Foster Care Central

State foster-parent guide

How to Become a Foster Parent in Utah

Foster care in Utah is a temporary, family-based intervention for children and youth who cannot safely remain in their parents' or guardians' homes. Foster parents provide safety, stability, nurturing, supervision, transportation, educational advocacy, medical coordination, emotional support, structure, normal childhood experiences, and connections to parents, siblings, relatives, culture, religion, school, and community while the child's family works toward reunification or another court-approved permanency outcome.

Guide reviewed for 2026. Requirements and rates can change; confirm current details with the official state or local licensing agency linked below.

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Utah state emblem
Minimum age21
TrainingUtah requires prospective foster and adoptive parents to complete standardized preservice preparation before licensure. Utah Foster Care currently describes the program as including classroom and self-guided components covering reunification, child development, trauma, sexual abuse, attachment, grief and loss, mental health, cultural humility, effective communication, and maintaining children's family connections. Applicants must also complete Utah-specific licensing and DCFS policy instruction, CPR and First Aid preparation when required, and any additional training assigned for the types of children they plan to serve.
Licensing timeUtah does not guarantee one licensing timeline for every applicant. Many prospective foster families may complete inquiry, consultation, application, preservice training, background checks, medical documentation, references, home study, interviews, safety inspection, and licensing review within approximately three to six months. Timing may vary because of training schedules, applicant availability, household repairs, delayed records, background-check review, agency workload, or preparation for children with specialized needs.
Monthly reimbursementUtah provides licensed foster families with maintenance reimbursement intended to offset the reasonable costs of caring for a child, rather than provide household income or wages. Payment amounts may depend on the child's age, placement type, needs, approved level of care, and services authorized by the Division of Child and Family Services. Children in foster care generally also receive Medicaid medical, dental, and behavioral-health coverage, school meal and fee assistance, and other child-specific benefits when eligible.
Foster-to-adoptAvailable
Kinship programAvailable
Overview

Description

Foster care in Utah is a temporary, family-based intervention for children and youth who cannot safely remain in their parents' or guardians' homes. Foster parents provide safety, stability, nurturing, supervision, transportation, educational advocacy, medical coordination, emotional support, structure, normal childhood experiences, and connections to parents, siblings, relatives, culture, religion, school, and community while the child's family works toward reunification or another court-approved permanency outcome.

Agency

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services, commonly called DCFS, oversees the state's public child-welfare, foster-care, kinship-care, and adoption system. Utah Foster Care recruits, prepares, trains, and supports foster and adoptive families in partnership with DCFS. Utah's Office of Licensing conducts the home study, evaluates compliance with foster-care licensing standards, and issues foster-home licenses, while DCFS places children and supervises their cases.

Who Can Apply

Responsible single adults and legally married couples who are at least 21 years old may apply to become foster parents in Utah. Applicants must have lawful status in the United States, be financially stable, pass required background checks, demonstrate sufficient physical and emotional health, complete required training, participate in a home study, and maintain a clean and safe home with adequate room for children. Couples who are not legally married cannot be jointly licensed as foster parents through Utah DCFS.

Average Time To License

Many Utah families may complete licensure within approximately three to six months, although the timeline depends on training availability, background checks, references, medical documentation, applicant responsiveness, home-study scheduling, safety corrections, and Office of Licensing workload. Families pursuing medically complex, therapeutic, or specialized placements may require additional preparation.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Eligibility

Minimum Age

Prospective Utah foster parents must generally be at least 21 years old. There is no standard maximum age, but applicants must demonstrate the maturity, physical health, emotional stability, energy, judgment, and long-term caregiving ability necessary to meet the needs of children in foster care.

Residency

Applicants must maintain lawful status in the United States and reside in a Utah home that can be inspected and licensed under state foster-care standards. Families living outside Utah generally must be approved through their own state before being considered for placement of a Utah child under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

Marital Status

Utah permits qualified single adults and legally married couples to become foster parents. Both spouses in a married household participate in the application, training, interviews, background checks, medical review, and home-study process. Couples who live together but are not legally married cannot be jointly licensed to provide foster care through DCFS.

