How to Become a Foster Parent in Indiana

Description

Foster care in Indiana provides temporary, safe, stable, and nurturing family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is the most common outcome and generally remains the initial permanency goal whenever it can be safely achieved. Foster parents provide daily care, supervision, transportation, educational advocacy, healthcare coordination, normal childhood experiences, and emotional support while working with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, Tribe when applicable, Family Case Manager, court, guardian ad litem or court-appointed special advocate, school, healthcare providers, therapists, and other members of the Child and Family Team.

Agency

The Indiana Department of Child Services, commonly called DCS, administers the state's public child-welfare and foster-care system and directly licenses many foster family homes. Indiana-licensed child-placing agencies may also recruit, train, assess, supervise, and recommend foster homes for licensure, including homes serving children who require therapeutic, medical, behavioral, or other specialized support.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or partnered and may rent or own their residence. They must demonstrate financial stability, responsible and mature judgment, suitable character, adequate physical and mental health, reliable transportation, safe parenting and discipline practices, a supportive household, and the ability to work cooperatively with DCS, children's parents and relatives, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and other service professionals.

Average Time To License

No single completion period applies statewide. The licensing process includes an inquiry, orientation, foster-family-home application, 10 hours of RAPT preservice training, fingerprint-based state and national criminal-history checks, child-protection screening, references, household medical statements, financial verification, interviews, a home study, and inspection of the residence. Delays may occur when forms are incomplete, references or medical records are missing, background information requires additional review, or the home needs safety corrections.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

An Indiana foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. The licensing agency also evaluates maturity, judgment, emotional stability, caregiving experience, physical ability, support systems, and readiness to care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, grief, separation, disrupted attachment, and instability.

Residency

Applicants generally work with the Indiana DCS region or licensed child-placing agency serving the community where they live. The residence must be available for assessment, inspection, licensing, ongoing supervision, and relicensing. Applicants and household members who previously lived outside Indiana may be required to complete criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, sex-offender, or licensing checks from previous jurisdictions.

Marital Status

Indiana permits qualified single adults and couples to apply. When a married couple applies, both spouses generally participate in the application, training, background checks, health review, interviews, home study, and licensing process. Unmarried partners and other adults living in the household are also evaluated according to their role, relationship to the applicant, and expected contact with children.

Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient and stable financial resources to meet their household's existing needs without relying on foster-care payments. DCS or the supervising agency may review income, employment, expenses, debts, savings, insurance, public benefits, and housing costs. Foster-care per diem payments and allowances are intended to reimburse expenses associated with a placed child rather than serve as the family's primary income.

Home Ownership

Applicants are not required to own their residence. A rented or owned house, apartment, condominium, manufactured home, or other suitable dwelling may qualify if it provides adequate space, sanitation, utilities, sleeping arrangements, ventilation, emergency exits, and safety. Renters may be asked to provide lease or landlord information and must comply with applicable housing and occupancy requirements.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide adequate and appropriate sleeping space for each child placed there. Every foster child must have an approved bed or crib, suitable bedding, reasonable privacy, and space for clothing and personal belongings. Bedroom sharing is evaluated according to the children's ages, sexes, gender identities, sibling relationships, developmental needs, behaviors, trauma histories, and individual circumstances. The licensing worker determines the home's approved capacity and whether each sleeping arrangement meets Indiana foster-home standards.

Transportation

Applicants must maintain a reliable plan for transporting children to school, family visits, healthcare appointments, counseling, court-related activities, childcare, extracurricular activities, religious or cultural events, and emergencies. Drivers must possess valid licenses, and vehicles must be legally registered, appropriately insured, safely maintained, and equipped with seat belts, car seats, booster seats, helmets, and other safety restraints required by Indiana law.

Health Requirements

Applicants must provide medical statements from a physician, and medical information may be required for all household members. Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to provide safe and consistent care. A medical condition, disability, prescribed medication, counseling history, or previous treatment does not automatically prevent licensure, but DCS evaluates whether any condition affects supervision, judgment, stamina, household stability, or children's safety.

