How to Become a Foster Parent in South Dakota

Description

Foster care in South Dakota provides temporary, family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents or legal guardians. Foster parents provide safety, stability, supervision, nurturing, transportation, educational advocacy, healthcare coordination, emotional support, normal childhood experiences, and connections to parents, siblings, relatives, tribes, culture, school, faith, community, and identity while the child's family works toward reunification or another permanent plan.

Agency

The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Protection Services, administers the state's public foster-care system. The department recruits, evaluates, licenses, supervises, and supports foster families and works with courts, parents, relatives, tribes, schools, healthcare providers, private child-placement agencies, and community organizations. Licensed child-placement agencies may also recruit, license, and supervise foster homes in accordance with South Dakota law and administrative rules.

Who Can Apply

Adults who are generally at least 21 years old and reside in South Dakota may apply to become foster parents. Applicants may be single, married, or divorced; may have children or no children; and may rent or own their residence. They must complete required training, provide references, participate in interviews and a written home study, pass criminal-history and child-abuse checks, demonstrate sufficient independent income, and maintain a safe home that complies with licensing standards.

Average Time To License

South Dakota does not publish one guaranteed completion period for every foster-family application. The licensing process generally includes an initial inquiry, informational meetings, application paperwork, three references, preservice training, interviews with household members, criminal and child-abuse checks, an in-home assessment, a written home study, and correction of any unmet licensing or safety requirements. Timing depends on the family's responsiveness, training availability, record processing, household circumstances, and the licensing agency's workload.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A standard South Dakota family foster-parent applicant must be at least 21 years old. Age alone does not determine approval. The Department of Social Services or licensed child-placement agency also evaluates maturity, judgment, emotional stability, parenting ability, physical and mental health, family relationships, support systems, background history, and capacity to provide consistent care throughout a child's development.

Residency

Applicants must reside in a single-family home in South Dakota. Under state rules, a single-family home may be a stand-alone residence or a private unit within a multiple-unit dwelling that provides living space for one family. The residence must be accessible to the licensing agency for interviews, inspection, supervision, annual renewal, and investigation of any licensing or child-safety concerns.

Marital Status

South Dakota permits qualified single, married, and divorced adults to become foster parents. Couples and other adults who share caregiving or household responsibilities are generally included in the assessment and must cooperate with interviews, training, background checks, references, health review, and the home study. The licensing agency evaluates relationship stability, communication, conflict resolution, shared expectations, and each adult's commitment to fostering.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have sufficient income and resources to meet the needs of their existing household independently of foster-care maintenance payments. The licensing agency may review employment, benefits, debts, monthly expenses, housing costs, insurance, budgeting, and financial obligations. Foster-care payments are intended to support the needs of children placed in the home and should not be treated as the household's primary income.

Home Ownership

Home ownership is not required. South Dakota foster parents may rent or own a house, apartment, duplex, condominium, manufactured home, or another suitable residence that meets the state's definition of a single-family home. Renters should verify that their lease, landlord, occupancy limits, insurance, and property rules permit foster placements and any required safety changes.

Bedroom Requirements

The home must provide adequate and approved sleeping space for every child and household member. Foster children must have an individual bed or developmentally appropriate crib, clean bedding, sufficient storage, ventilation, heat, lighting, privacy, and safe access to an exit. Children in foster care may share bedrooms when the arrangement is approved and appropriate for their age, gender, sibling relationship, development, trauma history, medical needs, behavior, and personal safety.

Transportation

Applicants must maintain a dependable transportation plan for school, childcare, family visits, medical and dental appointments, counseling, court, case meetings, extracurricular activities, tribal or cultural activities, and emergencies. Vehicles used to transport foster children must be legally registered, insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Children must use age-, size-, and developmentally appropriate seat belts, car seats, booster seats, or specialized restraints.

