How to Become a Foster Parent in Missouri

Description

Missouri foster care provides temporary, safe, and nurturing homes for children who cannot safely remain with their families because of abuse, neglect, or other circumstances. Foster parents provide daily care while supporting children's physical, emotional, educational, developmental, and cultural needs. They work closely with the Missouri Children's Division, birth families, healthcare providers, schools, therapists, attorneys, and the courts to achieve each child's permanency plan.

Agency

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS), Children's Division, oversees foster care, foster home licensing, adoption services, child protection, and permanency planning throughout the state.

Who Can Apply

Missouri 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, or widowed and may rent or own their residence. Licensing decisions focus on an applicant's ability to meet children's needs rather than family structure.

Average Time To License

Most applicants complete the licensing process within approximately three to six months, although timelines vary depending upon training schedules, paperwork completion, background screenings, home study requirements, and any needed home safety improvements.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

Applicants must be at least 21 years old. Licensing specialists also evaluate maturity, emotional stability, parenting ability, physical and mental health, financial stability, and the capacity to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children.

Residency

Applicants must reside in Missouri and participate fully in the licensing process, including home visits, interviews, background screenings, required training, and ongoing supervision by the Children's Division or an authorized contracted agency.

Marital Status

Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or legally separated. Married couples generally complete the licensing process together. Licensing decisions are based upon household stability and caregiving ability rather than marital status.

Income Requirements

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

Home Ownership

Applicants may rent or own their residence. Houses, apartments, duplexes, townhomes, manufactured homes, and other lawful residences may qualify if they meet Missouri licensing standards for safety, sanitation, utilities, and adequate living space.

Bedroom Requirements

Children must have safe and appropriate sleeping arrangements, including their own bed. Bedroom sharing is evaluated according to licensing regulations, children's ages, genders, sibling relationships, developmental needs, privacy, and overall safety.

Transportation

Applicants must maintain reliable transportation for school, medical appointments, counseling, family visitation, court hearings, extracurricular activities, and emergencies. Drivers must maintain valid licenses, required insurance, and age-appropriate child restraint systems.

Health Requirements

Applicants may be required to provide medical information demonstrating that physical or mental health conditions will not interfere with providing safe and appropriate care. Licensing specialists evaluate overall health and any conditions affecting caregiving responsibilities.

Pet Policy

Pets are permitted provided they are healthy, safely supervised, appropriately vaccinated when required, and do not present an unreasonable danger to children placed in the home.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, crossbows, 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 whenever possible.

Contact Agency

Prospective foster parents begin by contacting the Missouri Children's Division or an approved private foster care licensing agency to express interest in becoming licensed foster parents.

Attend Orientation

Applicants attend an orientation explaining Missouri's foster care system, reunification, licensing requirements, STARS training, financial assistance, placement expectations, and the responsibilities of foster parents.

Choose Agency

Applicants may complete licensing directly through the Missouri Children's Division or through an approved private child-placing agency contracted with the state. The selected agency guides families throughout the licensing process and ongoing support.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster parent application
• Government-issued identification
• Birth certificates when requested
• Marriage certificate if applicable
• Social Security numbers
• Background screening authorization forms
• Medical examination forms
• Employment verification
• Income documentation
• Personal references
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Additional documentation requested by the licensing agency

Required

Yes

Description

Missouri requires prospective foster parents to participate in orientation before beginning or early in the licensing process. Orientation introduces applicants to trauma-informed parenting, child development, abuse and neglect, reunification, permanency planning, confidentiality, cultural awareness, licensing expectations, and available support services.

How To Register

Orientation sessions are scheduled through the Missouri Children's Division or the applicant's selected contracted licensing agency after an initial inquiry is submitted.

Duration

Orientation length varies by region and agency but is generally completed before applicants begin STARS pre-service training and the formal home study process.

Application Process

Following orientation, applicants complete the foster parent application, authorize background screenings, provide required documentation, complete STARS pre-service training, participate in interviews and home visits, undergo home safety inspections, and work with a licensing specialist to complete the home study before final approval.

Required Documents

• Completed foster parent application
• Government-issued identification
• Background screening authorization forms
• Medical examination forms
• Employment and income verification
• Personal references
• Marriage certificate if applicable
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Additional documentation requested by the licensing agency

References Required

Applicants provide personal references who can evaluate their character, parenting abilities, emotional stability, reliability, relationships, and overall suitability to provide foster care. References are reviewed during the home study.

Interview Process

Licensing specialists interview applicants and household members regarding family history, parenting philosophy, discipline practices, finances, health, trauma awareness, support systems, placement preferences, motivation to foster, and readiness to partner with birth families and child welfare professionals.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Missouri requires prospective foster parents to complete the STARS (Specialized Training, Assessment, Resources, and Support) pre-service training program before licensure. Training prepares applicants to understand trauma-informed parenting, child development, attachment, grief and loss, behavior management, abuse and neglect, cultural awareness, permanency planning, reunification, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and working collaboratively with birth families and child welfare professionals.