Income Requirements

Applicants must be financially stable and capable of supporting their household without depending on foster-care reimbursement. Licensing staff may review income, employment, debts, housing expenses, insurance, budgeting, and the family's ability to cover a child's immediate expenses before reimbursement begins. Foster-care payments are intended to offset child-related costs and are not considered wages for foster parents.

Home Ownership

Applicants may rent or own their residence. The home must be clean, structurally sound, in good repair, free from health and fire hazards, and large enough for the number and ages of children the family intends to foster. Renters may need to verify that their lease, landlord, property rules, and insurance permit foster children and any required safety modifications.

Bedroom Requirements

Utah foster homes must provide at least 40 square feet of bedroom space per foster child, excluding adjoining bathrooms and storage areas. Each child must have an individual bed or crib, mattress, and appropriate bedding. Children of opposite sexes generally may not share a bedroom unless all children sharing the room are younger than two. A foster child may not share a bedroom with another adult, and a foster parent's bedroom may generally be shared only with a foster child younger than two.

Transportation

Foster parents must have reliable transportation for school, family visitation, medical and dental appointments, therapy, court hearings, Child and Family Team Meetings, activities, placement transitions, and emergencies. Vehicles must be legally registered, insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Children must use seat belts, car seats, booster seats, or specialized restraints appropriate to their age, size, development, and medical needs.

Health Requirements

Prospective foster parents must be healthy enough to care for children, as determined by their medical provider. Applicants and household members may be asked to submit medical statements, physical-examination information, medication disclosures, mental-health information, or additional documentation when a condition could affect supervision or caregiving. A well-managed disability, chronic illness, or mental-health diagnosis does not automatically prevent licensure.

Pet Policy

Utah permits household pets and other animals when they are safely managed, sanitary, appropriately vaccinated, and do not create an unreasonable danger to children. Licensing staff may evaluate the animal's species, temperament, aggression or bite history, containment, veterinary care, and the family's ability to supervise interactions between children and pets.

Firearm Policy

Applicants must disclose firearms and other weapons to the Office of Licensing or supervising agency. Firearms, ammunition, and weapons must remain inaccessible to foster children. Firearms and ammunition may be stored together only in a commercially manufactured locked firearm-storage container. Otherwise, firearms must be unloaded and securely locked, with ammunition locked separately using different keys or combinations that are inaccessible to children.

First Steps

Contact Agency

Begin by contacting Utah Foster Care or the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. A foster-family consultant can explain the state's current need for foster homes, eligibility requirements, preservice training, licensing standards, background checks, home-study procedures, reimbursement, support services, foster-to-adopt options, kinship care, and the responsibilities involved in supporting reunification and permanency.

Attend Orientation

Prospective foster parents participate in an initial consultation, information session, or orientation before moving forward with training and licensing. This introduction explains the purpose of foster care, the experiences and needs of children entering care, reunification, teamwork with parents and professionals, placement expectations, confidentiality, discipline requirements, licensing standards, and the emotional impact fostering may have on every member of the household.

Choose Agency

Most families seeking to care for children in Utah DCFS custody work with Utah Foster Care for recruitment, consultation, preservice preparation, and continuing support. The Utah Office of Licensing completes licensing activities, while DCFS retains responsibility for child placement and case management. Families interested in private foster-care programs, specialized treatment care, or private adoption should confirm that the organization they select is properly licensed and authorized to provide those services.

