Choosing the right foster care agency can be a challenging decision that is personal to your family. Learn more about what to look for in an agency below.
What Makes a Good Foster Agency?
Understanding what makes an agency right for you starts with asking the right questions. A strong foster care agency is built on partnership, transparency, and dependable support. Look for an agency that offers:
-
Thorough, trauma-informed skill development before and after a child is placed in your home
-
Regular check-ins and support, not just contact when paperwork is due
-
A dedicated team who knows your family, understands the child’s history and needs, and partners with you on a clear, realistic plan
-
Help coordinating counseling, school supports, medical care, and other community resources
-
Respect for your voice as part of the team and alignment with your family’s values
-
Encouragement and celebration of progress—both the big milestones and the small everyday wins
How to Pick the Right Foster Care Agency?
Choosing the right foster care agency starts with asking yourself what you need to feel supported and confident.
Begin by talking with several agencies and paying attention to how they communicate—do they answer your questions clearly, explain the certification process in detail, and make you feel welcomed and respected?
Ask about the skill development they provide, how often you’ll hear from your team, and what kind of 24/7 support is available when challenges come up at home. It can help to talk with current foster parents in the program about their experiences with staff, crisis response, and access to counseling and school supports. Read Jennifer's Story here, to understand when it make sense to transfer agencies.
Look for an agency whose values match your own, that honors your role in decision-making, and that sees you as a partner in helping the child heal and grow.
Most of all, notice how you feel when you leave each conversation—heard, prepared, and encouraged, or confused and unsure. Your comfort and trust with the agency are essential, because this will be your team on the hardest days and the ones full of joy.
When is it Time to Change Foster Care Agencies?
Sometimes the clearest sign that it’s time to change agencies is the feeling that you’re carrying more of the load than you should.
Jennifer's tip "While the experience of transferring agencies to Mentor Foster Care was challenging, it ultimately reinforced for us the importance of being with an agency that aligns with our values and supports both foster families and children with integrity and care.
If your questions go unanswered, your calls or emails aren’t returned, or you find yourself facing crises alone at night or on weekends, that’s a red flag. You deserve an agency that listens when you speak up about a child’s needs, takes your concerns seriously, and follows through with real support—whether that’s timely therapy appointments, help navigating school and community resources, or skill development that prepares you for what you’re experiencing at home. It may also be time to consider a change if the agency’s values no longer align with yours, if you feel pressured into decisions that don’t feel right for your family, or if you notice that plans made for the child don’t seem to move forward. Trust your instincts: when you consistently feel unheard, unsafe, or unsupported, exploring other agencies that offer stronger communication, 24/7 help, and trauma-informed care can be an important step for both you and the child in your home.
Learn if fostering with Mentor Foster Care is the right right fit for your family by clicking the button below!