Required Hours

Prospective foster parents complete approximately 27 hours of STARS pre-service training before licensure. Licensed foster parents must also complete annual in-service training to maintain their foster home license and strengthen their caregiving knowledge and skills.

Online Available

Yes. Portions of STARS training may be offered through virtual or online formats depending on the Children's Division region or contracted licensing agency. Some sessions or activities may require in-person participation.

Certification

Completion of STARS training is one requirement for licensure but does not independently approve a foster home. Applicants must also complete the home study, background screenings, home safety inspection, interviews, references, and all other licensing requirements before a foster care license is issued.

Required

Yes

Interviews

A Children's Division licensing specialist or contracted licensing worker conducts multiple interviews with applicants and household members to evaluate parenting abilities, family relationships, motivation to foster, emotional stability, support systems, finances, discipline philosophy, health, trauma awareness, and readiness to provide foster care.

Home Visits

Licensing specialists conduct one or more home visits to evaluate compliance with Missouri foster home licensing standards. The home is inspected for cleanliness, adequate living space, sleeping arrangements, sanitation, fire safety, utilities, and any conditions affecting child safety.

Topics Covered

• Motivation for becoming a foster parent
• Understanding foster care as temporary care
• Commitment to reunification whenever possible
• Family history and household relationships
• Marriage or partner relationship when applicable
• Parenting experience and caregiving skills
• Discipline philosophy and behavior management
• Understanding trauma and attachment
• Child development
• Grief, loss, and separation
• Ability to care for children with special needs
• Physical and mental health
• Substance use history
• Criminal and child abuse history
• Employment and financial stability
• Transportation arrangements
• Support systems
• Emergency preparedness
• Cultural awareness and diversity
• Working with birth families
• Confidentiality requirements
• Firearms and weapon storage
• Pets and animal safety
• Household safety hazards
• Bedroom arrangements
• Placement preferences
• Family strengths and areas needing additional preparation

Timeline

The home study is completed alongside STARS training, background screenings, document collection, and home inspections. Most applicants complete the overall licensing process within approximately three to six months.

Bedroom Rules

Each foster child must have an individual bed with appropriate bedding and adequate personal space. Bedroom arrangements must comply with Missouri licensing regulations regarding age, gender, sibling relationships, privacy, and safety.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed throughout the home according to state and local fire safety requirements. Licensing specialists verify proper operation during the home inspection.

Fire Extinguisher

Homes should maintain accessible fire extinguishers and establish an emergency evacuation plan. Licensing specialists review emergency preparedness during the licensing process.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, medical supplies, controlled substances, and potentially dangerous items must be securely stored and inaccessible to children.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, chemicals, pesticides, poisons, alcohol, fuels, sharp objects, and other hazardous materials must be stored securely to prevent child access.

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded and secured in locked storage. Ammunition should be stored separately in a locked location. All weapons must remain inaccessible to foster children.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, and other bodies of water must have approved barriers, fencing, covers, or other protective measures that prevent unsupervised child access. Additional safety requirements may apply.

Pets

Pets must be healthy, appropriately vaccinated when required, safely supervised, and not pose an unreasonable danger to foster children. Licensing specialists may request veterinary documentation if concerns arise.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles transporting foster children must be legally registered, insured, maintained in safe operating condition, and equipped with age-appropriate child restraint systems. Drivers must maintain valid driver's licenses.

Fingerprinting

Applicants and all required adult household members must complete fingerprint-based state and federal criminal history background checks before licensure.

Child Abuse Registry

Missouri reviews child abuse and neglect registry records for applicants and applicable household members. Additional child welfare record checks may be required for applicants who previously lived in other states.

Criminal History

Licensing specialists review criminal history, child protection records, prior foster care licensing history, and other information relevant to child safety. Applicants should fully disclose all prior criminal incidents during the licensing process.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain felony convictions, violent crimes, crimes against children, sexual offenses, serious drug-related offenses, substantiated child abuse findings, and other disqualifying conduct may prevent foster home licensure under Missouri and federal law.

Additional Checks

Additional evaluations may include driving record reviews, employment verification, personal references, financial stability assessments, household composition verification, and other screenings necessary to ensure child safety.

Steps

• Submit an inquiry to the Missouri Children's Division or an approved private licensing agency.
• Attend foster parent orientation.
• Complete the foster parent application.
• Submit required documentation.
• Authorize background screenings.
• Complete fingerprinting.
• Provide personal references.
• Complete the STARS pre-service training program.
• Participate in home study interviews.
• Complete home safety inspections.
• Correct any identified deficiencies.
• Receive licensing approval recommendation.
• Receive foster home license.
• Discuss placement preferences and approved capacity.
• Complete annual training and license renewal requirements.