Pet Policy

Pets, livestock, and other animals are permitted when they do not present an unreasonable health or safety risk. Applicants must provide vaccination information when required and maintain appropriate sanitation, supervision, confinement, and veterinary care. The licensing worker may evaluate an animal's temperament, health, size, aggression history, and access to children. Restricted access, additional containment, a safety plan, or removal may be required when an animal presents a foreseeable danger.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, hunting equipment, and other weapons must be stored securely and remain inaccessible to children. Firearms must be unloaded and kept in locked or otherwise approved secure storage. Ammunition must be stored separately in locked storage unless another arrangement is specifically permitted by Indiana standards. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under the control of a responsible adult.

Contact Agency

Complete the Indiana DCS foster-parent interest form, call the State Information Center at 1-800-457-8283, or contact an Indiana-licensed child-placing agency. A foster-care representative will explain local placement needs, orientation, licensing requirements, RAPT training schedules, and the process for selecting DCS or a private supervising agency.

Attend Orientation

Attend the foster-parent orientation or introductory meeting provided by DCS or the selected child-placing agency. Orientation explains Indiana's child-welfare system, reunification and permanency, the responsibilities of foster parents, the needs of children entering care, RAPT training, background screening, home-study requirements, reimbursement, caregiver support, and the effect fostering may have on every household member.

Choose Agency

Decide whether to pursue licensure directly through Indiana DCS or through a licensed child-placing agency. Private agencies may specialize in therapeutic foster care, medically complex children, children with significant behavioral needs, sibling groups, teenagers, or other populations. Training, supervision, support, respite, placement types, and agency expectations may differ.

Documents Needed

• Completed Application for Foster Family Home License
• Government-issued identification for each applicant
• Birth certificates for all household members
• Social Security cards or identifying information for all household members
• Information about every adult and child living in the household
• Information concerning adults who regularly stay in the home or may provide care
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and covered adult household members
• Authorization for Indiana and FBI criminal-history checks
• Authorization for Indiana child-protection and child-abuse or neglect checks
• Sex-offender registry checks
• Out-of-state criminal-history, child-abuse, neglect, sex-offender, or licensing checks when applicable
• Residential-address history for the period requested by the licensing agency
• Names and contact information for required personal references
• Physician medical statements for applicants
• Medical or health information for other household members
• Consent to release mental-health and addiction records when requested
• Proof of household income and financial stability
• Employment and work-schedule information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, or relationship records when applicable
• Housing, mortgage, lease, rental, landlord, or property information when requested
• Copies of driver's licenses for household members who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration records for all vehicles used by the household
• Automobile-insurance documentation for all vehicles
• Childcare plan
• Supervision, respite, substitute-caregiver, and backup-caregiver plans
• Family network diagram or genogram
• Emergency and evacuation plan
• Fire, tornado, severe-weather, and disaster-preparedness plans
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, pools, ponds, wells, and other environmental risks
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, residential-care, or caregiving applications and licenses
• Documentation concerning previous child-welfare reports, criminal charges, convictions, protection orders, probation, parole, or other legal matters when applicable
• Certificates documenting completion of required RAPT preservice training
• CPR, First Aid, safe-sleep, medication, water-safety, or specialized-training records when required
• Any additional professional evaluations, written explanations, waiver documentation, rehabilitation evidence, or safety plans requested during licensing

Required

Yes

Description

Indiana's foster-parent orientation introduces prospective families to foster care, adoption, kinship care, and the responsibilities of licensed resource parents. Topics generally include why children enter care, reunification, permanency, the role of parents and relatives, sibling relationships, trauma and loss, the licensing process, RAPT training, background checks, home studies, discipline restrictions, confidentiality, reimbursement, support services, and ongoing agency supervision.

How To Register

Submit the official DCS foster-parent interest form, call 1-800-457-8283, or contact a licensed Indiana child-placing agency. A recruiter or Regional Foster Care Specialist will provide the dates and registration instructions for the orientation and RAPT sessions available in the applicant's area.

