How to Become a Foster Parent in Louisiana

Description

Foster care in Louisiana provides temporary, safe, stable, and nurturing family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Reunification is generally the first permanency goal whenever it can be safely achieved. Foster caregivers 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, DCFS caseworker, Home Development Worker, court, attorney, school, healthcare providers, therapists, and other members of the child's team.

Agency

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, commonly called DCFS, administers the state's public child-welfare, foster-care, and adoption programs. DCFS recruits, prepares, assesses, and certifies foster and adoptive families through regional offices and Home Development Units. Louisiana-licensed private child-placing agencies may also recruit, train, assess, certify, supervise, and support foster families for the programs and children they serve.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are at least 21 years old may apply. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, or widowed and may rent or own their home. They must demonstrate sufficient income to meet their existing household needs, good physical, emotional, and mental health, adequate space, suitable character, stable relationships, positive discipline practices, reliable transportation, and the ability to care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, grief, separation, and loss.

Average Time To License

No single certification period applies statewide. The process includes orientation, an application, 21 hours of preservice training, fingerprinting of applicants and adult household members, state and federal criminal clearances, child-protection record reviews, medical statements for all household members, at least five references, interviews, up to three home visits, and a safety and fire inspection. Missing documents, out-of-state checks, background-review concerns, or required home corrections may extend the process.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A Louisiana foster or adoptive parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. DCFS also evaluates maturity, judgment, emotional stability, caregiving ability, physical capacity, support systems, household stability, and readiness to provide safe care for children who have experienced trauma and separation.

Residency

Applicants generally work with the Louisiana DCFS regional office or licensed private child-placing agency serving the parish where they reside. The home must be available for assessment, safety inspection, certification, ongoing supervision, and renewal reviews. DCFS reviews its own child-protection records and may obtain records from other states where applicants or household members previously lived.

Marital Status

Louisiana permits qualified single adults, married couples, divorced adults, and widowed adults to foster or adopt. When an applicant is married, both spouses must participate in preservice training, fingerprinting, interviews, the home study, and the certification process. Other adults living in the home are assessed and screened according to their role and contact with children.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have enough income to meet the basic needs and financial obligations of their existing household without relying on foster-care board payments. DCFS reviews proof of income and family expenses during the home-study process. Acceptable records may include pay stubs, other income documentation, and the prior year's federal tax return for self-employed applicants.

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 bedroom space, sanitation, utilities, ventilation, emergency exits, and a safe environment. Renters may need to provide lease or landlord information and must comply with occupancy limits and housing requirements.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide adequate bedroom space for every child placed there. Each foster child must have an individual bed or approved crib, suitable bedding, reasonable privacy, and storage for clothing and personal belongings. A foster child may share a bedroom with another child of the same sex but generally may not share a bedroom with anyone older than age 18. Sleeping arrangements are reviewed according to age, development, sibling relationships, behavior, trauma history, safety, and individual needs.

Transportation

Applicants must maintain a reliable transportation plan for school, family visitation, medical and dental appointments, counseling, court proceedings, childcare, extracurricular activities, and emergencies. Drivers must possess current licenses, and vehicles must be legally registered, appropriately insured, safely maintained, and equipped with seat belts, car seats, booster seats, and other restraints required by Louisiana law.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be in good physical, emotional, and mental health and capable of providing safe and consistent care. Every household member must provide a physician-completed medical statement indicating that the individual is free from communicable disease. DCFS may request additional medical, mental-health, medication, counseling, treatment, or functional information when a condition could affect child safety, supervision, judgment, or household stability.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals are permitted when they do not create an unreasonable health or safety risk. Applicants must provide current pet immunization records and maintain appropriate sanitation, supervision, veterinary care, and confinement. DCFS may require restricted access, additional containment, veterinary evaluation, a written safety plan, or removal when an animal's health, size, temperament, aggression history, or behavior could endanger a child.

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 generally be stored separately in locked storage. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under responsible adult control, and the storage arrangement is reviewed during the home-safety inspection.

Contact Agency

Register for a Louisiana DCFS foster and adoptive parent informational meeting, contact the Home Development Unit serving your parish, or contact a Louisiana-licensed private child-placing agency. Applicants may also use the DCFS office locator or current customer-service number to identify the appropriate regional office.