Health Requirements

Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of providing safe and consistent care. The licensing agency may request medical statements, examinations, releases, or additional information when a health condition, disability, medication, hospitalization, mental-health concern, communicable illness, or substance-use history could affect judgment, supervision, stability, or child safety. A disability or managed health condition does not automatically disqualify an otherwise qualified applicant.

Pet Policy

Pets, livestock, and other animals may be permitted when they are safely maintained and do not create an unreasonable health or safety risk. The licensing agency may review vaccinations, veterinary care, licensing, sanitation, containment, temperament, bite or aggression history, and the household's plan for supervising interactions between children and animals. Additional safeguards may be required based on an animal's behavior or a child's individual needs.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, knives, and other weapons must be stored so children cannot gain unauthorized access. Firearms should be unloaded and secured in locked storage, with ammunition separately or otherwise securely stored according to licensing requirements and the child's safety needs. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under responsible adult control, and the licensing agency may require additional precautions or a written safety plan.

Contact Agency

Contact South Dakota's statewide foster-care Inquiry Coordinator to request information and begin the foster-parent inquiry process. The coordinator can explain current placement needs, eligibility standards, training schedules, application procedures, licensing requirements, and the agencies serving the applicant's community. Prospective families may call 605-221-2390 or 855-830-5062 or email [email protected].

Attend Orientation

Participate in the introductory information and orientation process arranged through the South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Protection Services, or an authorized child-placement agency. Applicants learn about the temporary purpose of foster care, reunification and permanency, trauma, family relationships, cultural and tribal connections, foster-parent responsibilities, discipline requirements, confidentiality, mandated reporting, placement matching, reimbursement, training, background checks, the home study, and available support services.

Choose Agency

Determine whether to complete the licensing process directly through the South Dakota Department of Social Services or through a licensed child-placement agency serving the applicant's area and desired placement population. Applicants should ask about the agency's geographic coverage, children served, placement expectations, training format, support services, respite availability, emergency procedures, reimbursement practices, and requirements for regular, therapeutic, specialized, kinship, respite, adoptive, or child-specific care.

Documents Needed

• Completed South Dakota foster-family application
• Government-issued identification
• Social Security numbers or other identifying information requested by the licensing agency
• Information about every adult and child residing in the household
• Current and previous residential-address history
• Criminal-history check authorization forms
• Fingerprint cards or electronic fingerprint submissions when required
• South Dakota child-abuse and neglect Central Registry screening authorization
• Out-of-state criminal-history and child-abuse registry information when applicable
• At least three personal references
• At least one reference from a family member
• At least one reference from a non-relative
• Physical-examination form for each foster-parent applicant
• Health histories for household members
• Information concerning current or previous mental-health treatment
• Information concerning current or previous alcohol or drug abuse or treatment
• Immunization information for household members under age 18
• Employment and income verification
• Household budget and financial-stability information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, partnership, or relationship information when applicable
• Driver's licenses for household drivers
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Childcare and supervision plans
• Transportation plans
• Emergency contact information
• Emergency evacuation and disaster plans
• Information about bedrooms and proposed sleeping arrangements
• Pet vaccination and veterinary information when applicable
• Information about firearms, ammunition, pools, water hazards, and other household risks
• Preservice-training completion documentation
• Additional releases, evaluations, explanations, or safety plans requested during the licensing process

Required

Yes

Description

South Dakota requires foster-parent applicants to participate in an orientation and preservice preparation process before receiving an initial license. The training and mutual-assessment process introduces applicants to the child-welfare system, children's protective and developmental needs, trauma, grief and loss, attachment, cultural and tribal identity, reunification, permanency, family engagement, discipline, confidentiality, normalcy, foster-parent roles, teamwork, placement transitions, and the effect of fostering on the entire household.

How To Register

Begin by contacting South Dakota's foster-care Inquiry Coordinator at 605-221-2390, 855-830-5062, or [email protected]. The coordinator or local licensing representative will provide information about upcoming orientation and training sessions, application materials, required documents, fingerprinting, references, interviews, the home study, and the next steps for the applicant's region.

