed adults who have a significant relationship with the child. Kin may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, church members, or other adults who can preserve the child's family, cultural, community, and emotional connections. Georgia's Kinship Continuum includes voluntary kinship arrangements that may prevent foster-care entry as well as formal kinship foster-care placements for children in DFCS custody.

Licensing Differences

A relative or committed individual may receive an expedited safety assessment when a child needs immediate placement. Emergency or provisional placement does not necessarily mean the home has completed full foster-home approval. A caregiver seeking approval as a kinship foster home generally completes applicable application, background-screening, home-assessment, training, safety, and ongoing-supervision requirements. Georgia may use kinship-specific assessment and support procedures or approve limited alternatives when permitted by policy and when the child's health and safety remain protected.

Financial Support

Available assistance depends on the child's custody status, the caregiver's approval status, household eligibility, and the permanency arrangement. Potential resources include foster-care maintenance payments for approved kinship foster homes, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or child-only assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, childcare assistance, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, emergency goods, legal assistance, adoption assistance, guardianship assistance when eligible, and services through Georgia's Kinship Navigator Program.

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

Yes. Georgia permits qualified single adults as well as married couples and other eligible households to become approved foster parents.

How old must I be to foster in Georgia?

A foster-parent applicant must generally be at least 21 years old. The approving agency also evaluates maturity, emotional stability, judgment, support systems, and caregiving ability.

Do I have to own my home?

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

Can foster parents work full time?

Yes. Employment does not automatically prevent approval. The family must have workable plans for childcare, supervision, transportation, visitation, appointments, school, training, court-related activities, and emergencies.

Do I need a certain income?

Applicants must demonstrate enough income and financial stability to meet their household's existing needs without depending on foster-care maintenance payments.

What is NTDC?

NTDC stands for the National Training and Development Curriculum. Georgia began implementing NTDC as its current preparation model for prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers, replacing the former IMPACT preservice curriculum.

How much annual training is required?

Approved Georgia foster caregivers must generally complete at least 15 hours of Continued Parent Development training during each calendar year. Additional child-specific or specialized training may also be required.

Do I need CPR and First Aid certification?

CPR and First Aid certification may be required by DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency based on agency standards, the home's approval, and the ages or needs of children served. Caregivers must maintain any certifications required for their placements.

Do I have to complete a home study?

Yes. Georgia requires a comprehensive Initial Family Evaluation or home study that includes interviews, references, background information, household assessment, and at least one scheduled visit to the residence.

Will everyone in my household undergo background checks?

Applicants and adult household members age 18 or older generally must complete fingerprint-based criminal-history checks and child-protection safety screenings. Additional checks may apply to substitute caregivers, frequent visitors, or other adults based on their role.

Will a criminal record automatically disqualify me?

Not every record automatically prevents approval. Certain serious offenses are permanently disqualifying, while other records may receive an individualized review under applicable law and policy. The approving agency considers the nature and timing of the offense, rehabilitation, court records, references, and current risk to children.

Can I foster if I previously had contact with child protective services?

Previous child-welfare involvement does not always result in automatic denial. The approving agency reviews the nature, findings, severity, recency, circumstances, and resolution of the involvement and determines whether any current safety concern exists.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes, when the arrangement complies with Georgia standards and is appropriate for the children's ages, sex, gender identity, relationships, privacy, development, trauma histories, behaviors, and individual needs.

Can a foster child share a bedroom with a foster parent?

A foster child older than 24 months generally may not share a bedroom with an adult. A child may never share the foster parent's bed. Child-specific medical or developmental circumstances should be discussed with the approving and placing agencies.

Can children of different sexes share a bedroom?

Children older than age 5 generally may not share a bedroom with a child of a different sex. The approving agency evaluates each sleeping arrangement according to applicable standards and the children's individual circumstances.

Can I foster babies?

Yes, if the home is approved and prepared for infants. Caregivers must follow Georgia's safe-sleep standards and be able to meet feeding, childcare, medical, developmental, visitation, and transportation needs.

Can I foster teenagers?

Yes. Georgia needs families willing to care for teenagers and older youth. Caregivers should be prepared to support education, employment, family relationships, healthy independence, normal childhood activities, and preparation for adulthood.

Can I foster sibling groups?