Attend Orientation

Attend the required foster and adoptive parent orientation or informational meeting. Orientation provides an overview of DCFS, foster care, adoption, dual certification, the children needing homes, reunification, caregiver responsibilities, training, background screening, the home study, reimbursement, support services, and the overall certification process.

Choose Agency

Decide whether to pursue certification directly through Louisiana DCFS or through a licensed private child-placing agency. Private agencies may serve particular parishes, therapeutic programs, medically complex children, sibling groups, teenagers, or other specialized populations. Training, supervision, placement types, respite, and support services may differ by agency.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster and adoptive parent certification application
• Current government-issued driver's license for each applicant
• Copy of each applicant's Social Security card
• Birth certificates for every household member
• Information identifying all adults and children residing in the home
• Information concerning other adults who regularly stay in the home or may provide care
• Fingerprint submissions for every applicant and household member older than age 18
• Authorization for Louisiana and federal criminal-history clearances
• Authorization for Louisiana child-protection and abuse or neglect record checks
• Out-of-state criminal-history or child-protection checks when applicable
• State and national sex-offender registry checks when required
• Residential-address history
• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers for five personal references
• At least three references from people who are not related to the applicants
• An employer reference when required
• Contact information for adult children or other adults raised by the applicants
• Physician-completed medical statements for every household member
• Additional medical, mental-health, medication, counseling, or treatment information when requested
• Proof of household income
• Pay stubs or documentation of other income sources
• Prior-year federal tax return for self-employed applicants
• Marriage certificate when applicable
• Divorce decrees from all prior marriages when applicable
• Death certificate of a former spouse when applicable
• Housing, lease, landlord, mortgage, or property information when requested
• Vehicle-registration documentation
• Current automobile-insurance documentation
• Childcare, supervision, respite, and backup-caregiver plans
• Emergency, evacuation, fire, hurricane, severe-weather, and disaster-preparedness plans
• Pet immunization and veterinary records
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, swimming pools, ponds, bayous, canals, and other household hazards
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and approvals
• Documentation concerning prior child-welfare investigations, criminal charges, convictions, protective orders, probation, parole, or other legal matters when applicable
• Certificates documenting completion of required preservice training
• CPR, First Aid, medication, safe-sleep, water-safety, or specialized-training records when required
• Any additional written explanations, professional evaluations, rehabilitation documentation, waivers, or safety plans requested during certification

Required

Yes

Description

Louisiana's foster and adoptive parent orientation is an informational meeting that provides an overview of the agency and its foster-care and adoption programs. Topics include why children enter care, reunification, adoption, dual certification, the needs of children and sibling groups, caregiver expectations, the application, fingerprinting, preservice training, home-study requirements, discipline restrictions, reimbursement, placement matching, and ongoing agency involvement.

How To Register

Register for an informational meeting through the Louisiana DCFS Adoption Navigator or foster-parenting website, or contact the Home Development Unit serving your parish. Current DCFS guidance indicates that informational meetings are offered online by region. A private child-placing agency may provide its own approved orientation and registration process.

Duration

The length of orientation varies by region or agency. It is generally offered as a single informational meeting and is separate from the required 21-hour preservice curriculum. Applicants who decide to continue after orientation are invited to complete the application and preservice-training process.

Application Process

Applicants submit the foster and adoptive parent certification application and supporting documents to DCFS or the selected licensed child-placing agency. DCFS initiates fingerprinting and background screening for applicants and adult household members, collects references, reviews income and medical information, and enrolls the applicants in preservice training. During training, the Home Development Worker conducts interviews, up to three home visits, a safety and fire inspection, and additional assessment activities. Louisiana provides dual certification for foster care and adoption. Once all training, background, documentation, medical, reference, home-study, and safety requirements are met, the family may be certified.