Duration

South Dakota incorporates orientation into its required 30-hour foster and adoptive parent education program. Training is delivered through a combination of online learning and classroom sessions. The overall calendar time depends on course availability, applicant attendance, completion of assignments, licensing-agency scheduling, and whether additional specialized training is required.

Application Process

After the initial inquiry and orientation process, applicants submit a signed foster-family application to the South Dakota Department of Social Services or an authorized child-placement agency. The licensing agency conducts an evaluation that includes at least three reference checks, personal interviews, abuse-and-neglect screening, criminal-record checks, health documentation, on-site visits, preservice training, and a written home study. Each household member generally participates in at least one scheduled in-home interview, although the agency may observe rather than formally interview a household member when appropriate because of age or development.

Required Documents

• Signed foster-family application
• Government-issued identification for each applicant
• Identifying information for all household members
• Current and previous residential-address history
• Criminal-history check authorization forms
• Fingerprint-based background-check documentation when required
• South Dakota Central Registry screening authorization
• Out-of-state criminal and child-abuse records when applicable
• Three or more personal references
• At least one family-member reference
• At least one non-relative reference
• Applicant physical-examination form completed by an authorized healthcare professional
• Physical examination completed within the 12 months before application when accepted by the agency
• Health-history information for each household member
• Disclosure of current mental-health concerns
• Disclosure of current or previous alcohol or drug abuse or treatment
• Immunization records or permitted exemption documentation for household members under age 18
• Employment and income documentation
• Household debts, expenses, benefits, and budget information
• Marriage, divorce, separation, partnership, or relationship records when requested
• Information concerning prior foster-care, adoption, childcare, or child-welfare involvement
• Information concerning arrests, charges, convictions, protection orders, or other legal history
• Driver's licenses for household drivers
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Childcare and supervision plans
• Transportation plans
• Emergency and alternate-caregiver information
• Emergency evacuation, fire, severe-weather, and disaster plans
• Information about bedrooms, beds, and household capacity
• Pet vaccination, licensing, or veterinary records when applicable
• Information concerning firearms, ammunition, pools, water hazards, and environmental risks
• Preservice-training completion records
• Additional evaluations, releases, explanations, or written safety plans requested by the licensing agency

References Required

South Dakota requires at least three references as part of the initial foster-home study. At least one reference must be a family member, and at least one must be a non-relative. References should be able to discuss the applicants' character, reliability, maturity, emotional stability, household relationships, parenting or caregiving abilities, judgment, lifestyle, and suitability to care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, separation, trauma, or loss.

Interview Process

The licensing evaluation includes personal interviews with the applicants and household members. The initial home study must include at least one scheduled in-home interview for each household member, although the licensing agency may observe rather than interview a young or developmentally unable household member. Interviews explore motivation, family history, relationships, parenting experience, discipline, trauma awareness, health, substance-use history, finances, employment, legal history, support systems, cultural responsiveness, tribal connections, schedules, transportation, placement preferences, and the family's ability to cooperate with children, parents, relatives, tribes, courts, schools, healthcare providers, and agency staff.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

South Dakota requires all prospective foster and adoptive parents to complete a state-approved preservice education program before receiving an initial foster-home license. The curriculum prepares caregivers to understand child abuse and neglect, trauma, attachment, grief and loss, child development, positive discipline, cultural and tribal identity, reunification, permanency planning, communication with birth families, normal childhood experiences, confidentiality, mandated reporting, behavior management, educational advocacy, healthcare coordination, teamwork with professionals, and caregiver self-care.

Required Hours

South Dakota requires completion of at least 30 hours of approved preservice orientation and training before an initial foster-home license may be issued. Additional education may be required for therapeutic foster care, medically complex children, specialized placements, kinship care, respite care, or children with significant behavioral or developmental needs.