Duration

Orientation length and delivery vary by DCS region and private agency. Some programs provide a single introductory meeting lasting several hours, while others divide orientation across multiple sessions or incorporate it into the beginning of the RAPT curriculum. Sessions may be offered in person, virtually, or through a hybrid format.

Application Process

Applicants submit the Application for Foster Family Home License and all required supporting documents to DCS or the supervising licensed child-placing agency. The licensing specialist initiates criminal-history and child-protection screening, obtains references, reviews health and financial information, and enrolls the applicants in RAPT preservice training. The licensing assessment includes interviews with applicants and household members, review of the family's support system and caregiving abilities, and inspection of the residence. Once training, background checks, documentation, the home study, and all safety standards are completed, the agency makes a licensing determination or submits its recommendation to DCS.

Required Documents

• Completed Application for Foster Family Home License
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Birth certificates for all household members
• Social Security cards or identifying information for all household members
• Information identifying every adult and child residing in the home
• Information about frequent visitors, substitute caregivers, and adults who may supervise children
• Criminal-history and background-check consent forms
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and covered adult household members
• Indiana State Police and FBI criminal-history authorizations
• Indiana child-protection and child-abuse or neglect record authorizations
• State and national sex-offender registry searches
• Out-of-state criminal, child-abuse, neglect, sex-offender, or licensing checks when applicable
• Residential-address history
• Names and contact information for personal references
• Physician medical statements for each applicant
• Medical or health information for other household members
• Consent to release mental-health or addiction-treatment records when requested
• Proof of income, employment, assets, expenses, debts, and household financial stability
• Marriage, divorce, separation, partnership, or relationship-history information when applicable
• Housing, lease, landlord, rental, mortgage, or property information when requested
• Driver's-license copies for household members who may transport children
• Vehicle-registration documentation for household vehicles
• Automobile-insurance documentation
• Completed Child Care Plan
• Transportation, supervision, respite, and backup-caregiver plans
• Family Network Diagram or genogram
• Emergency, evacuation, fire, tornado, severe-weather, and disaster plans
• Pet vaccination, licensing, or veterinary information when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, pools, ponds, wells, and other household hazards
• Information about previous foster-care, kinship-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, residential-care, or caregiving applications and licenses
• Documentation concerning prior child-welfare reports, substantiations, arrests, criminal charges, convictions, protective orders, probation, parole, or other legal matters when applicable
• Documentation showing completion of 10 hours of RAPT preservice training
• CPR, First Aid, safe-sleep, medication, water-safety, treatment-care, or other specialized certifications when required
• Any additional records, professional evaluations, written explanations, background-check waivers, rehabilitation evidence, or safety plans requested by the licensing specialist

References Required

Applicants must provide personal references in the number and format required by DCS or the supervising child-placing agency. References should know the applicants well enough to discuss their character, reliability, relationships, judgment, emotional stability, parenting or caregiving ability, stress-management skills, and suitability to care for children. The agency may contact references through written questionnaires, telephone calls, virtual meetings, or personal interviews and may request additional references when necessary.

Interview Process

The licensing assessment includes individual and joint interviews with applicants and age-appropriate interviews with children and other adults living in the household. The licensing specialist may also contact adult children, former spouses or partners, references, substitute caregivers, physicians, therapists, employers, or others whose information is relevant. Topics include motivation to foster, personal and family history, relationships, communication, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, willingness to support parents and reunification, physical and mental health, finances, employment, substance-use history, childcare, transportation, support systems, criminal and child-welfare history, placement preferences, and the family's ability to safely meet children's developmental, emotional, educational, cultural, relational, and permanency needs.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Indiana requires prospective foster parents to complete Resource and Adoptive Parent Training (RAPT) before initial licensure. The curriculum introduces applicants to Indiana's child-welfare system, teamwork with DCS and service providers, child development, trauma, abuse and neglect, grief and loss, attachment, separation, behavior management, positive discipline, reunification, permanency planning, educational advocacy, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and the responsibilities of licensed foster parents. Applicants also learn about the effects fostering may have on their own family and the importance of maintaining healthy relationships between children and their parents, siblings, relatives, and other significant individuals whenever appropriate.