Required Documents

• Completed foster and adoptive parent certification application
• Current driver's license for each applicant
• Social Security card for each applicant
• Birth certificates for all household members
• Identification and personal-history information for each applicant
• Information identifying every adult and child residing in the home
• Information about frequent visitors, substitute caregivers, and adults who may supervise children
• Fingerprint and criminal-background authorization forms
• Fingerprint submissions for applicants and every household adult older than age 18
• Louisiana and FBI criminal-history clearances
• Louisiana child-protection record authorizations
• Out-of-state child-abuse, neglect, or criminal-history checks when applicable
• Sex-offender registry screening when required
• Residential-address history
• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers for five personal references
• At least three non-relative personal references
• Employer reference information when required
• Contact information for adult children and other adults raised by the applicant
• Physician-completed medical statements for all household members
• Medical, mental-health, medication, counseling, treatment, or functional information when applicable
• Proof of income and household financial stability
• Pay stubs or other current-income verification
• Prior-year federal income-tax return for self-employed applicants
• Marriage certificate when applicable
• Divorce decrees from all prior marriages when applicable
• Death certificate of a former spouse when applicable
• Housing, lease, landlord, rental, mortgage, or property information when requested
• Vehicle-registration documentation
• Current automobile-insurance documentation
• Childcare, transportation, supervision, respite, and backup-caregiver plans
• Emergency, fire, evacuation, hurricane, severe-weather, and disaster plans
• Pet immunization and veterinary records
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, weapons, pools, ponds, bayous, canals, and other environmental hazards
• Information about previous foster-care, adoption, kinship-care, guardianship, childcare, or caregiving applications and approvals
• Documentation concerning prior child-welfare reports, valid findings, arrests, criminal charges, convictions, protective orders, probation, parole, or other legal matters when applicable
• Documentation showing completion of 21 hours of required preservice training
• CPR, First Aid, safe-sleep, medication, water-safety, therapeutic-care, or other specialized certificates when required
• Any additional records, written explanations, professional evaluations, rehabilitation evidence, waivers, exceptions, or safety plans requested by DCFS or the certifying agency

References Required

Applicants must identify five personal references and provide each reference's name, address, and telephone number. At least three references must be people who are not related to the applicants, and one may be an employer. If the applicants have adult children or have raised other adults, contact information must be provided for those individuals and one or more may be contacted. DCFS may request additional references whenever the available information is incomplete or raises concerns.

Interview Process

The home-study process includes a series of interviews and up to three visits to the applicant's home. Applicants may be interviewed individually and jointly, and children and other household members participate as appropriate. The Home Development Worker evaluates motivation to foster or adopt, family and childhood history, household relationships, communication, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, support for reunification, attitudes toward children's parents and relatives, health, finances, employment, support systems, criminal and child-welfare history, placement preferences, and the family's ability to safely meet children's physical, emotional, developmental, educational, cultural, relational, and permanency needs.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Louisiana requires prospective foster and adoptive parents to complete 21 hours of approved preservice training before certification. Training prepares caregivers to understand Louisiana's child-welfare system, the effects of abuse and neglect, trauma-informed parenting, child development, attachment, grief and loss, positive discipline, behavior management, cultural competency, mandatory reporting, confidentiality, educational advocacy, normalcy, reunification, permanency planning, and collaboration with birth families, DCFS staff, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, CASA volunteers, attorneys, and other members of the child's professional team.

Required Hours

Applicants complete 21 hours of approved preservice training before certification. Louisiana DCFS also requires certified foster parents to complete annual ongoing training to maintain certification. Additional specialized training may be required depending upon the child's medical, developmental, behavioral, or therapeutic needs or participation in specialized foster-care programs.

Online Available

Yes. Louisiana currently offers an online preservice training format that includes required online coursework together with at least one in-person instructional session. Training delivery methods may vary by region, DCFS office, or licensed child-placing agency.

Certification

Applicants must successfully complete all required preservice training before certification. Additional certifications may include CPR, First Aid, medication administration, safe sleep, trauma-informed care, water safety, behavior intervention, medically complex care, developmental disabilities, infant care, or other specialized instruction based upon placement needs or agency requirements.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Louisiana requires a comprehensive home study before foster and adoptive parent certification. The Home Development Worker interviews applicants individually and jointly when appropriate and conducts age-appropriate interviews with children and other household members. Interviews evaluate motivation to foster, parenting philosophy, communication, household relationships, emotional stability, discipline practices, physical and mental health, financial stability, trauma awareness, cultural responsiveness, support systems, and the family's ability to safely care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, grief, separation, and loss.