Online Available

South Dakota's preservice program is generally delivered through a combination of online coursework and instructor-led classroom sessions. Depending on scheduling, location, and the licensing agency, some portions may be completed virtually while other portions require in-person participation. Home visits, interviews, fingerprinting, and household assessments must still be completed directly with licensing staff.

Certification

Applicants must successfully complete all required preservice education before receiving an initial foster-home license. Depending on the placement program and children's needs, additional certifications or instruction such as CPR, First Aid, medication administration, trauma-informed care, de-escalation, safe sleep, transportation safety, behavioral intervention, or specialized medical training may also be required.

Required

Yes

Interviews

South Dakota requires a comprehensive written home study for every foster-family applicant. The licensing specialist interviews each applicant and household member as appropriate to evaluate parenting ability, family relationships, motivation, emotional stability, discipline practices, physical and mental health, finances, employment, support systems, substance-use history, legal history, child-development knowledge, cultural awareness, tribal relationships when applicable, placement preferences, and the family's ability to safely care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, separation, or loss.

Home Visits

The licensing worker conducts one or more scheduled visits to the residence to evaluate the home's safety, cleanliness, maintenance, sleeping arrangements, utilities, heating, sanitation, exits, smoke detectors, medications, chemicals, firearms, animals, transportation, emergency planning, and other licensing requirements. Follow-up visits may occur to verify repairs, review additional documents, or complete the licensing assessment before approval.

Topics Covered

• Reasons for becoming foster parents
• Understanding that foster care is temporary
• Commitment to supporting reunification whenever safely possible
• Ability to cooperate with birth parents and relatives
• Support for concurrent permanency planning
• Ability to work with DSS, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, tribes, and community partners
• Family history and childhood experiences
• Current household relationships
• Marriage, partnership, or relationship stability
• Communication and conflict resolution
• Effect of fostering on existing household members
• Parenting experience
• Knowledge of child development
• Understanding trauma, attachment, grief, and loss
• Behavior management and positive discipline
• Prohibited discipline practices
• Ability to meet children's emotional, developmental, educational, medical, and behavioral needs
• Cultural competency and respect for diversity
• Preservation of a child's tribal, cultural, family, and community connections
• Financial stability
• Employment and household schedules
• Transportation resources
• Emergency preparedness
• Childcare arrangements
• Support systems
• Physical and mental health
• Alcohol and substance-use history
• Criminal-history review
• Child-abuse and neglect history
• Confidentiality requirements
• Normalcy and age-appropriate activities
• Educational advocacy
• Healthcare coordination
• Placement preferences
• Household strengths and limitations
• Recordkeeping responsibilities
• Ability to participate in ongoing licensing supervision

Timeline

The home-study process varies according to applicant responsiveness, scheduling, document completion, training availability, background-check processing, references, household repairs, and agency workload. Most applicants complete the overall licensing process in approximately three to six months, although more complex situations may require additional time.

Bedroom Rules

Every foster child must have an individual bed or approved crib with a clean mattress and bedding. Bedrooms must provide adequate floor space, lighting, ventilation, heating, privacy, and safe exits. Bedroom-sharing arrangements are reviewed individually according to children's ages, sex, gender identity, developmental level, sibling relationships, behaviors, trauma history, medical needs, and personal safety.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed and maintained according to applicable state and local fire-safety requirements. The licensing worker verifies proper placement and operation during the home inspection. Carbon monoxide detectors may also be required when fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages create potential exposure.

Fire Extinguisher

Homes must maintain appropriate fire-safety equipment and develop an emergency evacuation plan. Fire extinguishers may be required based on the home's layout, local fire requirements, or licensing recommendations. Hallways, exits, windows, stairways, and escape routes must remain clear and accessible.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, sharps, cannabis products, nicotine products, and medical supplies must be stored safely so children cannot obtain unauthorized access. Depending upon children's ages and needs, medications may require locked storage or additional safeguards.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, chemicals, detergents, pesticides, poisons, fuels, automotive products, alcohol, sharp objects, tools, and other hazardous materials must be securely stored and inaccessible to children. Hazardous products should remain properly labeled and, whenever practical, stored in their original containers.