Required Hours

Indiana requires applicants to complete 10 hours of Resource and Adoptive Parent Training (RAPT) before foster-home licensure. Following approval, licensed foster parents must complete annual in-service training as required by the Indiana Department of Child Services or the supervising licensed child-placing agency. Additional specialized training may be assigned based upon the needs of children placed in the home.

Online Available

Yes. Depending upon the supervising agency, Indiana offers RAPT training through in-person, virtual, hybrid, and online formats. Certain licensing activities—including home-study interviews, home inspections, and portions of the licensing assessment—must still be completed in person.

Certification

Applicants must successfully complete all required RAPT training before licensure. Foster parents may also complete additional certifications in CPR, First Aid, medication administration, trauma-informed caregiving, safe sleep, infant care, water safety, behavioral intervention, medically complex care, developmental disabilities, therapeutic foster care, or other child-specific training assigned by DCS or the supervising agency.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Indiana requires a comprehensive foster-family home study before licensure. The licensing specialist interviews applicants individually and jointly when appropriate and conducts age-appropriate interviews with children and other household members. The assessment evaluates motivation, parenting philosophy, communication, family relationships, emotional stability, discipline practices, physical and mental health, financial stability, trauma awareness, support systems, cultural responsiveness, and the family's ability to safely care for children placed in foster care.

Home Visits

The licensing specialist conducts one or more visits to the residence during the home-study process. Home visits evaluate sleeping arrangements, utilities, sanitation, ventilation, emergency exits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, medication storage, hazardous materials, firearms, animals, transportation resources, and other environmental safety concerns. Additional visits may occur to verify repairs, complete interviews, review documentation, or confirm correction of licensing deficiencies.

Topics Covered

• Applicants' motivation for becoming foster parents
• Understanding that reunification is generally the primary permanency goal
• Ability to support visitation and healthy relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and other significant people
• Ability to work cooperatively with DCS, licensed child-placing agencies, Family Case Managers, courts, CASA volunteers, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and other service providers
• Personal and family history
• 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 previous caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Understanding trauma, abuse, neglect, attachment, grief, separation, and loss
• Positive discipline practices and prohibited discipline methods
• Ability to recognize trauma-related behaviors
• Ability to provide nurturing care, supervision, consistency, and healthy boundaries
• Physical health and caregiving stamina
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to caregiving
• Alcohol, tobacco, vaping, marijuana, controlled-substance, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence or household safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-welfare background information
• Financial stability and budgeting
• Employment schedules and childcare arrangements
• Transportation resources
• Emergency preparedness, fire safety, tornado 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
• Mandatory-reporting responsibilities
• Household members' expectations regarding foster care
• Pets, firearms, pools, ponds, wells, smoking, vaping, marijuana, and other environmental risks
• Bedroom arrangements, privacy, storage, 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, support needs, and continuing education needs
• Ability to maintain required documentation and cooperate with ongoing DCS supervision and annual relicensing

Timeline

Indiana does not establish a single statewide timeline for completing the foster-home study. Completion depends upon interviews, references, background screening, training, required documentation, home inspections, and correction of any licensing deficiencies. The assessment remains open until sufficient information has been gathered to determine compliance with Indiana licensing standards.

Bedroom Rules

The home must provide safe and appropriate sleeping arrangements for every child. Each foster child must have an individual bed or crib with appropriate bedding and adequate storage for clothing and personal belongings. Bedrooms must provide reasonable privacy, sufficient living space, proper lighting, ventilation, and safe emergency exits. Sleeping arrangements are evaluated according to children's ages, developmental needs, sibling relationships, trauma histories, behaviors, and supervision requirements.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed throughout the residence in accordance with Indiana law and local fire codes. Carbon-monoxide detectors must also be installed where required by law or where fuel-burning appliances or attached garages create a potential hazard. The licensing inspection verifies that required detectors are present, operational, and properly maintained.

Fire Extinguisher

The foster home must maintain at least one readily accessible, operable fire extinguisher. Foster parents must also maintain written emergency evacuation procedures and ensure household members understand emergency exits, emergency contacts, tornado safety, fire response, and other disaster plans appropriate for their community.

