Are you looking to become a foster parent in PA? Let us help guide you through the process. From applications to home studies, here’s what you need to know.
If you are wondering how to become a foster parent in Pennsylvania, you’re on your way to making a difference in the life of a child who is temporarily in need of a home.
Pennsylvania has approximately 15,000 children in foster care across the state.
These children come from different backgrounds, and many have been through situations of uncertainty, loss, and trauma. No matter what they’ve been through, you can be a light in their lives.
Consider this your go-to guide on becoming a foster parent in Pennsylvania, as we cover:
To become a foster parent in Pennsylvania, you must first meet some basic requirements:
Potential foster parents must also show their ability to provide:
Let’s take a closer look at some of these requirements.
Pennsylvania foster parents need to be physically and mentally healthy to care for a child in foster care.
To demonstrate this, potential foster parents must pass a medical check by a licensed physician before being approved.
While this may sound intimidating, it’s a basic health check to confirm that you are physically capable of caring for a child in foster care.
Checking for any communicable diseases, as well as your mental and emotional health, is a part of the process, but not something to be afraid of.
Before someone can become a foster parent, they need to pass a few federal and Pennsylvania state background checks. This helps make sure that every child is placed in a safe and secure home.
Here’s what’s involved:
These checks might sound like a lot, but they’re pretty standard — similar to what you’d go through when volunteering at a school.
There is no specified income requirement to become a foster parent in Pennsylvania.
However, foster parents must have enough income and financial stability to support their household and the child in foster care.
Pennsylvania offers a stipend to help cover the everyday costs of caring for a child in foster care — things like food, clothing, school supplies, and other essentials.
Since this money is meant for the child’s needs, foster parents need to show that they can financially support their household without relying on the stipend. That usually means sharing some basic financial documents so the agency can confirm you have a stable income.
Before welcoming a child, your home should be set up to support their daily needs — physically, emotionally, and practically.
Don’t worry — you don’t need to have everything perfect to fill out a foster parent application!
At this early stage, the main thing is having a bedroom where a child can sleep.
After submitting your application, you’ll have time to make any adjustments needed, like adding safety caps to outlets, getting a fire extinguisher, or finding a secure place to store medications.
When you work with a foster care organization like Mentor Foster Care, someone will walk you through each step and help you get your home ready.
In regard to Pennsylvania’s foster home requirements, that means things like enough living space, functioning utilities, and basic safety checks.
Minimum Pennsylvania home and safety requirements include:
Children in foster care deserve a space where they can truly rest and feel at ease.
Foster parents must provide each child in their care with a clean, comfortable mattress and pillow as well as clean linens and blankets.
In Pennsylvania foster homes, sleeping areas must be suitable for children. This means that areas such as a hallway, garage, bathroom, closet, shed, unfinished attic or basement, or eating area cannot serve as bedrooms.
In addition, children in foster care who are age five and older may not share the same bedroom with anyone of the opposite sex.
With an understanding of the basic foster parent requirements, here’s a breakdown of the process of becoming a foster parent.
The first step is choosing a foster care organization to partner with in your area. Their professionals will ensure that you receive accurate information and support with each step.
Mentor Foster Care, a member of the Sevita family, helps prospective foster parents in Pennsylvania with the application and the entire process.
Locations include:
To find the location nearest you, simply refer to the following map:
Once you have chosen an organization to work with, you will be ready to begin the application process.
This will include basic information on you, your household, and your interest in fostering. If you have any questions, your foster care organization will be there to support you.
Every state in the U.S. requires prospective foster parents to complete preservice sessions. These sessions are designed to provide information and prepare foster parents for the challenges and rewards of taking care of a child in foster care.
In Pennsylvania, foster parents must complete at least six hours of preservice sessions.
Once you have your foster parent license, in order to maintain it, these sessions need to be completed annually.
One of the most important steps in becoming a foster parent in Pennsylvania is completion of the home study process.
This is when the home requirements we mentioned earlier — like background checks and home safety — come into play. Your home, lifestyle, and family dynamics will be discussed.
A home study will be conducted by a social worker or other licensed professional, and will include:
It might feel like a lot, but you’re not expected to figure it out alone. Your caseworker will guide you every step of the way.
And, as Tacole Robinson reassures, at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
As mentioned when reviewing foster parent requirements, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that anyone age 14 or older in your home must undergo criminal background checks and child abuse clearance.
In addition to completed background checks, PA foster parents must provide some additional documentation and paperwork. This includes:
Once your completed information, paperwork, and evaluations have been compiled, reviewed, and approved, you will receive your Pennsylvania foster parent license.
This is a major milestone in your journey — it means you're now ready to provide a home for a child in need and take the next steps with your agency’s support.
When you receive your foster parent license in PA, the matching process begins. Great care is taken to ensure that children in foster care are placed with families who will be a good fit for each other.
You’ll be able to share preferences — like the age or gender of the child you feel most prepared to care for — and your agency will work with you to honor those whenever possible. Just keep in mind that having very specific preferences may mean it takes a little longer to be matched.
That said, many foster parents who originally pictured caring for babies or young children have found unexpected joy and fulfillment in fostering older kids and teens. These relationships can be incredibly meaningful — and older youth in foster care are often the ones waiting the longest for a stable, supportive home.
Once you are matched with a child in foster care, you will receive their relevant information and history.
After going through the process of becoming a foster parent in Pennsylvania, welcoming a child into your home is a meaningful and life-changing moment. With patience, care, and an open heart, you can help a child in foster care feel like part of the family and create lasting memories together.