Home Visits

Louisiana generally conducts up to three home visits during the certification process. Home visits evaluate bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen facilities, utilities, sanitation, ventilation, emergency exits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, medication storage, hazardous materials, firearms, swimming pools, ponds, canals, pets, transportation resources, and other environmental safety concerns. Additional visits may occur to verify corrections, review documentation, complete interviews, or evaluate significant household changes.

Topics Covered

• Motivation for becoming foster or adoptive parents
• Understanding reunification as the primary permanency goal whenever safely possible
• Supporting healthy relationships between children and their birth families
• Working cooperatively with DCFS, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, CASA volunteers, attorneys, and other professionals
• Personal childhood and family history
• Current family relationships and household functioning
• Marriage or relationship stability
• Impact of fostering on biological, adopted, guardianship, and other household children
• Parenting philosophy and previous caregiving experience
• Knowledge of child growth and development
• Understanding trauma, abuse, neglect, attachment, grief, separation, and loss
• Positive discipline practices and prohibited punishment methods
• Recognizing trauma-related behaviors
• Providing nurturing care, supervision, consistency, and healthy boundaries
• Physical health and caregiving ability
• Mental and emotional health
• Medication use when relevant to caregiving
• Alcohol, tobacco, vaping, marijuana, controlled-substance, and other substance-use history
• Domestic violence and household safety concerns
• Criminal-history and child-protection background information
• Financial stability and budgeting
• Employment schedules and childcare arrangements
• Transportation resources
• Emergency preparedness, fire safety, hurricane preparedness, flooding, severe weather, 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, swimming pools, ponds, bayous, canals, 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, supervision needs, and therapeutic placements
• Family strengths, limitations, support needs, and continuing education needs
• Ability to maintain required documentation and cooperate with ongoing DCFS supervision and certification renewal

Timeline

Louisiana does not establish one statewide timeline for completing the home study. Completion depends upon applicant participation, references, medical documentation, background screening, required training, home visits, interviews, safety inspections, and correction of any certification deficiencies. The home study remains open until sufficient information has been gathered to determine whether certification standards have been satisfied.

Bedroom Rules

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

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed and maintained throughout the home in accordance with Louisiana law and applicable fire codes. Carbon-monoxide detectors must be installed whenever required by state or local law or whenever fuel-burning appliances or attached garages create a potential hazard. Certification inspections verify proper installation and operation.

Fire Extinguisher

The home must maintain at least one operable fire extinguisher that is readily accessible. Families must also develop written emergency evacuation procedures and ensure household members understand fire safety, hurricane preparedness, flood response, emergency contacts, evacuation routes, and disaster-response plans appropriate for their community.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, marijuana products, and medical supplies must be securely stored and inaccessible to children. Medication storage must be appropriate for the ages, developmental abilities, and behavioral needs of children placed in the home. Controlled medications may require additional safeguards.

Cleaning Supplies

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

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded and securely locked. Ammunition must generally be stored separately in locked storage. Trigger locks, gun safes, locked cabinets, keys, and combinations must remain under responsible adult control. Firearm storage is verified during the home inspection.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, canals, bayous, wells, and other water hazards must be properly secured and supervised. Depending upon the hazard, DCFS may require fencing, self-latching gates, locked barriers, rescue equipment, safety covers, written supervision plans, or other protective measures. Children must receive continuous adult supervision whenever around water.

Pets

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

Vehicle Requirements

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

Fingerprinting

Louisiana requires fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks for every foster or adoptive parent applicant and all adult household members. Fingerprints are processed through the Louisiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation before certification may be granted.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members undergo Louisiana child-protection record screening. Individuals who previously lived outside Louisiana may also be required to complete child-abuse, neglect, protective-services, or licensing checks from former states of residence.

Criminal History

Background screening includes Louisiana criminal-history records, FBI criminal-history records, child-protection records, sex-offender registry searches, and other records required by Louisiana law. Criminal-history information is evaluated together with references, interviews, rehabilitation information, and home-study findings when determining certification eligibility.

