How to Become a Foster Parent

Curious about fostering? If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re qualified—or what the process looks like—this guide is for prospective foster parents like you. We’re breaking down the basics so you can explore fostering with confidence and clarity.

What Does a Foster Parent Actually Do?

At its core, foster parenting is about stepping in with love, safety, and stability during a critical time in a child’s life. Children and teens enter the Montana foster care system because their birth family is facing serious challenges. Foster parents provide a temporary home while birth parents work through those challenges with the goal of being reunited.

Most children in foster care return to their families—but some may eventually become eligible for adoption. In either case, foster parents play a vital role in helping kids feel secure, cared for and supported.

So, what is foster care and what does it look like? You may even wonder “how do kids get put into foster care?”?  Practically, it means integrating a child with a painful past into your family to provide both physical and emotional safety. Foster parents are charged with meeting the child’s day-to-day needs as well as fulfilling their part in the child’s reunification plan. This may include taking the child to visits with their birth parent(s) or siblings, coordinating with other members of the child’s care team and learning more about trauma-informed care.

Who Can Foster?

Spoiler: You don’t have to be a superhero. Just a stable, caring adult with a heart for kids.  

Here’s what the state of Montana requires:

✅ Age & Background

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must pass criminal and child abuse background checks.

✅ Relationship Status

• You can foster whether you’re single or married.
• If you’re fostering as a couple, both adults need to complete the approval process.

✅ Home Requirements

• You don’t need to own a home. You can rent an apartment, condo or house.
• The space must be safe, clean and have enough room for a child.

✅ Job & Income

• There are no work restrictions or requirements for foster parents. You can foster whether you’re retired or work full time.
• You can work inside or outside the home.
• You’ll need to demonstrate that you can support your current family financially, but there is no cost to foster.

✅ Health & Lifestyle

• You must be physically able to care for a child or youth.
• You should have a stable, responsible, and emotionally mature lifestyle.

Do Foster Parents Get Paid?

Not exactly. Foster parents are not paid a salary. But they do receive a monthly reimbursement to help cover the cost of food, clothing and daily care for the child. Medical expenses are also covered, typically through Medicaid. In some cases, additional assistance may be available for children with specific needs.

How Do You Get Licensed?

Becoming a licensed foster parent is a step-by-step journey—and you won’t walk it alone. Here’s what to expect:

1. Apply

• Fill out a Resource Parent Application for each adult applying and submit to your local Department of Health and Human Services office.
• Submit a Release of Information form and fingerprints for background checks.

2. Submit Health & Safety Info

• Complete a Personal Statement of Health for everyone in your home.
• Prepare for a home safety and fire inspection.

3. Get Trained

• Complete state-required foster parent training (available online).

4. Family Assessment

• A Resource Family Specialist will visit your home to complete an interview and home study.

💡 The entire licensing process usually takes 90–120 days.

Ready to Learn More?

If you're thinking, “Maybe I could do this”—we believe you can. Foster families come from all walks of life, just like the children who enter their homes. The biggest requirement for a foster family is a willingness to open their hearts and homes to children who need them.

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