Medications

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

Cleaning Supplies

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

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to children. Ammunition must be stored separately in locked storage. Keys, combinations, trigger locks, safes, and other access devices must remain under adult control. The licensing worker verifies firearm storage during the home inspection.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, lakes, streams, wells, and other water hazards must be appropriately secured and supervised. Child safety may require fencing, locking gates, safety covers, rescue equipment, written supervision plans, or other protective measures determined necessary by the licensing agency. Children require continuous adult supervision around water.

Pets

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

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Seat belts and age-appropriate child restraints must be used at all times in accordance with Indiana law. Foster parents must maintain reliable transportation capable of meeting children's daily needs.

Fingerprinting

Indiana requires fingerprint-based state and national criminal-history background checks for foster-parent applicants and other covered adult household members. Fingerprints are processed through the Indiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation before licensure may be granted.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and covered household members undergo Indiana child-protection background screening. Applicants or household members who have lived outside Indiana may also be required to complete child-abuse, neglect, protective-services, or licensing checks from previous states of residence.

Criminal History

Background screening includes Indiana criminal-history records, FBI criminal-history records, child-protection history, sex-offender registry searches, and other records required under Indiana law. Criminal-history information is evaluated together with references, interviews, rehabilitation information, and home-study findings when determining suitability for licensure.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain felony convictions and other serious offenses permanently prohibit foster-home licensure under federal law and Indiana statutes. Other criminal histories may receive individualized review based upon the nature of the offense, rehabilitation, time elapsed, supporting documentation, and whether the applicant presents any current safety risk. Certain offenses cannot be approved regardless of rehabilitation.

Additional Checks

Additional screening may include prior foster-care or adoption history, previous home studies, court records, driving history, references, prior licensing records, employment involving children, out-of-state child-protection records, rehabilitation documentation, and any additional information DCS determines necessary to evaluate the safety and suitability of the foster home.

Steps

• Submit an inquiry through Indiana DCS or a licensed child-placing agency.
• Attend the required foster-parent orientation.
• Select DCS or a licensed child-placing agency to supervise the licensing process.
• Submit the Application for Foster Family Home License and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete the required 10 hours of Resource and Adoptive Parent Training.
• Submit fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks.
• Complete child-protection, sex-offender, and other required background screenings.
• Provide required personal references, medical statements, and financial information.
• Participate in interviews with the licensing specialist and other household members.
• Complete the foster-family home study.
• Complete the home inspection and environmental safety assessment.
• Correct any health, safety, documentation, or licensing deficiencies identified during the assessment.
• Complete any additional professional evaluations, waiver reviews, rehabilitation documentation, or specialized training required by the licensing agency.
• Receive final foster-family-home licensure from Indiana DCS.
• Maintain ongoing training, cooperate with supervision, and complete annual relicensing requirements.

Average Timeline

Many Indiana foster-family-home licenses are completed within approximately three to six months, although Indiana does not guarantee one statewide licensing timeline. Completion depends on orientation and RAPT schedules, fingerprint processing, references, medical documentation, household interviews, home-study completion, home inspection results, background-review findings, and correction of any unmet licensing requirements.

Renewal Requirements

Indiana foster-family-home licenses are generally renewed annually. Relicensing includes updated household information, review of continued compliance with foster-home standards, home visits, completion of required in-service training, maintenance of any required certifications, updated background or medical information when required, and review of significant household changes, complaints, investigations, or safety concerns.

Ongoing Training

Licensed foster parents must complete ongoing in-service training as required by Indiana DCS or the supervising licensed child-placing agency. Training may address trauma-informed caregiving, reunification, birth-family partnerships, behavior support, educational advocacy, medication administration, infant care, safe sleep, developmental disabilities, medically complex care, therapeutic foster care, water safety, cultural responsiveness, and other child-specific needs.