Disqualifying Offenses

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

Additional Checks

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

Steps

• Register for a Louisiana DCFS foster and adoptive parent informational meeting or contact a licensed private child-placing agency.
• Attend the required orientation or informational meeting.
• Discuss eligibility, household circumstances, placement needs, dual certification, and the certification process with a Home Development Worker.
• Submit the foster and adoptive parent certification application and all required supporting documentation.
• Complete fingerprinting for applicants and every adult household member required to participate in background screening.
• Complete Louisiana and FBI criminal-history checks, child-protection record reviews, sex-offender registry screening, and applicable out-of-state checks.
• Complete 21 hours of approved preservice foster and adoptive parent training.
• Provide at least five personal references, including at least three non-relative references.
• Provide physician-completed medical statements for all household members.
• Provide proof of household income, financial stability, current automobile insurance, vehicle registration, and other required records.
• Participate in individual, joint, and household interviews conducted by the Home Development Worker.
• Complete up to three home visits as part of the home-study and assessment process.
• Complete the required home safety and fire inspection.
• Demonstrate appropriate storage of medications, firearms, ammunition, chemicals, cleaning products, and other hazardous items.
• Establish acceptable emergency, evacuation, hurricane, flood, severe-weather, childcare, transportation, and backup-caregiver plans.
• Complete CPR, First Aid, safe-sleep, water-safety, medication, or specialized training when required.
• Correct any documentation, environmental, health, fire-safety, or certification deficiencies identified during the assessment.
• Provide additional explanations, evaluations, rehabilitation records, waivers, exceptions, or safety plans requested by DCFS.
• Receive final approval and dual certification as a Louisiana foster and adoptive family.
• Complete annual ongoing training, participate in required home visits, report significant household changes, and cooperate with certification renewal requirements.

Average Timeline

Louisiana does not publish one guaranteed statewide certification timeline. Many families complete certification within approximately three to six months, although the process may take longer depending upon orientation and training availability, applicant participation, fingerprint processing, out-of-state clearances, reference responses, medical documentation, home-study interviews, home visits, safety-inspection results, and correction of unmet certification requirements.

Renewal Requirements

Louisiana foster and adoptive family certification must be maintained through continuing compliance with DCFS or supervising-agency requirements. Renewal and ongoing monitoring may include updated household information, additional home visits, review of completed training, updated medical or background information when required, confirmation of automobile insurance and driver's licenses, reevaluation of sleeping arrangements and household capacity, review of significant family changes, and correction of any health or safety concerns. Caregivers must promptly report changes involving household membership, residence, relationships, employment, health, criminal history, child-protection involvement, pets, weapons, transportation, or other circumstances that may affect certification.

Ongoing Training

Certified Louisiana foster caregivers must complete approved ongoing training each year. Current DCFS training materials describe a general annual requirement of 15 hours, with each caregiver in a two-parent household completing at least five of those hours individually. Additional training may be required for therapeutic, medically complex, developmental-disability, behavioral-health, infant, sibling-group, or other specialized placements. Training may include live classes, approved online instruction, conferences, support-group education, caregiver coaching, and child-specific instruction.

How Placements Work

After certification, Louisiana DCFS or the supervising private child-placing agency may contact the family when a child requires placement. Placement staff compare the child's needs with the home's approved capacity, caregiver experience, training, location, household composition, transportation, support systems, and stated placement preferences. Decisions consider the child's safety, age, development, medical and behavioral needs, sibling relationships, school stability, culture, language, religious background, Tribal connections when applicable, family-visitation requirements, permanency goal, and overall best interests.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Certified foster caregivers may decline a proposed placement when they do not believe they can safely or appropriately meet the child's needs. Before accepting, caregivers should request all reasonably available information concerning the child's age, health, medications, diagnoses, behaviors, education, placement history, sibling relationships, visitation schedule, transportation needs, known safety concerns, supervision requirements, services, court involvement, and permanency plan. Declining a particular placement does not automatically affect the family's certification.

