How to Become a Foster Parent in Minnesota

Description

Minnesota foster care provides temporary, safe, and nurturing family homes for children who cannot safely remain with their parents. Foster parents provide daily care while supporting children's physical, emotional, educational, cultural, and developmental needs. They work closely with county agencies, private licensing agencies, birth families, tribal nations when applicable, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, attorneys, and the courts to achieve the child's permanency plan.

Agency

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) oversees foster care policy and licensing standards in partnership with county social service agencies, Tribal agencies, and licensed private child-placing agencies. Foster home licensing is generally administered by county or Tribal licensing agencies under state regulations.

Who Can Apply

Minnesota welcomes qualified adults who are at least 21 years old and able to provide a safe, stable, nurturing home. Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or partnered and may rent or own their residence. Licensing decisions focus upon an applicant's ability to meet children's needs rather than family structure.

Average Time To License

Most applicants complete the licensing process within three to six months, although timelines vary depending upon training schedules, completion of paperwork, background study processing, home study interviews, and any required home safety improvements.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

Minnesota requires foster parent applicants to be at least 21 years old. Licensing workers also evaluate maturity, judgment, emotional stability, physical and mental health, parenting ability, and the capacity to provide safe and consistent care.

Residency

Applicants must reside in Minnesota and be willing to participate in home visits, licensing inspections, interviews, and ongoing supervision. Applicants who previously lived in another state may be required to complete additional background studies or child-protection record checks.

Marital Status

Minnesota accepts qualified applicants regardless of marital status. Single adults, married couples, divorced individuals, widowed applicants, and unmarried partners may all apply. Licensing focuses on household stability and caregiving ability rather than marital status.

Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial stability to support their household without depending upon foster care reimbursement payments. Foster care maintenance payments are intended to reimburse expenses related to caring for foster children rather than provide household income.

Home Ownership

Applicants may rent or own their home. Houses, apartments, condominiums, duplexes, manufactured homes, and other lawful residences may qualify if they satisfy Minnesota licensing standards for safety, sanitation, sleeping space, utilities, and overall suitability for children.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide adequate sleeping space and privacy for every child. Each foster child must have an individual bed with appropriate bedding. Bedroom sharing is evaluated according to licensing regulations, children's ages, genders, developmental needs, sibling relationships, and safety considerations.

Transportation

Applicants must demonstrate reliable transportation for medical appointments, school, family visitation, counseling, extracurricular activities, court appearances, and emergencies. Drivers must possess valid licenses, maintain required insurance, and properly secure children using age-appropriate child restraint systems.

Health Requirements

Applicants and household members may be required to provide medical information demonstrating that physical or mental health conditions will not interfere with providing safe care. Licensing workers evaluate overall health, medications, disabilities, substance use history, and any conditions affecting caregiving ability.

Pet Policy

Pets are permitted provided they are healthy, appropriately vaccinated when required, safely supervised, and do not present an unreasonable risk to children. Licensing workers may review veterinary records and evaluate animal behavior if concerns exist.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, and other dangerous weapons must be legally possessed and securely stored to prevent unauthorized access by children. Firearms should remain unloaded while stored, with ammunition secured separately according to Minnesota law and licensing requirements.

Contact Agency

Prospective foster parents begin by contacting their local county social services agency, Tribal licensing agency, or licensed private child-placing agency. Minnesota also provides statewide information through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Attend Orientation

Applicants attend an orientation explaining foster care, reunification, licensing standards, background studies, home studies, pre-service training, placement expectations, financial assistance, support services, and the responsibilities of foster parents.

Choose Agency

Applicants generally complete licensing through their county, Tribal agency, or an approved private child-placing agency. The selected agency guides families throughout licensing, training, placement, and ongoing support.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster care license application
• Government-issued identification
• Household member information
• Background study authorization forms
• Medical statements when requested
• Personal references
• Employment and income information
• Financial information
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration and insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm storage information when applicable
• Water or septic documentation when applicable
• Additional documents requested by the licensing agency

Required

Yes

Description

Minnesota requires prospective foster parents to participate in orientation before or during the licensing process. Orientation introduces applicants to trauma-informed care, licensing expectations, child development, reunification, permanency planning, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, teamwork with birth families, and available support services.

How To Register

Orientation is scheduled through the applicant's county licensing agency, Tribal licensing agency, or licensed private child-placing agency after making initial contact.