Firearms

Firearms must be unloaded and securely locked to prevent child access. Ammunition must also be securely stored according to licensing requirements. Keys, combinations, and access devices must remain under responsible adult control. Additional safeguards may be required depending upon children's behaviors or identified safety concerns.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, streams, wells, and other water hazards must be protected against unsupervised child access. Depending upon the property, the licensing agency may require fencing, self-latching gates, alarms, locked covers, rescue equipment, written supervision plans, or other protective measures.

Pets

Animals may remain in the foster home when they are healthy, appropriately vaccinated, safely managed, and do not present an unreasonable risk. Licensing staff may review temperament, aggression history, sanitation, containment, veterinary care, and supervision plans for interactions between children and animals.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles transporting foster children must be legally registered, insured, properly maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Foster children must always ride using age-, height-, weight-, and developmentally appropriate child restraints, booster seats, or seat belts that comply with South Dakota law.

Fingerprinting

South Dakota requires state and federal criminal-history background checks for foster-parent applicants and other adults as required by licensing regulations. Fingerprint-based checks are completed through authorized law-enforcement channels before licensure and may be repeated when required for renewal or significant household changes.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and appropriate household members must complete South Dakota child-abuse and neglect registry screening. When applicants have lived in other states, additional child-protection registry checks may also be required to evaluate previous findings of abuse or neglect.

Criminal History

The licensing agency reviews criminal-history information, abuse-and-neglect records, references, interviews, home-study information, prior child-welfare involvement, and other available records when determining whether applicants can safely care for foster children. Applicants are expected to disclose arrests, charges, convictions, deferred judgments, protection orders, probation, parole, and other relevant legal matters.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain criminal convictions and substantiated child-abuse findings prohibit foster-home licensure under South Dakota law and federal requirements. Crimes involving violence, child abuse, neglect, sexual offenses, homicide, domestic violence, serious drug offenses, human trafficking, and similar offenses generally prevent approval. Other offenses may receive individualized review depending upon applicable law, rehabilitation, time elapsed, and child safety.

Additional Checks

Additional licensing reviews may include sex-offender registry searches, previous licensing history, motor-vehicle records for household drivers, reference verification, employment history, household composition, prior foster-care or adoption history, court records, and any additional evaluations necessary to determine applicant suitability.

Steps

• Contact the South Dakota foster-care Inquiry Coordinator or licensed child-placement agency.
• Attend an informational meeting or orientation.
• Choose the licensing agency.
• Submit the foster-home application.
• Complete required preservice training.
• Provide required references.
• Submit health documentation.
• Complete criminal-history and abuse-registry background checks.
• Complete fingerprinting requirements.
• Participate in household interviews.
• Complete the written home study.
• Complete household inspections and safety assessment.
• Correct any identified licensing deficiencies.
• Receive licensing approval.
• Accept foster-child placements matching the home's approval.
• Participate in ongoing supervision and continuing education.
• Complete periodic license renewal requirements.

Average Timeline

South Dakota foster-home licensure commonly requires approximately three to six months depending upon applicant responsiveness, training schedules, references, background-check processing, household readiness, required repairs, and licensing-agency workload.

Renewal Requirements

South Dakota foster-home licenses must be renewed according to state licensing requirements. Renewal generally includes updated household information, continued compliance with licensing standards, background-check updates when required, home visits, ongoing training documentation, and correction of any safety concerns or licensing deficiencies.

Ongoing Training

Licensed South Dakota foster parents must complete ongoing continuing education as required by the Department of Social Services to maintain their license. Additional specialized training may be required depending upon the needs of children placed in the home, licensing level, or changes in state policy.