Documents Needed

  • Completed Utah foster-care application
  • Government-issued identification
  • Proof of lawful United States status
  • Social Security numbers or other identifying information requested for screening
  • Information for every household member
  • Current and previous residential history
  • Criminal-background screening applications
  • Fingerprint authorization forms
  • Child abuse and neglect registry authorization
  • Out-of-state registry checks when applicable
  • Personal reference letters
  • Medical statements or health-assessment forms
  • Medication and health-condition disclosures when requested
  • Employment verification
  • Proof of household income
  • Household financial statement
  • Marriage documentation when applicable
  • Divorce or previous relationship information when applicable
  • Driver's licenses for household drivers
  • Vehicle registration
  • Proof of automobile insurance
  • Homeowners or renters insurance information
  • Emergency contact information
  • Emergency evacuation and disaster plans
  • Bedroom and sleeping arrangement information
  • Pet vaccination records when applicable
  • Firearm and ammunition storage information when applicable
  • CPR certification
  • First Aid certification
  • Preservice training completion documentation
  • Provider Code of Conduct acknowledgment
  • Additional forms and releases required by the Office of Licensing or DCFS
Orientation

Required

Yes

Description

Utah requires prospective foster and adoptive families to participate in an introductory consultation or orientation before completing the full preparation and licensing process. The orientation helps applicants understand that foster care is temporary, reunification is usually the initial goal, children may have experienced trauma and disrupted attachments, and foster parents must collaborate with birth families, relatives, caseworkers, courts, schools, healthcare providers, therapists, and other members of the child's team.

How To Register

Prospective applicants begin through Utah Foster Care's inquiry process. After submitting an inquiry or contacting a regional Utah Foster Care office, a foster-family consultant provides information, answers questions, discusses household readiness and current placement needs, and helps the family register for the required preservice training and licensing process.

Duration

The introductory consultation or orientation may be completed in one meeting or a short series of discussions. It is followed by Utah's standardized preservice training, which includes both classroom and self-guided components and may be completed in as little as approximately one month depending on scheduling and applicant progress.

Application Process

Application Process

After the initial consultation or orientation, applicants complete Utah's foster-care application and begin preservice training, background screening, medical and financial documentation, references, CPR and First Aid certification, interviews, home-safety inspection, and the narrative home study. The Office of Licensing or another authorized licensing professional evaluates whether the applicants and residence satisfy Utah foster-care standards before issuing a license.

Required Documents

  • Completed foster-care application
  • Government-issued identification
  • Proof of lawful United States status
  • Household member information
  • Current and previous address history
  • Fingerprint and background-screening forms
  • Criminal-history disclosure information
  • Child abuse and neglect registry authorization
  • Out-of-state child-protection registry checks when required
  • Personal reference letters
  • Medical or health-assessment documentation
  • Employment verification
  • Proof of household income
  • Household financial statement
  • Marriage documentation when applicable
  • Previous marriage or divorce information when applicable
  • Driver's licenses
  • Vehicle registration
  • Proof of automobile insurance
  • Homeowners or renters insurance information
  • Emergency planning documentation
  • Bedroom and household safety information
  • Pet vaccination records when applicable
  • Firearm and ammunition storage disclosures when applicable
  • CPR certification
  • First Aid certification
  • Preservice training completion records
  • Provider Code of Conduct acknowledgment
  • Additional Office of Licensing or DCFS documentation

References Required

Utah applicants must provide acceptable personal references who can discuss the applicants' character, emotional stability, relationships, parenting ability, judgment, dependability, financial responsibility, communication, lifestyle, and readiness to care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, separation, or loss. The Office of Licensing may request additional references or clarification when needed. Kinship or child-specific applicants must generally provide at least two acceptable reference letters.

Interview Process

The narrative home-study process includes interviews with each applicant and appropriate household members. Interviews examine motivation for fostering, personal and family history, childhood experiences, marriage or relationship stability, parenting practices, discipline, physical and mental health, substance-use history, criminal and child-protection history, finances, employment, support systems, cultural humility, religious practices, placement preferences, trauma awareness, reunification support, and the family's ability to maintain children's relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and communities.

Training

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Utah requires prospective foster parents to complete standardized preservice training before licensure. The curriculum prepares caregivers to understand the child welfare system, trauma, attachment, child development, grief and loss, abuse and neglect, cultural humility, behavior management, positive discipline, communication, reunification, maintaining family connections, educational advocacy, medical care, documentation, permanency planning, caregiver wellness, and collaboration with DCFS and other professionals.