Yes. Georgia seeks families capable of caring for sibling groups so siblings can remain together whenever safely possible. The home must have adequate approved capacity, sleeping space, transportation, supervision, and support.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Animals must be properly vaccinated when required, safely supervised, and appropriately confined. Animals with aggression histories or exotic animals may require additional documentation, restrictions, or agency approval.

Can I own firearms and still foster?

Yes. Firearms and ammunition must remain locked and inaccessible to children. Firearms must be unloaded before storage, and storage keys or access devices must remain under adult control.

Can I have a swimming pool or hot tub?

Yes, provided all water hazards meet Georgia safety requirements. Pools generally require a barrier on every side, and fences used as barriers must be at least four feet high with a locking gate. Additional supervision and safety equipment are required.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, medical needs, developmental needs, behaviors, and levels of care they feel prepared to support during the family evaluation.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents should accept only placements they believe they can safely and appropriately support. Families should ask for available information about the child's needs and required services before deciding.

How many foster children can live in my home?

The approving agency determines the home's capacity based on sleeping space, household composition, caregiver experience, supervision, transportation, and the needs of children served. The approval specifies the permitted capacity and any placement limitations.

Do foster parents have to support reunification?

Yes. Reunification is generally Georgia's first permanency goal when it can be achieved safely. Foster parents are expected to support visitation, family engagement, case-plan services, and the child's relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and other important people.

Will I receive a monthly payment?

Approved foster parents receive foster-care maintenance payments intended to help cover the child's food, clothing, shelter, supervision, transportation, and ordinary daily needs. The amount depends on the child's age, needs, placement type, and current state payment schedule.

Do children in Georgia foster care receive healthcare?

Children in foster care generally receive Georgia Medicaid or other qualifying medical coverage. Foster parents coordinate healthcare and authorization procedures with the child's case manager and providers.

Is childcare assistance available?

Childcare assistance may be available when needed to support the placement and the foster parent's employment, education, training, or other approved responsibilities. Eligibility and authorization depend on the child's case and applicable policy.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Approved respite services may provide temporary relief and support placement stability. Arrangements should be coordinated with DFCS or the supervising Child Placing Agency.

Can I adopt a child placed in my foster home?

Possibly. If reunification, kinship placement, guardianship, and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's approved plan, the foster family may be considered. Foster placement does not guarantee adoption.

Do foster and adoptive parents complete the same application process?

Georgia generally uses the same initial inquiry, preparation, application, background-screening, and family-evaluation process for prospective foster and adoptive parents. Adoption of a particular child requires additional child-specific and legal steps.

What adoption assistance is available?

Eligible children may qualify for a negotiated monthly subsidy, Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of qualifying non-recurring adoption expenses, and approved post-adoption services. Georgia also offers a state tax credit for qualifying foster-child adoptions.

What is kinship care?

Kinship care is temporary or permanent care provided by a relative or another committed adult who has a significant relationship with the child or family. Georgia's definition may include relatives, fictive kin, family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, or other connected adults.

Do kinship caregivers have to become foster parents?

The answer depends on the child's custody status and placement arrangement. A kin caregiver may sometimes receive an emergency or voluntary placement before full foster-home approval, but full approval is generally required to receive foster-care maintenance payments as a kinship foster home.

What help is available to kinship caregivers?

Georgia's Kinship Navigator Program helps grandparents, relatives, and other caregivers identify financial assistance, legal resources, healthcare, childcare, food assistance, support groups, and community services.

Who should I contact to become a foster or adoptive parent?

Call Georgia's foster-care and adoption recruitment intake line at 1-877-210-KIDS, or 1-877-210-5437, or submit the Foster Georgia online inquiry form.

How do I report suspected child abuse or neglect in Georgia?

Call 1-855-GA-CHILD, or 1-855-422-4453. Reports are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Georgia Department of Human Services — Division of Family & Children Services

Phone

Foster Care and Adoption Recruitment: 1-877-210-KIDS, or 1-877-210-5437; Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting: 1-855-GA-CHILD, or 1-855-422-4453

Email

Prospective foster and adoptive parents should submit the Foster Georgia online inquiry form or contact the County DFCS office or licensed Child Placing Agency serving their residence.

Address

Georgia Division of Family & Children Services, 47 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30334