How Placements Work

After licensure, South Dakota foster families may begin receiving placement calls from the Department of Social Services or their supervising child-placement agency. Placement specialists attempt to match each child with the licensed home best able to meet the child's physical, emotional, developmental, educational, medical, behavioral, cultural, tribal, and permanency needs. Matching decisions also consider the family's approved capacity, age preferences, experience, location, household composition, support system, transportation resources, and willingness to care for siblings or children with specialized needs.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster families may decline a placement if they believe they cannot safely or appropriately meet the child's needs. Declining a placement does not normally affect a family's license. Licensing workers encourage families to ask detailed questions regarding the child's medical needs, behaviors, family visitation schedule, educational needs, sibling relationships, trauma history, cultural considerations, and supervision requirements before accepting placement.

Emergency Placements

South Dakota may request emergency placements at any time when children must be removed immediately because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, law-enforcement intervention, caregiver incapacity, or other urgent safety concerns. Emergency placements may occur before complete records are available. The placing agency provides all available information at the time of placement and continues sharing additional information as it becomes available.

Sibling Groups

Whenever safely possible and in the children's best interests, South Dakota attempts to place siblings together in the same foster home. When joint placement cannot occur, DSS works to preserve sibling relationships through visitation, communication, shared activities, and other ongoing contact unless restricted by court order or safety concerns. Foster families willing to care for sibling groups remain in significant demand throughout the state.

Age Preferences

Applicants identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, and types of placements they feel prepared to accept during the licensing process. Families may choose preferences regarding infants, toddlers, school-age children, teenagers, emergency placements, respite care, medically fragile children, children with developmental disabilities, behavioral challenges, sibling groups, foster-to-adopt placements, or other specialized populations. Placement decisions remain subject to licensing approval and the child's individual needs.

Monthly Board Rate

Licensed South Dakota foster parents receive monthly foster-care maintenance payments to help meet the ordinary costs of caring for children placed in their homes. Maintenance payments help cover food, clothing, housing, supervision, transportation, personal-care items, school supplies, recreation, and other routine expenses. Payment amounts vary according to the child's age, placement type, and assessed level of care. Children requiring therapeutic or specialized services may qualify for enhanced reimbursement through approved programs.

Clothing Allowance

South Dakota may provide clothing assistance for children entering foster care who lack adequate clothing or have exceptional clothing needs. Additional clothing support may be available for seasonal needs, school clothing, rapid growth, employment, special activities, or emergency placement situations. Foster parents should consult their caseworker regarding current eligibility requirements and reimbursement procedures.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support an approved foster placement. Authorization depends upon the child's case plan, the foster parent's employment or educational needs, available funding, provider eligibility, and approval by the child's caseworker or licensing agency. Foster parents should obtain approval before incurring childcare expenses whenever required.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in South Dakota foster care generally receive Medicaid coverage. Covered services commonly include medical care, hospitalization, physician services, prescription medications, behavioral-health treatment, counseling, dental care, vision care, therapy services, developmental evaluations, and medically necessary specialty care. Foster parents coordinate appointments and communicate significant medical developments with the child's caseworker.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement or transportation assistance may be available for approved travel related to medical appointments, counseling, court hearings, family visitation, educational activities, placement transitions, or other services identified in the child's case plan. Eligibility, documentation requirements, reimbursement rates, and prior approval procedures vary according to agency policy and the purpose of travel.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs and placement type, South Dakota foster families may receive respite services, specialized foster-care payments, behavioral-health support, developmental services, independent-living services for older youth, educational support, childcare assistance, transportation assistance, medical equipment, therapeutic consultation, and other child-specific services approved through the child's case plan.

Respite Care

Approved respite care may be available to provide temporary relief for foster families during emergencies, planned absences, caregiver illness, family events, or periods of increased stress. Respite providers generally must be approved by DSS or the supervising child-placement agency and receive sufficient information to safely care for the child during the respite period.