Duration

Orientation length varies by agency but is generally completed before applicants begin or early in the formal licensing process.

Application Process

After orientation, applicants complete the foster care licensing application, authorize background studies, submit required documentation, provide references, complete pre-service training, participate in interviews and home visits, and work with a licensing worker to complete the home study and licensing assessment before final approval.

Required Documents

• Completed foster care licensing application
• Government-issued identification
• Household member information
• Background study authorization forms
• Medical documentation when requested
• Personal reference information
• Employment and income documentation
• Financial information
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration and proof of insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm storage documentation when applicable
• Additional licensing documents requested by the agency

References Required

Applicants provide personal references who can evaluate their character, parenting ability, emotional stability, relationships, reliability, and suitability to provide foster care. Licensing workers review these references as part of the overall home study.

Interview Process

Licensing workers interview applicants and household members to assess family history, parenting philosophy, discipline practices, health, finances, support systems, motivation to foster, trauma awareness, placement preferences, and readiness to work with children's families and professional teams.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Minnesota requires foster parents to complete orientation and pre-service training assigned by their county, Tribal, or private licensing agency. Training prepares applicants to understand trauma, attachment, grief and loss, child development, behavior support, cultural identity, family reunification, permanency, mandated reporting, confidentiality, normalcy, and collaboration with children's parents and professional teams.

Required Hours

Minnesota training requirements may vary according to the licensing agency, the applicant's experience, and the needs of children the family expects to serve. All foster parents must complete required orientation and agency-assigned pre-service courses. They must also complete the state's two-hour Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard training before exercising normalcy-related caregiving responsibilities.

Online Available

Yes. Minnesota foster-parent training is available through a combination of online and instructor-led courses. The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy provides training opportunities, while county, Tribal, and private agencies may assign additional virtual or in-person instruction.

Certification

Completing required training is one component of licensure and does not independently result in approval. Applicants must also complete the application, individual fact sheets, background studies, interviews, home study assessment, home-safety inspection, references, and all other licensing requirements.

Required

Yes

Interviews

A county or private licensing agency assigns a social worker to interview applicants and members of the household. Several interviews may be conducted to evaluate the family's relationships, history, motivation, parenting abilities, support network, health, finances, cultural awareness, trauma knowledge, and readiness to provide foster care.

Home Visits

The assigned social worker visits the applicant's residence to complete the foster-care home study and assess compliance with licensing standards. The home is also inspected using Minnesota's approved home-safety checklist, and applicants must correct identified deficiencies before a license can be issued.

Topics Covered

• Reasons for becoming a foster parent
• Understanding foster care as temporary care
• Commitment to reunification and permanency planning
• Ability to work with children's parents and relatives
• Family history and significant life experiences
• Current household relationships and stability
• Marriage or partner relationship when applicable
• Parenting experience and caregiving skills
• Discipline practices and behavior-support strategies
• Knowledge of child development
• Trauma, attachment, grief, and loss
• Ability to care for children with challenging behaviors
• Physical, mental, and emotional health
• Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and substance-use history
• Criminal, delinquency, and child-protection history
• Employment and financial stability
• Transportation and childcare arrangements
• Household routines and supervision plans
• Emergency and disaster preparedness
• Extended-family and community support
• Cultural identity and responsiveness
• Religious and spiritual practices
• Respect for children's identities and family connections
• Confidentiality and mandated-reporting responsibilities
• Firearms, pets, pools, and environmental hazards
• Bedroom arrangements and available household space
• Preferred ages, sibling groups, and placement types
• Ability to support normal childhood activities
• Family strengths and areas needing additional preparation

Timeline

The home study is completed while the applicant works through training, background studies, interviews, documentation, and the home-safety inspection. The complete licensing process often takes several months, although timing varies by agency and household circumstances.

Bedroom Rules

Minnesota requires every foster child to have a separate bed that is appropriately sized for the child, although two siblings of the same sex may be allowed to share a double bed. Foster children may not sleep in unfinished attics, unfinished basements, hallways, detached structures, or rooms normally used for purposes other than sleeping. Bedrooms used by foster children must have two exits.

Smoke Detectors

The foster home must comply with applicable state and local fire, building, health, and zoning requirements. Working smoke alarms and any required carbon monoxide alarms must be properly installed and maintained, and the licensing worker verifies fire safety during the home inspection.