Required Hours

Utah Foster Care currently provides a standardized preservice curriculum consisting of classroom instruction and self-guided learning modules. Applicants must successfully complete all required training before licensure. Additional instruction may include CPR, First Aid, medication management, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, normalcy standards, and specialized training depending upon the types of children the family intends to foster.

Online Available

Yes. Utah allows portions of preservice preparation to be completed through online and self-paced learning combined with instructor-led classroom sessions, discussions, and practical activities. Certain licensing requirements—including interviews, home inspections, CPR verification when required, and portions of the home study—must still be completed in person.

Certification

Applicants receive documentation after successfully completing Utah's required preservice education. Additional specialized certifications or continuing education may be required for therapeutic placements, medically complex children, infants with prenatal substance exposure, youth with significant behavioral needs, or other specialized foster-care programs.

Home Study

Required

Yes

Interviews

Utah requires every foster family to complete a comprehensive narrative home study conducted by the Office of Licensing or an authorized licensing agency. Interviews evaluate parenting philosophy, motivation for fostering, family relationships, communication, emotional stability, childhood experiences, trauma awareness, discipline practices, physical and mental health, finances, employment, support systems, placement preferences, cultural awareness, and the family's ability to provide safe, stable, nurturing care.

Home Visits

Licensing specialists conduct one or more home visits to evaluate compliance with Utah foster-home licensing standards. The residence is inspected for cleanliness, structural safety, emergency preparedness, bedroom arrangements, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, medication storage, firearm security, hazardous materials, sanitation, utilities, pets, water hazards, and the overall suitability of the home. Additional inspections may occur if corrections are required before licensure.

Topics Covered

  • Motivation for fostering
  • Understanding foster care and reunification
  • Family history
  • Childhood experiences
  • Marriage and family relationships
  • Communication skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Parenting philosophy
  • Positive discipline
  • Trauma-informed parenting
  • Attachment
  • Grief and loss
  • Child development
  • Behavior management
  • Educational advocacy
  • Medical care coordination
  • Mental health awareness
  • Supporting family connections
  • Cultural humility
  • Financial stability
  • Employment responsibilities
  • Transportation planning
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Support systems
  • Physical health
  • Mental health
  • Substance-use history
  • Criminal-history review
  • Child abuse and neglect history
  • Confidentiality
  • Documentation responsibilities
  • Mandatory reporting
  • Normalcy and prudent parenting standards
  • Placement preferences
  • Household strengths and challenges
  • Collaboration with DCFS and community partners

Timeline

The home-study process generally occurs throughout the overall licensing period and varies according to applicant responsiveness, training completion, scheduling, references, medical documentation, background checks, home repairs, and Office of Licensing workload. Many families complete the process within approximately three to six months.

Home Requirements

Bedroom Rules

Utah licensing standards generally require at least 40 square feet of bedroom space for each foster child. Every child must have an individual bed or crib with a clean mattress and appropriate bedding. Foster children may not share a bedroom with an unrelated adult. Children of opposite sexes generally may not share a bedroom unless all children are younger than two years old. Sleeping arrangements must always promote safety, privacy, and healthy development.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas in accordance with Utah licensing standards and local building codes. Licensing specialists verify that smoke alarms are present, functional, and properly maintained during inspections.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Homes containing fuel-burning appliances, attached garages, fireplaces, or other carbon monoxide sources must maintain working carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with Utah law and licensing requirements.

Fire Extinguisher

Utah foster homes must maintain at least one properly charged and readily accessible fire extinguisher. Foster families must also develop emergency evacuation plans and ensure exits remain unobstructed.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, sharps, and medical supplies must be safely stored and inaccessible to children. Controlled medications may require locked storage depending upon the child's age and needs.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning chemicals, detergents, pesticides, fuels, poisonous substances, alcohol, sharp tools, and other hazardous materials must be securely stored and inaccessible to children whenever appropriate.