Support Groups

South Dakota foster parents have access to local foster-parent support groups, regional meetings, agency-sponsored educational events, mentoring opportunities, and statewide foster-parent organizations that provide networking, encouragement, continuing education, advocacy, and peer support.

Mentoring

Many newly licensed foster parents are paired with experienced foster families or agency mentors who provide guidance regarding placements, documentation, court proceedings, visitation, school issues, behavior management, trauma-informed parenting, communication with birth families, licensing requirements, and available community resources.

Counseling

Children in foster care may receive counseling, behavioral-health treatment, psychiatric services, substance-use treatment, trauma-focused therapy, developmental services, crisis intervention, and family therapy when clinically appropriate. Foster parents may also receive consultation, behavioral coaching, caregiver education, and referrals to community mental-health resources to support placement stability.

Crisis Support

South Dakota foster parents receive emergency contact information for their assigned caseworker, on-call staff, supervising agency, and emergency services. Foster parents should immediately report significant medical emergencies, hospitalization, abuse allegations, missing children, criminal activity, placement disruptions, serious behavioral incidents, suicide threats, or any event affecting child safety according to agency policy.

Available

Yes. South Dakota allows foster families to adopt children placed in their homes when reunification, placement with relatives, or other permanency options are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's approved permanency goal. Foster parents are expected to fully support reunification efforts unless the court changes the permanency plan.

Process

Children generally enter foster care with reunification as the primary permanency goal. If reunification cannot safely occur, DSS evaluates relative placement, guardianship, and adoption. Foster parents caring for a child whose goal changes to adoption may be considered as adoptive resources along with other qualified families. Decisions are based upon the child's best interests, attachments, sibling relationships, cultural identity, tribal considerations when applicable, and long-term permanency needs.

Legal Risk

Every foster placement involves legal uncertainty. Children may safely reunify with parents, move to relatives, enter guardianship, or be adopted by another family depending upon court decisions and case progress. Foster parents should understand that accepting placement never guarantees adoption and should remain committed to supporting the child's approved permanency plan.

Adoption Subsidy

Children adopted from South Dakota foster care who meet state and federal eligibility requirements may qualify for adoption assistance. Benefits may include monthly adoption subsidy payments, Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of eligible nonrecurring adoption expenses, and post-adoption services designed to support children with ongoing special needs. Adoption-assistance agreements are generally completed before adoption finalization.

Available

Yes. South Dakota gives priority consideration to placement with appropriate relatives or kin whenever it is safe and in the child's best interests. Kinship caregivers help preserve family relationships, cultural identity, tribal connections, school stability, community ties, and sibling relationships while providing safe temporary or permanent care.

Licensing Differences

Kinship caregivers may initially receive placement through an emergency or provisional approval process while completing required safety assessments and background checks. Relatives are encouraged to become fully licensed foster parents so they may receive the same training, financial assistance, supervision, and support services available to licensed non-relative foster families.

Financial Support

Licensed kinship foster parents generally qualify for the same monthly maintenance payments, Medicaid coverage for the child, clothing assistance, respite services, childcare assistance, transportation support, and other foster-care benefits available to licensed foster families. Depending upon the child's legal status and permanency plan, kinship caregivers may also qualify for TANF child-only grants, SNAP benefits, guardianship assistance, Social Security benefits, adoption assistance, or other public-support programs.

How old do I have to be to become a foster parent in South Dakota?

Applicants must generally be at least 21 years old to become licensed foster parents in South Dakota. The licensing agency also evaluates maturity, stability, health, financial readiness, parenting ability, and the capacity to safely care for children.

Can I be single and become a foster parent?

Yes. Qualified single adults, married couples, and divorced individuals may become licensed foster parents. The licensing process focuses on the applicant's ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Foster parents may rent or own their residence provided it meets South Dakota licensing standards for safety, sanitation, space, and child welfare.

Can I work full-time and still foster?