Emergency Placements

Louisiana may request emergency or short-notice placements when a child must be removed immediately because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, family crisis, disaster, trafficking, or another safety concern. Certified foster homes may receive placement requests outside regular business hours. Emergency placements remain subject to court review, ongoing case assessment, medical evaluation, family finding, relative and fictive-kin consideration, and continuing placement-planning decisions.

Sibling Groups

Louisiana seeks to place siblings together whenever doing so is safe and consistent with their needs. Placement staff evaluate the home's approved capacity, bedroom space, transportation, supervision, caregiver experience, and ability to support the complete sibling group. When siblings cannot live together, DCFS works to preserve their relationships through visitation, telephone or video contact, shared activities, coordinated services, nearby placements, and joint permanency planning whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

Applicants identify placement preferences during the home study, including children's ages, number of children, sibling groups, placement duration, medical needs, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, supervision requirements, and willingness to accept emergency, respite, foster-to-adopt, therapeutic, or specialized placements. DCFS considers these preferences together with the family's approved capacity, experience, training, household circumstances, and the individual needs of each child.

Monthly Board Rate

Certified Louisiana foster caregivers receive a daily foster-care board rate that is generally issued as a monthly payment. The board rate is intended to help cover food, clothing, shelter, supervision, personal-care items, allowance, transportation, recreation, gifts, school-related expenses, and other ordinary costs of caring for the child. The amount may vary according to the child's age, placement type, assessed level of care, supervision needs, and eligibility for therapeutic, specialized, or medically complex services. Families should confirm current rates directly with DCFS because payment schedules may change.

Clothing Allowance

Routine clothing expenses are generally included in the foster-care board payment. Additional clothing assistance may be available when a child enters care without adequate clothing, experiences rapid growth, requires school uniforms, has specialized clothing needs, or experiences another documented circumstance. Foster caregivers should consult the child's caseworker before making extraordinary purchases and retain receipts whenever reimbursement authorization or documentation is required.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be authorized when necessary to support the child's placement and the foster caregiver's employment, education, training, appointments, court participation, respite needs, or other approved responsibilities. Eligibility, provider qualifications, payment limits, prior authorization, copayments, and reimbursement procedures depend upon current DCFS policy, the child's age and needs, and the caregiver's circumstances.

Medical Coverage

Children in Louisiana foster care generally receive healthcare coverage through Louisiana Medicaid or another qualifying public benefit. Coverage may include medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral-health, developmental, hospital, emergency, and specialty services. Foster caregivers coordinate treatment with the child's caseworker, Medicaid plan, healthcare providers, birth parents when authorized, and other members of the child's professional team.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage or transportation reimbursement may be available for approved child-related travel that is not already included in the basic board payment. Qualifying travel may include family visitation, medical appointments, therapy, court proceedings, school meetings, evaluations, placement transitions, specialized services, or other case-plan activities. Reimbursement availability, rates, authorization procedures, and documentation requirements should be confirmed with the child's caseworker or supervising agency.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs and placement arrangement, additional assistance may include therapeutic or specialized board payments, childcare assistance, respite care, transportation support, school supplies, tutoring, developmental services, behavioral-health treatment, medical equipment, clothing assistance, training reimbursement, independent-living services for older youth, emergency assistance, and other child-specific services approved by DCFS.

Respite Care

Respite care provides temporary care for a child in foster care so the primary foster caregiver can rest, attend appointments, address emergencies, complete training, support other household members, or manage other approved responsibilities. Respite is generally provided by another certified foster home or an otherwise approved caregiver. Availability, duration, authorization, payment, and caregiver requirements depend upon DCFS policy, the child's placement type, the child's needs, and the supervising agency.

Support Groups

Louisiana foster caregivers may participate in local and statewide support groups, conferences, workshops, peer networks, online communities, and training events offered through DCFS, the Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy, private child-placing agencies, foster-parent associations, faith communities, and community partners. Support groups may provide education, encouragement, resource sharing, mentorship, advocacy, family activities, and connections with other caregivers.

Mentoring

Newly certified caregivers may receive guidance from experienced foster or adoptive parents, agency staff, trainers, support-group leaders, or formal peer mentors. Mentoring can help families understand placement calls, visitation, documentation, reimbursement, court proceedings, reunification, birth-family relationships, school advocacy, trauma-related behavior, licensing expectations, and communication with DCFS and the child's professional team.