Firearms

Firearms and ammunition must remain inaccessible to foster children. Firearms must be unloaded and securely locked. Firearms and ammunition may only be stored together inside a commercially manufactured locked firearm-storage container. Otherwise, ammunition must be locked separately using different keys or combinations inaccessible to children.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, ponds, irrigation canals, and other water hazards must be protected against unsupervised child access using fencing, locking gates, covers, alarms, supervision plans, rescue equipment, or other safety measures required by licensing staff.

Pets

Household pets are permitted when appropriately vaccinated, healthy, well supervised, and not dangerous to children. Licensing specialists may evaluate veterinary records, sanitation, supervision practices, containment, and temperament during the licensing process.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles transporting foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and operated by licensed drivers. Foster children must always use seat belts, car seats, booster seats, or specialized restraints appropriate for their age, height, weight, developmental level, and medical needs.

Background Checks

Fingerprinting

Utah requires fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history background checks for foster-parent applicants and adult household members as required by licensing regulations. Fingerprints are submitted through authorized state and federal screening systems before licensure.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants and adult household members must successfully complete Utah child abuse and neglect registry screening. Applicants who have lived in other states may also be required to complete child-protection registry checks in those jurisdictions.

Criminal History

Licensing specialists review criminal-history records, child-protection history, interviews, references, court records, prior licensing history, and other available information when determining an applicant's suitability to provide foster care. Applicants must disclose arrests, convictions, deferred dispositions, probation, parole, and other legal matters.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain criminal convictions and substantiated findings of abuse or neglect permanently disqualify applicants under Utah law and applicable federal requirements. Crimes involving child abuse, sexual offenses, homicide, domestic violence, serious drug offenses, violent crimes, human trafficking, and similar offenses generally prevent foster-home licensure. Other offenses may be reviewed individually based upon state law, rehabilitation, and child safety considerations.

Additional Checks

Additional screening may include sex offender registry searches, driving-record reviews, employment verification, previous foster-home licensing history, court-record reviews, reference verification, household composition reviews, and any additional evaluations necessary to protect children placed in foster care.

Licensing

Steps

  • Contact Utah Foster Care or DCFS.
  • Participate in an initial consultation or orientation.
  • Submit the foster-care application.
  • Complete preservice training.
  • Complete CPR certification when required.
  • Complete First Aid certification when required.
  • Provide references.
  • Submit medical and financial documentation.
  • Complete fingerprinting and background checks.
  • Participate in interviews.
  • Complete the narrative home study.
  • Pass the home safety inspection.
  • Correct any licensing deficiencies.
  • Receive foster-home licensure.
  • Accept foster-child placements.
  • Complete required annual continuing education.
  • Maintain compliance with licensing standards.

Average Timeline

Many Utah applicants complete the licensing process within approximately three to six months. Actual timelines depend upon applicant responsiveness, training schedules, reference completion, background-check processing, home-study scheduling, licensing workload, and any required home corrections.

Renewal Requirements

Licensed Utah foster homes must maintain compliance with licensing standards and complete renewal requirements established by the Office of Licensing. Renewal generally includes updated documentation, continuing education, home visits, background screening when required, safety inspections, and correction of any identified deficiencies.

Ongoing Training

Utah foster parents must complete continuing education each year to maintain licensure. Additional specialized training may be required depending upon placement type, the needs of children placed in the home, and licensing or DCFS requirements.

Placements

How Placements Work

After licensure, Utah foster families may receive placement requests from DCFS placement staff based on the child's individual needs and the family's approved preferences, training, experience, household composition, available bedroom space, geographic location, and ability to meet the child's physical, emotional, educational, developmental, behavioral, cultural, and medical needs. Every placement seeks to provide the least restrictive, most family-like environment while supporting reunification and maintaining important family relationships whenever safely possible.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Utah foster parents may decline any placement that falls outside their approved capacity, experience, comfort level, household dynamics, available resources, or ability to safely meet the child's needs. Families are encouraged to ask questions regarding the child's history, behaviors, medical needs, medications, visitation schedule, educational needs, sibling relationships, trauma history, permanency plan, and supervision requirements before accepting placement.