How Placements Work

After licensure, Indiana DCS or the supervising child-placing agency contacts foster families when children need placement. Placement staff consider the family's licensed capacity, location, household composition, experience, strengths, training, transportation resources, support system, and stated placement preferences. Decisions also consider the child's safety, sibling relationships, school stability, family and Tribal connections when applicable, cultural identity, medical and behavioral needs, supervision requirements, permanency plan, and overall best interests.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline any placement they do not believe they can safely or appropriately support. Families should ask for available information about the child's age, behaviors, health, medications, education, family visits, transportation requirements, supervision needs, placement history, known safety concerns, and permanency plan before deciding. Declining an individual placement does not automatically affect the foster-home license.

Emergency Placements

Indiana may request emergency placements when children must be removed immediately for their protection. Licensed foster homes may receive placement calls at any time. Relatives, kin, and other connected caregivers may also receive emergency placements when permitted by law while required background checks, assessments, and licensing activities continue. Emergency placements remain subject to ongoing DCS review and court oversight.

Sibling Groups

Indiana makes reasonable efforts to place siblings together whenever doing so is safe and in their best interests. Placement workers consider whether the foster home has sufficient licensed capacity, bedroom space, transportation, supervision, caregiver experience, and support to care for the sibling group. When siblings cannot live together, DCS works to preserve their relationships through visitation, communication, shared activities, and coordinated case planning whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

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

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed Indiana foster parents receive foster-care per diem payments intended to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes. Payment amounts vary according to the child's age, category of supervision, placement type, and individual needs. Enhanced or specialized reimbursement may be available for therapeutic, medically complex, or higher-needs placements. Current rates should be confirmed with Indiana DCS or the supervising child-placing agency.

Clothing Allowance

Indiana may provide initial and periodic clothing allowances in addition to the regular foster-care per diem. Additional clothing assistance may be authorized for emergency placements, children arriving without adequate clothing, school uniforms, seasonal needs, special occasions, or extraordinary circumstances.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to maintain the placement and support the foster parent's employment, education, required training, appointments, court participation, or other approved responsibilities. Eligibility, authorization, provider requirements, reimbursement limits, and copayments depend on DCS policy and the child's circumstances.

Medical Coverage

Children in Indiana foster care generally receive Indiana Medicaid or another qualifying public healthcare benefit. Foster parents coordinate medical, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, pharmacy, specialty-care, and emergency services through the child's Family Case Manager, healthcare providers, managed-care entities when applicable, and other authorized members of the child's team.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage or transportation reimbursement may be available for approved child-related travel, including family visitation, medical and dental appointments, therapy, court proceedings, educational meetings, evaluations, placement transitions, and other case-plan activities. Availability, rates, documentation requirements, and prior authorization procedures are determined by DCS or the supervising agency.

Additional Benefits

Depending on the child's needs and placement type, additional support may include enhanced supervision payments, therapeutic foster-care reimbursement, childcare assistance, respite care, transportation support, school supplies, special-occasion allowances, behavioral-health consultation, tutoring, developmental services, independent-living support for older youth, and other state- or federally authorized benefits.

Respite Care

Respite care may be available to provide temporary relief for licensed foster families and help preserve placement stability. Respite providers must satisfy applicable screening, training, and approval requirements. Availability, reimbursement, and authorization procedures vary by DCS region, supervising agency, placement type, and the child's needs.

Support Groups

Indiana foster parents may access support groups through DCS, licensed child-placing agencies, local foster-parent associations, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and community partners. Available opportunities may include caregiver meetings, workshops, conferences, continuing education, online groups, family activities, and peer networking.

Mentoring

Many newly licensed foster parents receive guidance from experienced foster families, agency staff, or peer mentors. Mentors provide encouragement, practical advice, and help navigating placements, reunification, visitation, documentation, court involvement, educational issues, and communication with DCS or the supervising agency.

Counseling

Behavioral-health and counseling services for foster children are coordinated through the child's Family Case Manager, Indiana Medicaid providers, schools, hospitals, community mental-health centers, private therapists, developmental-service providers, and other authorized professionals. Foster parents may also receive consultation, coaching, family-therapy participation, and guidance responding to trauma-related, behavioral, developmental, and educational needs.