Counseling

Counseling and behavioral-health services for children in foster care may be coordinated through Louisiana Medicaid, community behavioral-health providers, hospitals, schools, developmental-service agencies, private therapists, and other authorized professionals. Foster caregivers may participate in treatment planning, family therapy, caregiver coaching, crisis stabilization, trauma-focused treatment, psychological evaluation, medication monitoring, and other services according to the child's needs and legal case plan.

Crisis Support

Foster caregivers may seek crisis assistance from the child's caseworker, Home Development Worker, supervising private agency, after-hours DCFS contacts, behavioral-health providers, mobile crisis teams, emergency medical services, law enforcement, or other members of the child's professional team. Caregivers must promptly report serious illness or injury, hospitalization, medication errors, runaway behavior, abuse allegations, trafficking concerns, arrests, major behavioral incidents, unauthorized contact, placement disruption risks, disasters, or other events affecting the child's safety or placement.

Available

Yes. Louisiana utilizes a dual-certification model, meaning families are generally certified for both foster care and adoption during the same approval process. Foster parents may be considered as adoptive resources if reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's court-approved permanency goal.

Process

Children typically enter Louisiana foster care with reunification as the initial permanency goal whenever it can be safely achieved. Throughout the case, DCFS evaluates reunification, placement with relatives or fictive kin, guardianship, and adoption. If adoption becomes the approved permanency goal, the child's current foster family may be considered as a prospective adoptive family based upon the child's attachment, stability, sibling relationships, medical and emotional needs, cultural identity, community connections, 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 fictive kin, enter guardianship, or achieve another permanency outcome. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification and family visitation while caring for children in foster care.

Adoption Subsidy

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

Available

Yes. Louisiana strongly encourages placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever safe, appropriate, and consistent with the child's best interests. Kinship caregivers may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, close family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, Tribal members when applicable, and other adults who have an established relationship with the child. Kinship care helps preserve family relationships, culture, identity, school stability, and community connections.

Licensing Differences

Louisiana permits emergency placement with qualified relatives and fictive kin while additional assessments and certification activities continue. Kinship caregivers may pursue full foster-home certification to receive foster-care maintenance payments and additional support services. Depending upon the child's circumstances, some kinship placements may follow modified approval procedures authorized under Louisiana policy while continuing to satisfy child-safety requirements.

Financial Support

Available financial assistance depends upon the child's legal status, placement type, and caregiver eligibility. Assistance may include foster-care maintenance payments for certified kinship homes, Louisiana Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, childcare assistance, Supplemental Security Income when applicable, Adoption Assistance, Kinship Navigator resources, respite care, transportation assistance, and other federal, state, and community support programs.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Louisiana welcomes qualified single adults, married couples, divorced adults, and widowed adults who meet certification requirements.

How old must I be?

Applicants must be at least 21 years old.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own their residence provided it meets Louisiana certification and safety requirements.

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?

Louisiana requires 21 hours of approved preservice training before certification.

Is annual training required?

Yes. Certified foster parents complete annual continuing education as required by Louisiana DCFS to maintain certification.

Do I have to complete a home study?

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

Will everyone in my household undergo background screening?

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

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 Louisiana certification requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom arrangements are evaluated according to children's ages, developmental needs, sibling relationships, privacy, safety, and Louisiana certification 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. Certified foster parents receive foster-care maintenance 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 Louisiana foster care receive Louisiana Medicaid.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Approved respite services may be available through Louisiana DCFS or the supervising child-placing agency to support placement stability and caregiver well-being.

Can I adopt a child placed with me?

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

Does foster placement guarantee adoption?

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

Does Louisiana prioritize kinship placements?

Yes. Louisiana gives priority to safe placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever appropriate and consistent with the child's best interests.

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

Call the Louisiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-855-452-5437). Reports are accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 911 immediately if a child is in immediate danger.

State Agency

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

Phone

Foster Care Information: 1-888-LAHELP-U (1-888-524-3578)

Email

[email protected]

Address

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, 627 North Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802