Emergency Placements

Utah regularly seeks foster families willing to accept emergency placements, including after-hours, weekend, infant, sibling-group, and short-notice placements. Because emergency removals often occur quickly, complete information may not initially be available. Additional medical, educational, behavioral, legal, and family information is provided as soon as it becomes available.

Sibling Groups

Utah makes every reasonable effort to keep siblings together whenever doing so is safe and in the children's best interests. When siblings cannot safely live together, DCFS works to maintain sibling relationships through visitation, phone calls, video communication, shared activities, holidays, letters, photographs, and other ongoing contact whenever appropriate.

Age Preferences

During licensing, foster families identify the ages, genders, number of children, sibling groups, behavioral needs, developmental disabilities, medical conditions, cultural considerations, and placement types they are prepared to accept. These preferences help placement staff identify appropriate matches while remaining within the home's licensed capacity.

Reimbursement and Benefits

Monthly Board Rate

Utah provides foster-care maintenance reimbursement to help offset the reasonable costs of caring for children placed in licensed foster homes. Payment amounts vary according to the child's age, approved level of care, placement type, and any specialized services required. Foster-care reimbursement is intended to support the child's needs and is not considered employment income.

Clothing Allowance

Routine clothing expenses are generally expected to be covered through the monthly maintenance reimbursement. Additional clothing assistance may be authorized when children enter care without appropriate clothing or have unusual seasonal, school, medical, employment, or placement-related clothing needs. Foster parents should follow DCFS approval procedures before making significant purchases requiring reimbursement.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support the child's placement and the foster parent's employment, education, training, court obligations, medical appointments, or other approved activities. Eligibility depends upon the child's circumstances, available funding, provider approval, and DCFS authorization.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Utah foster care generally receive Medicaid coverage that includes physician services, hospital care, behavioral health, prescriptions, dental services, vision care, therapy, developmental services, specialty care, and medically necessary treatment. Foster parents coordinate appointments, maintain medical records, administer medications as directed, and follow DCFS medical-consent policies.

Mileage Reimbursement

Mileage reimbursement or transportation assistance may be available for approved travel related to family visitation, medical appointments, therapy, court hearings, school transportation, licensing requirements, placement transitions, and other case-related responsibilities. Families should follow DCFS documentation and reimbursement procedures.

Additional Benefits

Depending upon the child's needs, foster families may receive respite care, behavioral consultation, educational advocacy, therapeutic services, childcare assistance, crisis intervention, specialized medical equipment, mentoring, placement stabilization services, independent living support for older youth, and referrals to community resources.

Support Services

Respite Care

Licensed Utah foster families may request respite care to provide temporary relief and help maintain placement stability. Respite providers must satisfy applicable licensing, background-screening, and approval requirements. Availability depends upon local resources, agency approval, and the child's specific needs.

Support Groups

Utah Foster Care and community organizations sponsor foster-parent support groups, educational workshops, conferences, online communities, and peer networking opportunities. Topics frequently include trauma-informed care, attachment, reunification, behavior management, self-care, permanency planning, education, and advocacy.

Mentoring

Many newly licensed Utah foster parents are connected with experienced foster-family mentors who provide practical guidance, emotional encouragement, and assistance navigating licensing requirements, placements, DCFS procedures, court involvement, school issues, medical appointments, and family relationships.

Counseling

Children may receive counseling, trauma-focused therapy, psychiatric services, behavioral-health treatment, developmental services, substance-use treatment, family therapy, and crisis intervention when clinically appropriate. Foster parents may also receive caregiver coaching, behavioral consultation, and referrals to supportive community services.

Crisis Support

During emergencies involving a foster child, families should contact emergency services when appropriate and notify their assigned DCFS caseworker and licensing worker as soon as possible. Serious injuries, hospitalizations, abuse allegations, missing children, arrests, suicide threats, placement disruptions, law-enforcement involvement, medication errors, and other significant incidents must be reported according to Utah policy.