Fire Extinguisher

Applicants must maintain required fire-safety equipment and keep exits and evacuation routes accessible. A fire marshal or approved local fire-code inspection may be required when the home contains certain heating systems, is an older manufactured home, or presents another condition identified under Minnesota licensing rules.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, controlled substances, cannabis products, vitamins, syringes, and other potentially harmful medical supplies must be safely stored and inaccessible to foster children according to their ages and abilities.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, poisons, pesticides, fuels, alcohol, sharp objects, tools, and other hazardous substances must be stored safely and made inaccessible to children. The licensing agency evaluates household hazards during the home-safety inspection.

Firearms

Firearms, ammunition, bows, arrows, and other dangerous weapons must be securely stored and inaccessible to foster children. The licensing agency may require locked storage, unloaded firearms, separate ammunition storage, or additional protections based upon state law and the needs of children placed in the home.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, and other water hazards must have appropriate safety protections and must not be accessible to children without adult supervision. Licensing agencies may require fencing, locked gates, safety covers, alarms, rescue equipment, or other safeguards based upon the property.

Pets

Household animals must be safely maintained and must not pose a threat to foster children. Applicants may be required to provide vaccination or veterinary records, explain supervision practices, and address concerns involving an animal's behavior, health, sanitation, or history of aggression.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles used to transport foster children must be safely maintained, legally registered, and properly insured. Drivers must hold valid licenses, and children must use seat belts and age-appropriate child-restraint systems required by Minnesota law.

Fingerprinting

Adult applicants and other adults who are required to undergo a foster-care background study must complete fingerprint-based background checks. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families conducts foster-care background studies as part of the licensing process.

Child Abuse Registry

Minnesota reviews child-protection records involving applicants and applicable household members. Record checks may also be requested from other states or jurisdictions where an individual previously lived.

Criminal History

The background-study process reviews applicable criminal, delinquency, and child-protection history. Applicants are encouraged to disclose past incidents to their licensing worker so the agency can determine whether the history affects their ability to safely care for children.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain criminal convictions, substantiated maltreatment findings, violent offenses, sexual offenses, serious drug-related offenses, or other legally defined conduct may result in disqualification. Depending upon the offense and applicable law, an applicant may be eligible to request reconsideration or demonstrate that the individual does not present a risk of harm.

Additional Checks

Background studies generally include applicants and household members age 13 and older. Adults complete fingerprint-based studies, while the agency may also review references, driving records, prior licensing history, household composition, out-of-state records, and other information relevant to child safety.

Steps

• Submit a foster-care inquiry.
• Select a county, Tribal, or licensed private agency.
• Attend orientation.
• Complete the Minnesota adoption and foster-care application.
• Submit an individual fact sheet for each required person.
• Authorize background studies.
• Complete fingerprinting when required.
• Provide references and supporting documents.
• Complete assigned pre-service training.
• Participate in interviews with the licensing social worker.
• Open the home for visits and inspection.
• Complete the foster-care home study assessment.
• Correct identified home-safety deficiencies.
• Receive the licensing agency's approval recommendation.
• Receive a foster-care license from the state.
• Discuss placement preferences and household capacity.
• Complete ongoing training and license-renewal requirements.

Average Timeline

The complete Minnesota licensing process commonly takes approximately three to six months. Timing varies based upon the agency, training schedules, background-study processing, interviews, documentation, home conditions, and the applicant's responsiveness.

Renewal Requirements

A Minnesota foster-care license may be issued for one or two years. Before expiration, the licensing agency updates the family's assessment, reviews continued compliance, completes required visits or inspections, verifies training, and submits the information needed to renew the license.

Ongoing Training

Licensed foster parents must participate in continuing education assigned by their licensing agency. Training may address trauma-informed care, child development, behavior support, cultural responsiveness, normalcy, mandated reporting, medication, educational advocacy, adolescent development, family relationships, and the specialized needs of children placed in the home.

How Placements Work

After licensure, county, Tribal, or private agency workers match children with foster families based upon each child's needs and the family's approved capacity, experience, location, household composition, training, and placement preferences. Agencies consider sibling relationships, school stability, family visitation, culture, tribal affiliation, medical needs, behavior, development, and permanency goals.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline a proposed placement when they do not believe they can safely or effectively meet the child's needs. Families should ask questions about the child's health, behavior, school, visitation, trauma history, siblings, medications, services, and supervision requirements before accepting whenever information is available.