Crisis Support

Licensed foster parents receive assistance from their licensing specialist, Family Case Manager, supervising child-placing agency, after-hours emergency contacts, behavioral-health providers, mobile crisis services, law enforcement when necessary, emergency medical services, and other community partners. Significant medical, behavioral, legal, placement, runaway, abuse, or safety concerns must be reported promptly according to DCS and agency policy.

Available

Yes. Indiana allows licensed foster parents 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 case plan while understanding that some children may later become legally available for adoption if reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate.

Process

Children generally enter Indiana foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal whenever it can be safely achieved. Throughout the life of the case, DCS evaluates reunification, placement with relatives or kinship caregivers, guardianship, and adoption. If the court changes the permanency plan to adoption, prospective adoptive families are evaluated. A foster family currently caring for the child may be considered based upon the child's attachments, stability, sibling relationships, family and community connections, Tribal relationships when applicable, cultural identity, special needs, wishes when developmentally appropriate, and overall best interests. Additional adoption-specific documentation, subsidy negotiations, legal proceedings, and court approval are required before adoption is finalized.

Legal Risk

Every foster-care placement involves legal uncertainty until parental rights have been voluntarily relinquished or terminated, all appeals have concluded, and the court approves adoption. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives or kinship caregivers, enter guardianship, or achieve another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification and healthy family relationships regardless of whether they hope to adopt.

Adoption Subsidy

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

Available

Yes. Indiana strongly encourages placement with relatives and kinship caregivers whenever safe and appropriate. Kinship caregivers may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, close family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, Tribal members when applicable, or other adults who have a significant relationship with the child. Kinship placements help preserve family relationships, cultural identity, school stability, community connections, and continuity of care.

Licensing Differences

Indiana allows emergency placement with relatives and kinship caregivers when authorized by law while licensing and approval activities continue. Kinship caregivers may pursue full foster-family-home licensure to receive foster-care per diem payments and ongoing foster-care services. Depending upon the child's circumstances, certain kinship placements may follow modified approval procedures permitted under Indiana policy while continuing to satisfy child-safety standards.

Financial Support

Available financial assistance depends upon the child's legal status, placement type, and caregiver eligibility. Resources may include foster-care per diem payments for licensed kinship homes, Indiana Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, childcare assistance, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, Adoption Assistance, guardianship assistance when eligible, Kinship Navigator resources, respite care, transportation assistance, and other state- or federally authorized support programs.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Indiana welcomes qualified single adults, married couples, and other eligible households who meet licensing 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 Indiana foster-home licensing and safety standards.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Foster parents may work outside the home if reliable childcare, supervision, transportation, and scheduling arrangements are available.

Do I need a certain income?

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

How much preservice training is required?

Indiana currently requires 10 hours of Resource and Adoptive Parent Training (RAPT) before licensure.

Is annual training required?

Yes. Licensed foster parents complete annual in-service training as required by the Indiana Department of Child Services or their supervising licensed child-placing agency.

Do I have to complete a home study?

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

Will everyone in my household undergo background screening?

Applicants and required household members complete fingerprint-based criminal-history background screening, child-protection screening, and other required background checks before licensure.

Can I have pets?

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

Can I own firearms?

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

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom arrangements are evaluated individually according to children's ages, developmental needs, privacy, safety, sibling relationships, and Indiana licensing standards.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Families discuss placement preferences during the home study, including age ranges, sibling groups, medical needs, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, and placement types.

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. Licensed foster parents receive foster-care per diem payments intended to help offset the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Most children in Indiana foster care receive Indiana Medicaid or another qualifying healthcare program.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Approved respite services may be available through DCS or the supervising licensed 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 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 permanency decision.

Does Indiana prioritize kinship placements?

Yes. Indiana gives priority to safe placement with relatives and kinship caregivers whenever appropriate and consistent with the child's best interests.

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

Call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. Reports are accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 911 immediately if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Indiana Department of Child Services

Phone

Foster Parent Information: 1-888-631-9510; Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-800-5556

Email

[email protected]

Address

Indiana Department of Child Services, 302 West Washington Street, Room E306, Indianapolis, IN 46204