It may take time for everyone to adjust — and that’s completely normal. Support is always available, and the chance to offer stability, connection, and a sense of belonging to a child is one of the most impactful things you can do.
Becoming a foster parent in Pennsylvania involves stepping into an important role for a child in foster care. Foster parents have a unique opportunity to provide care, stability, and guidance for children who have endured sudden and often confusing transitions.
While it is important to know the requirements to become a licensed foster parent, it’s also worth understanding the ongoing support you’ll provide to kids.
From your home environment to providing help with homework and emotional support, here are some of the ongoing responsibilities you can expect as a foster parent.
In Pennsylvania, foster parents are responsible for establishing a safe and nurturing environment.
While kids enter foster care in Pennsylvania for different reasons, usually, it’s for their safety and well-being. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, neglect is the number one reason kids are placed in foster care.
Because this comes with being separated from their birth family, the need for safety and stability is even more important.
To help kids through this difficult time, foster parents provide:
Elizabeth Murrell, a Maryland foster parent, shares this in her letter to her child in foster care:
"We want you to feel safe and loved in our home. We understand that this may be a new and unfamiliar environment for you, but please know that we are here to support you every step of the way."
Helping a child with their education has an impact beyond the here and now – it can make a lifelong difference. Many kids in foster care in Pennsylvania experience school mobility — frequent transitions between home and school environments.
These changes are often sudden and difficult for kids of all ages in foster care. School mobility can lead to academic adversity, poor performance, and an overall sense that education is a low priority. In addition, if a child feels like they aren’t doing well in school, it could impact their self-worth.
Due in part to school mobility and other factors, the U.S. Department of Education ranks kids in foster care among the groups at high risk of dropping out of school. This impacts their high school graduation rates, opportunity to attend college, and potential career choices.
With limited educational support and multiple transitions, studies have shown that kids in foster care are more likely to face joblessness, homelessness, and other unfortunate outcomes.
This is one area in which foster parents can make a big impact for children in their care. By helping kids with their schoolwork, you can celebrate their progress and wins, big or small.
In addition to working with teachers and school professionals, foster parents can prioritize academic success and support education through:
Understandably, kids in foster care may have difficulties forming healthy relationships — often due to traumatic experiences.
In fact, according to the University of Pittsburgh, kids who’ve spent over six months in homes where they faced neglect, abuse, or constant instability before entering foster care are more likely to struggle with attachment issues. In the same way, the study demonstrates that kids who have had more than one foster home, or have been in foster care for a long time, are more likely to face attachment problems.
Foster parents have the opportunity to teach and model positive relationships, helping kids in their care overcome these challenges and build trust in others.
Tacole Robinson, a foster parent with Mentor Foster Care, captures this beautifully:
"I just love to see how wonders can happen and how we can be in awe of what can happen when children are nurtured, when they're supported, where they're loved."
Many children in foster care, especially those in therapeutic foster care, may feel uncertain about getting to know new people. They may have been through frequent or difficult transitions, which can be overwhelming and discouraging.
Foster parents who approach these children with love, patience, and understanding can help kids in foster care see the value in connections and healthy interactions.
There are many ways foster parents can support kids in building safe, healthy relationships:
Kids in foster care often have unaddressed emotional needs due to backgrounds based in uncertainty and trauma. This includes unexpected loss, neglect, and separation from home and family.
The American Academy of Pediatrics describes the negative impact of traumatic experiences on the well-being of these children — putting them at risk for withdrawal, depression, and other mental health concerns.
This is where foster parents in Pennsylvania can help overcome those risks, helping kids with their mental and emotional needs.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as letting a child know you are there for them.
These small, everyday ways that foster parents can help kids with their emotional needs include:
A big part of the foster parent role is preparing a child or teenager in foster care to navigate adulthood and independence. While this is important for all kids, those in foster care may not have had a role model to observe and ask questions of when growing up.
Like all adolescents, ensuring that kids in foster care are ready for independence when the time comes takes patience and emotional support.
Foster parents can make a lifelong impact by preparing kids in their care to:
In Pennsylvania, there is also an Independent Living Program, supervised by the state, designed to prepare children ages 14-21 for transitioning from foster care to living independently.
This is part of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, overseen by PA’s Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth, and Families.
In Pennsylvania, you are not alone when you become a foster parent.
The state offers various services and support so foster parents can provide the best care for children in their homes.
Organizations such as the Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association offer support staff and services to foster parents in the state. They can connect you with helpful resources and answer questions.
In addition, there are many community groups across the state who are able to provide resources such as emotional support, essential items for kids, and some financial assistance.
Foster parents in Pennsylvania receive a monthly stipend to help cover the cost of caring for a child. The stipend amount is based on the child’s age and any special needs:
There are additional stipends for children ages infant to 12 requiring emergency care or special needs care.
Pennsylvania foster families are also eligible for state-subsidized child and day care through the Early Learning Resource Center.
Children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid. This covers a wide range of medical, vision, and dental services.
Medicaid coverage ensures that children in Pennsylvania foster care receive necessary health care without a financial burden for foster parents. Benefits include doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health services, hospital stays, vision care, and dental care.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, you're not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself at a computer screen.
You can talk to a real person who understands Pennsylvania’s foster care system and will take the time to answer your questions based on your life, your home, and your goals for fostering.
Whether you're just exploring the idea or ready to take the next step, expert support is here to walk you through it, one conversation at a time.
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