Average Timeline

Most Missouri applicants complete the licensing process within approximately three to six months, depending upon completion of training, paperwork, inspections, interviews, and background screenings.

Renewal Requirements

Licensed foster homes must renew their license periodically according to Missouri regulations. Renewal includes updated home visits, continued compliance with licensing standards, annual training completion, and submission of any required documentation updates.

Ongoing Training

Licensed foster parents complete annual in-service training covering trauma-informed care, behavior management, child development, medical issues, cultural competency, permanency planning, abuse prevention, and additional topics identified by the Children's Division.

How Placements Work

After licensure, the Missouri Children's Division or contracted agency matches children with foster families based on the child's needs and the family's approved capacity, experience, location, preferences, training, and ability to meet medical, emotional, educational, developmental, and behavioral needs. The agency also considers school stability, sibling relationships, and proximity to birth families whenever possible.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline placements they do not believe they can safely or successfully support. Families are encouraged to ask questions regarding the child's history, medical needs, behaviors, visitation schedule, medications, school placement, and services before accepting a placement.

Emergency Placements

Missouri maintains foster homes willing to accept emergency placements at any time of day or night when children must be removed immediately for their safety. Emergency placements often occur with limited background information available.

Sibling Groups

Missouri makes every reasonable effort to keep siblings together whenever it is safe and appropriate. When siblings cannot remain together, the Children's Division works to preserve sibling relationships through visitation and continued contact whenever possible.

Age Preferences

Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, placement types, medical conditions, disabilities, and behavioral needs they are prepared to accept. These preferences are documented during licensing and considered when matching children with foster families.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed Missouri foster parents receive monthly maintenance payments to help cover the daily costs of caring for children in foster care. Payment amounts vary based on the child's age, level of care, and individual medical, behavioral, developmental, or therapeutic needs. Families providing specialized foster care may receive enhanced reimbursement.

Clothing Allowance

Missouri may provide clothing allowances or reimbursements when children enter foster care without adequate clothing or require additional clothing because of growth, seasonal changes, school needs, or other approved circumstances. Availability and procedures are determined by the Children's Division.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support foster placements. Eligible services help foster parents maintain employment, attend required training, transport children to appointments, participate in court proceedings, and fulfill responsibilities identified in the child's case plan.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Missouri foster care generally receive MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid). Coverage typically includes physician services, hospitalization, behavioral health treatment, dental care, vision services, prescription medications, therapy services, and other medically necessary healthcare.

Mileage Reimbursement

Missouri may reimburse foster parents for approved transportation related to the child's case plan, including medical appointments, counseling, family visitation, court hearings, school meetings, and other authorized travel. Foster parents should maintain accurate mileage records and follow Children's Division reimbursement procedures.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs, foster families may receive enhanced maintenance payments, respite care, educational assistance, behavioral health services, specialized therapeutic support, independent living services for older youth, referrals to community resources, and additional case-specific assistance approved by the Children's Division.

Respite Care

Missouri offers respite care for eligible foster families to provide temporary relief and help maintain stable placements. Respite services are coordinated through the Children's Division or contracted licensing agencies based upon provider availability and the child's needs.

Support Groups

Foster parents may participate in local foster parent associations, peer support groups, educational workshops, conferences, online communities, and regional networking opportunities throughout Missouri.

Mentoring

Many newly licensed foster parents receive guidance from experienced foster families or agency mentors who provide practical advice, encouragement, and assistance navigating placements, documentation, court hearings, and trauma-informed parenting.

Counseling

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

Crisis Support

Missouri foster parents receive ongoing support from Children's Division caseworkers, licensing specialists, supervisors, emergency on-call staff, behavioral health providers, and community partners. Foster parents are expected to immediately report emergencies, abuse allegations, serious injuries, hospitalizations, placement disruptions, runaway incidents, arrests, or other significant events.

Available

Yes. Missouri 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 approved permanency goal. Foster parents are expected to actively support reunification while it remains the court-approved case plan.

Process

Most children entering Missouri foster care have reunification established as the initial permanency goal. If reunification cannot safely occur, the Children's Division may pursue adoption, guardianship, placement with relatives, or another permanent option. When adoption becomes appropriate, the foster family, relatives, and other approved adoptive families may all be considered based upon the child's best interests.

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 Missouri foster care who meet eligibility requirements may qualify for adoption assistance. Benefits may include monthly adoption subsidy payments, MO HealthNet coverage, reimbursement of eligible nonrecurring adoption expenses, and post-adoption support services under state and federal guidelines.