Yes. Many South Dakota foster parents work full-time. Families must demonstrate dependable childcare, transportation, supervision, and flexibility to meet children's medical, educational, visitation, and court-related needs.

Do I need to be married?

No. Marriage is not required. South Dakota welcomes qualified adults from a variety of family structures who can provide safe, consistent care for children.

Do I need parenting experience?

No previous parenting experience is required. Applicants receive required preservice training and ongoing education to prepare them for foster parenting.

How much training is required?

South Dakota requires prospective foster parents to complete at least 30 hours of approved preservice training before receiving an initial foster-home license. Ongoing training is also required to maintain licensure.

Is a home study required?

Yes. Every applicant must successfully complete a written home study, household interviews, home inspections, references, and licensing assessments before approval.

What background checks are required?

Applicants complete state and federal criminal-history checks, fingerprinting, child-abuse registry checks, and any additional screenings required for household members or previous states of residence.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted provided they are healthy, safely managed, appropriately vaccinated, and do not present an unreasonable risk to children placed in the home.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms are permitted but must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to children. Ammunition must also be securely stored according to licensing requirements.

Can foster children share bedrooms?

Yes. Bedroom sharing may be permitted when approved by the licensing agency and appropriate for the children's ages, developmental needs, gender, sibling relationship, trauma history, and safety.

Can I choose which children I foster?

Yes. Foster parents identify their placement preferences during licensing, including ages, sibling groups, medical needs, behavioral challenges, emergency placements, and specialized care. Placement decisions ultimately depend upon both family preferences and the child's needs.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents may decline placements they believe they cannot safely or appropriately care for. Honest communication helps achieve successful placements.

Will I receive information before accepting placement?

Yes. DSS shares all available information regarding the child's health, behavior, education, visitation schedule, medications, supervision needs, trauma history, and permanency plan. Emergency placements may initially involve limited information.

Does South Dakota try to keep siblings together?

Yes. South Dakota makes every reasonable effort to place siblings together whenever safely possible. When siblings cannot live together, efforts are made to maintain regular contact.

How long do children stay in foster care?

Placement length varies greatly depending upon court decisions, reunification progress, relative placement, adoption planning, guardianship, and each child's individual circumstances. Placements may last from several days to several years.

Will foster children receive medical insurance?

Yes. Children placed in South Dakota foster care generally receive Medicaid coverage for medical, dental, behavioral-health, vision, pharmacy, and other medically necessary services.

Do foster parents receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive monthly maintenance payments to help cover the ordinary costs of caring for foster children. Additional assistance may be available depending upon the child's needs.

Is childcare assistance available?

Childcare assistance may be available for approved situations involving employment, education, or the child's case plan. Eligibility depends upon agency approval and available funding.

Can relatives become foster parents?

Yes. South Dakota gives priority to placing children with appropriate relatives or kin whenever possible. Relatives may pursue foster-home licensure to receive additional financial assistance and support services.

Can foster parents adopt?

Yes. If reunification and relative placement are no longer appropriate and adoption becomes the child's permanency goal, foster parents may be considered as adoptive resources.

Does fostering guarantee adoption?

No. Foster care is intended to be temporary, with reunification remaining the preferred permanency goal whenever safely possible. Adoption occurs only after court approval and when reunification cannot be achieved.

Is adoption assistance available?

Yes. Eligible children adopted from foster care may qualify for adoption subsidies, Medicaid, reimbursement of certain adoption expenses, and post-adoption services.

How often is my foster-home license renewed?

South Dakota foster-home licenses must be renewed according to state licensing requirements. Renewal includes continued compliance with licensing standards, ongoing training, home visits, and updated background checks when required.

How do I report suspected child abuse or neglect?

Reports may be made to the South Dakota Department of Social Services Child Protection Services Hotline at 1-877-244-0864. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

State Agency

South Dakota Department of Social Services - Division of Child Protection Services

Phone

605-773-3227

Email

[email protected]

Address

700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501