Emergency Placements

Minnesota agencies may need licensed families who can accept emergency or short-notice placements when children must be removed immediately for safety. Emergency placements may occur during evenings, weekends, or holidays and may begin with limited information.

Sibling Groups

Minnesota seeks to place siblings together whenever safe and appropriate. When siblings cannot live in the same home, the responsible agency works to preserve sibling relationships through visits, communication, shared activities, and other contact consistent with each child's case plan.

Age Preferences

Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, placement types, medical needs, disabilities, and behavioral needs they are prepared to support. The licensing agency documents the home's approved capacity and uses the family's preferences when considering placements.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed Minnesota foster parents receive monthly foster care maintenance payments to help cover the everyday costs of caring for children. Payment amounts vary based upon the child's age, assessed level of care, placement type, and individual medical, emotional, developmental, or behavioral needs. Children requiring specialized or therapeutic foster care may qualify for enhanced reimbursement rates.

Clothing Allowance

Minnesota counties may provide clothing allowances or reimbursement when children enter foster care without adequate clothing or when additional clothing is needed because of seasonal changes, rapid growth, school requirements, or other approved circumstances. Availability and procedures may vary by county or Tribal agency.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be authorized when necessary to maintain a foster placement. Assistance may allow foster parents to work, attend required training, participate in court proceedings, transport children to visitation, or fulfill other responsibilities outlined in the child's case plan. Eligibility depends upon agency approval and individual circumstances.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Minnesota foster care generally receive Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid). Covered services typically include physician care, hospitalization, dental care, vision services, behavioral health treatment, developmental services, therapy, prescription medications, emergency care, and other medically necessary healthcare.

Mileage Reimbursement

County, Tribal, or private agencies may reimburse foster parents for approved transportation associated with the child's case plan, including medical appointments, counseling, court hearings, school meetings, family visitation, evaluations, and other authorized travel. Foster parents should maintain accurate mileage records and follow local reimbursement procedures.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs and placement type, Minnesota foster families may receive enhanced maintenance payments, respite services, behavioral-health consultation, interpreter services, educational advocacy, placement stabilization resources, independent living services for older youth, and referrals to community assistance programs.

Respite Care

Minnesota provides respite care to eligible foster families to offer temporary relief, reduce caregiver stress, and help preserve stable placements. Respite services are coordinated through county, Tribal, or private licensing agencies based upon provider availability and the child's needs.

Support Groups

Minnesota foster parents have access to local and statewide support groups, peer mentoring programs, caregiver associations, conferences, educational workshops, online communities, and nonprofit organizations serving foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

Mentoring

Many Minnesota licensing agencies connect newly licensed foster parents with experienced caregivers who provide practical guidance, encouragement, and assistance navigating placements, documentation, court hearings, visitation, trauma-informed parenting, and community resources.

Counseling

Children in foster care have access to behavioral-health treatment, trauma-focused therapy, psychiatric care, developmental evaluations, family counseling, crisis intervention, substance-use treatment when appropriate, and other medically necessary mental-health services through Minnesota Medical Assistance and community providers. Foster parents receive ongoing consultation from caseworkers and treatment professionals.

Crisis Support

Minnesota foster parents receive ongoing assistance from county or Tribal social workers, licensing workers, supervisors, emergency on-call staff, healthcare providers, behavioral-health professionals, and community partners. Foster parents are expected to report emergencies, abuse allegations, serious injuries, hospitalizations, placement disruptions, runaway incidents, arrests, or other significant events immediately.

Available

Yes. Minnesota allows licensed foster parents to be considered as adoptive resources when reunification and other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's court-approved permanency goal. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification while that remains the approved case plan.

Process

Most children entering Minnesota foster care have reunification identified as the initial permanency goal. If reunification cannot safely occur, the agency may pursue adoption, transfer of permanent legal and physical custody, guardianship, or another permanent option. When adoption becomes appropriate, the child's foster family, relatives, and other approved adoptive families are considered based upon the child's best interests, attachments, sibling relationships, cultural identity, educational stability, and long-term needs.

Legal Risk

Every foster placement carries legal uncertainty until the court establishes a permanent outcome. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives, enter another permanency arrangement, or become legally eligible for adoption. Accepting a foster placement does not guarantee adoption.