Available

Yes. Missouri gives priority to placing children with safe and suitable relatives whenever possible. Kinship caregivers may include grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, fictive kin, or other adults who have significant relationships with the child.

Licensing Differences

Relatives may sometimes receive emergency placement before becoming fully licensed. Missouri may allow certain non-safety licensing standards to be addressed differently for kinship caregivers when permitted by law, while all required child safety standards, background screenings, and home safety requirements must still be satisfied.

Financial Support

Financial assistance available to 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, MO HealthNet, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP benefits, childcare assistance, guardianship assistance, adoption assistance, and referrals to additional community resources.

Can I become a foster parent if I am single?

Yes. Missouri accepts qualified single applicants as well as married couples. Applicants do not have to be married, and licensing decisions focus on their ability to provide a safe, stable, nurturing home.

How old do I have to be?

Missouri foster parent applicants must be at least 21 years old. Licensing workers also evaluate maturity, judgment, emotional stability, health, financial stability, 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 their housing is stable, provides adequate space, and complies with Missouri foster home licensing and safety standards.

Can I work full time?

Yes. Many Missouri foster parents work outside the home. Applicants must demonstrate dependable childcare, transportation, supervision, and scheduling arrangements that meet the needs of children placed in their care.

Do I need to have children of my own?

No. Prior parenting experience and biological children are not required. Missouri provides pre-service training, assessment, and ongoing support to prepare qualified adults from a variety of backgrounds to foster.

Is there a minimum income requirement?

Missouri does not publish one universal minimum income amount for foster parents. Applicants must have stable income and be able to meet their existing household expenses without depending on foster care maintenance payments.

How much pre-service training is required?

Missouri requires prospective foster and adoptive parents to complete the state's pre-service training and assessment process. The program prepares families to understand trauma, support children's relationships with their families, meet developmental needs, and work as members of a professional child welfare team.

Is continuing education required?

Yes. Missouri foster parent licenses are renewed every two years, and resource parents must complete 30 hours of approved in-service training during each two-year licensing period.

Is a home study required?

Yes. Applicants complete an in-home assessment that includes multiple home visits, family interviews, background screenings, document reviews, training, and an evaluation of the home for compliance with licensing requirements.

Will everyone in my household undergo background checks?

Applicants and required household members must complete criminal-history and child-abuse or neglect checks. Fingerprint-based background screening is required for applicable adult household members.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are generally permitted when they are healthy, safely supervised, appropriately vaccinated when required, and do not present a danger to children placed in the home.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms, ammunition, bows, and other weapons must be legally possessed, securely stored, and inaccessible to foster children in accordance with Missouri licensing requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes, when the arrangement complies with Missouri licensing standards and is appropriate for the children's ages, genders, sibling relationships, developmental needs, privacy, and safety.

Can I choose the ages of children I foster?

Yes. Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, placement types, medical needs, disabilities, and behavioral needs they believe they are prepared to support.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Missouri allows licensed foster parents to decline a proposed placement when the timing is not right or they do not believe they can safely and successfully meet the child's needs.

Will I receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive maintenance payments to help cover the daily costs of caring for children. Reimbursement may also be available for approved mileage, clothing, babysitting, respite care, and other authorized expenses.

Do foster children receive healthcare?

Yes. Children in Missouri foster care generally receive healthcare coverage through the state's managed care and Medicaid programs, including medical, dental, behavioral health, prescription, and other medically necessary services.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Missouri encourages foster parents to use approved respite care when temporary relief is needed. Respite care is intended to support caregivers and preserve stable foster placements.

Can I adopt a child placed in my home?

Possibly. If reunification cannot safely occur, parental rights are terminated, and adoption becomes the child's permanency goal, the current foster parents may be considered as an adoptive resource.

Does fostering guarantee adoption?

No. Foster care is temporary, and reunification is generally the initial goal. Children may return to their parents, move to relatives, enter guardianship, or later become legally eligible for adoption.

Is adoption assistance available?

Yes. Eligible children adopted from Missouri foster care may receive adoption subsidy benefits, including financial assistance, medical coverage, reimbursement of certain expenses, and support services. Some benefits may continue beyond age 18 when specific eligibility requirements are met.

Does Missouri prioritize kinship placements?

Yes. Missouri seeks to place children with suitable relatives or close family-like connections whenever that placement is safe, appropriate, and in the child's best interests.

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

Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect may be made to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Immediate emergencies should be reported by calling 911.

State Agency

Missouri Department of Social Services, Children's Division

Phone

1-800-554-2222 – Missouri Foster Parent Information Line

Email

[email protected]

Address

Missouri Department of Social Services, Children's Division, P.O. Box 88, Jefferson City, MO 65103