Foster-to-Adopt

Available

Yes

Process

Utah allows families to pursue both foster care and adoption. Children typically enter foster care with reunification as the primary goal while parents receive services designed to safely reunify the family. If reunification is no longer possible and parental rights are terminated, foster parents may be considered as adoptive resources when doing so serves the child's best interests.

Legal Risk

Every foster placement carries legal risk because reunification remains the preferred permanency goal whenever safely possible. Children may reunify with parents, be placed with relatives, move to another foster home, enter guardianship, or become available for adoption depending upon court decisions and permanency planning.

Adoption Subsidy

Children adopted from Utah foster care who meet eligibility requirements may qualify for adoption assistance that can include monthly financial assistance, Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of qualifying nonrecurring adoption expenses, and post-adoption support services.

Kinship Care

Available

Yes

Licensing Differences

Utah gives priority to safe placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever appropriate. Relatives may sometimes receive temporary placement before completing full foster-home licensure. Those seeking ongoing foster-care reimbursement generally complete the same licensing standards, training, background checks, home study, and safety requirements as other foster families.

Financial Support

Eligible kinship caregivers may qualify for financial assistance, Medicaid for the child, childcare assistance, kinship services, foster-care maintenance reimbursement for licensed homes, adoption assistance, guardianship assistance, respite care, legal referrals, and community support programs depending upon the child's legal status and the caregiver's circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Applicants must generally be at least 21 years old.

Can a single person become a foster parent?

Yes. Qualified single adults and legally married couples may become licensed foster parents.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own their residence provided it meets Utah licensing standards.

Can I work full-time and foster?

Yes. Many foster parents work full-time. Families must still provide reliable supervision, transportation, and childcare arrangements when needed.

Do I need previous parenting experience?

No. Previous parenting experience is not required before becoming licensed.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when they are healthy, vaccinated, safely supervised, and do not present a danger to children.

Can I own firearms?

Yes. Firearms must be unloaded, securely locked, and inaccessible to foster children. Ammunition must be properly secured according to Utah licensing requirements.

Can I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents may decline any placement they believe is not an appropriate fit for their family or licensure.

How long does licensing usually take?

Many families complete licensing within approximately three to six months, although individual timelines vary.

Can relatives become foster parents?

Yes. Utah strongly encourages placement with relatives and fictive kin whenever it is safe and appropriate.

Does fostering guarantee adoption?

No. The primary goal of foster care is reunification whenever it can be safely achieved.

Do foster children receive medical insurance?

Yes. Most children placed in Utah foster care receive Medicaid medical coverage.

Do foster parents receive financial assistance?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive maintenance reimbursement to help offset the child's daily living expenses.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Licensed foster families may qualify for respite services depending upon agency approval and local availability.

Must I support reunification?

Yes. Foster parents are expected to support reunification efforts by working cooperatively with parents, relatives, DCFS staff, and service providers whenever appropriate.

Agency Contacts

State Agency

Utah Division of Child and Family Services

Phone

1-855-323-3237

Address

195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Website

Visit the official agency website

Recruitment Agency

Utah Foster Care

Recruitment Phone

1-877-505-5437

Recruitment Website

https://utahfostercare.org/

Official Resources
Utah Foster Care

Official recruitment, training, licensing, and support organization for Utah foster and adoptive families.

Utah DCFS Foster Care

Official Utah Division of Child and Family Services foster-care information.

Utah Foster Care FAQ

Frequently asked questions about becoming a foster parent in Utah.

Utah Foster Care Training

Information about required preservice training and continuing education.

Utah Foster Care Licensing

State licensing requirements and Office of Licensing information.

Utah Adoption

Information about adopting children from Utah foster care.

Utah Kinship Program

Resources and services for relative and kinship caregivers.

Utah Medicaid

Medical coverage information for eligible children.

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Federal foster-care and adoption resources.

AdoptUSKids - Utah

Utah foster-care and adoption information and waiting children.