Adoption Subsidy

Children adopted from Minnesota foster care who meet eligibility requirements may qualify for adoption assistance. Benefits may include monthly subsidy payments, Medical Assistance coverage, reimbursement for eligible nonrecurring adoption expenses, and post-adoption support services. Eligibility is determined under state and federal adoption-assistance regulations.

Available

Yes. Minnesota gives priority to placing children with relatives or other adults who have significant existing relationships with the child 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, or other trusted adults.

Licensing Differences

Relatives may sometimes receive emergency placement while licensing requirements are completed. Certain non-safety licensing standards may be addressed differently for kinship caregivers when authorized by Minnesota law; however, all required child-safety standards, background studies, and home-safety requirements must still be satisfied before full licensure.

Financial Support

Financial assistance available to Minnesota kinship caregivers depends upon the child's legal status, placement type, licensing status, and household eligibility. Assistance may include foster-care maintenance payments for licensed homes, Medical Assistance, Minnesota Family Investment Program benefits, SNAP benefits, childcare assistance, Northstar Kinship Assistance, adoption assistance, and referrals to additional community resources.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Minnesota welcomes qualified applicants who are single, married, divorced, widowed, or partnered. Licensing decisions are based upon an applicant's ability to provide a safe, stable, nurturing home rather than marital status.

How old do I have to be?

Applicants must be at least 21 years old. Licensing workers also evaluate maturity, emotional stability, physical and mental health, good judgment, and the ability to safely care for children.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own their residence as long as it complies with Minnesota foster-care licensing standards for safety, sanitation, utilities, sleeping arrangements, and adequate living space.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Many Minnesota foster parents work outside the home. Applicants must demonstrate reliable childcare, transportation, supervision, and scheduling arrangements that meet each child's needs.

Is there a minimum income requirement?

Minnesota does not establish a specific minimum income level. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial stability to support their household without relying upon foster-care reimbursement payments.

How much training is required?

Prospective foster parents complete required orientation, agency-assigned pre-service training, and the state's Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard training before licensure. Additional annual training is required to maintain a foster-care license.

Is continuing education required?

Yes. Minnesota requires foster parents to complete ongoing training throughout the licensing period. Topics are assigned by the licensing agency based upon state requirements and the needs of children placed in the home.

Is a home study required?

Yes. Minnesota requires a comprehensive foster-care home study that includes interviews, home visits, references, background studies, home-safety inspections, and evaluation of the family's readiness to provide foster care.

Will everyone in my household undergo background checks?

Applicants and required household members must complete Minnesota background studies. Adults complete fingerprint-based studies, and additional reviews may be required for household members or applicants who previously lived in another state.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted provided they are healthy, safely supervised, appropriately vaccinated when required, and do not present an unreasonable danger to foster children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms and ammunition must be securely stored and inaccessible to foster children in accordance with Minnesota law and foster-home licensing requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom sharing is permitted when it complies with Minnesota licensing regulations and is appropriate for the children's ages, genders, developmental needs, sibling relationships, privacy, and safety.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Applicants identify the ages, sibling groups, medical conditions, disabilities, behavioral needs, and placement types they feel prepared to support. Agencies consider these preferences when making placement decisions.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents may decline placements they do not believe they can safely or successfully support. Families are encouraged to gather as much information as possible before accepting a placement.

Will I receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive monthly maintenance payments to help cover the cost of caring for children. Eligible families may also receive clothing assistance, Medical Assistance coverage for children, mileage reimbursement, childcare assistance, respite care, and specialized support services.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Children placed in Minnesota foster care generally receive Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid), including medical, dental, behavioral-health, developmental, vision, and prescription services.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Minnesota provides respite care for eligible foster families to help maintain placement stability and provide temporary relief when services are available.

Can I adopt a child placed in my home?

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 as a potential adoptive placement.

Does fostering guarantee adoption?

No. Foster care is intended to provide temporary care while the agency and court pursue the child's permanency plan. Many children reunify with their parents or are placed with relatives before adoption becomes appropriate.

Does Minnesota prioritize kinship placements?

Yes. Minnesota gives priority to placing children with relatives or adults who have significant existing relationships with the child whenever safe and appropriate.

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

Suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported through the appropriate county child protection agency or local law enforcement. Emergencies should always be reported by calling 911.

State Agency

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Phone

651-431-2000

Email

Prospective foster parents should contact their local county, Tribal licensing agency, or licensed private child-placing agency through the Minnesota DCYF website to begin the licensing process.

Address

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, 444 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155