It's not a big secret that there is a significant need for foster families throughout the United States. The need is so large that the federal government has established a program specifically designed to recruit and mentor foster and adoptive-foster families through the AdoptUSKids project. Families Like Ours works on this project helping families both in Washington and throughout the United States.

Here are the typical basic requirements (check with your specific state):

• A completed and approved foster home study
• An approved foster license
• Be at least 21 years of age (this is dependent upon your state)
• Pass a local and federal background check*
• Have adequate space for the number of foster children you are willing to be licensed to accept
• Be able to adequately provide for the number of people in your household, including the placed foster children (in a nut shell this means you can put food on the table, clothes on their back and a roof over their head)
• Pass a health and safety and fire safety inspection of your home
• Completion of your states required classroom training
• CPR and other health related training and certification
• Pass a personal physical and health exam

At any time there are in excess of 600,000 children in the foster care system in the United States. Nearly 130,000 of them are in need of an adoptive or permanent living situation; including adoption, guardianship or long term foster care. Currently there are no states that have an adequate amount of foster care providers for the number of children entering the system. There is a shortage of 1,000 to 5,000 necessary foster homes, depending upon your state.

While our emphasis at Families Like Ours is on families that adopt from the foster care system, we also advocate for and recruit foster families. Your specific state laws govern who can and cannot become a foster parent. In most states it would be any adult individual that completes the requirements of your state. However there are states, even with their shortage of families, that will not grant a single person or gay individual or couple a foster license.

For Washington State families this is not an issue. If you are a Washington State family please contact our office directly at 206-441-7602 or 1-877-230-3055 and we’ll start you on your way. We are able to provide you with complete wrap-around services for everything you will need to obtain your foster license.

For those of you outside of Washington State, you’re not left out. Families Like Ours has access to a network of mentors, recruiters and rules for every state in the United States. If you’re interested in becoming a foster family please contact us by clicking here or calling us at 1-877-230-3055.

* If you have been convicted of any crime to a person (adult or child) or have a felony arrest and conviction,you may not provide clear background check. As of July 1, 2007 all adults living in a home that is applying for or renewing a foster license must pass a federal F.B.I. background check.