Foster Care
Our foster parents are special people who provide love, structure and safety to children who can’t be with their families or on their own. Foster parents know that in foster care, patience and acceptance of what each day may bring is essential, and the gift of love goes both ways. Each foster care placement benefits from the strength of the vision shared by everyone involved: the child, the biological family, the foster family, treatment providers, and other significant people in the child’s life.
Foster Care
Are you thinking of becoming a foster parent?
We know you have many questions and that it can be an intimidating process. We will be here to walk you through the process, answer your questions and provide education, and treatment support as you open your hearts and home to a child in need. Contact us at 888-746-2850 to start the application process.
LSS has a clinical supervision team that is here to support families in brainstorming interventions when you feel stuck. With our experienced foster care services team, clinical services team and experts in a variety of services Lutheran Social Services provides a comprehensive foster care program.
Our foster parents are special people.
Families provide love, structure and safety to children who can’t be with their families or able to live on their own. Foster parents know that in foster care, patience and acceptance of what each day may bring is essential, and the gift of love goes both ways.
Each foster care placement benefits from the strength of the vision shared by everyone involved: the child, the biological family, the foster family, treatment providers, and other significant people in the child’s life. The shared goal is to reunify the child with his/her family; if that goal can’t be reached, it may change to placing the child in a permanent family home.
“I am very thankful for the family I have and their willingness to bring me into their lives. Reflecting on my experiences I have found that I am very resilient. Through all the situations I was put in, I was able to focus more on the positives in life and less on the negatives, to keep looking forward. I found forgiveness for those who had hurt me, and I found strength and perseverance to keep moving on. I did not let my bad experiences – whether it be life before foster care, an adoption that fell through or moving from home to home, not knowing what was coming next – inhibit my future.”
-Former Foster Care Youth Adopted By a Family
Becoming a Foster Parent
A child’s biggest worries should be things like finishing homework, learning to ride a bike or passing a driver’s test.
Unfortunately, some children have a lot more to worry about. They have to deal with things like physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and effects of alcohol and other drugs abuse. This can take an enormous toll on their emotional and physical well-being and make it difficult to trust, to feel safe or to feel loved.
Foster care is designed to provide structured, nurturing, loving environments in which children can thrive until they are able to be reunited with their biological families or placed in another permanent home. Many of these children need specialized supports and services. To find out more, consider attending one of our foster care informational meetings
Becoming a foster parent may be one of the most important things you do for a child. Could you imagine being 12 and wondering if you will ever have a safe home to call your own? Or can you imagine being a 14-year-old girl that wants to ask a trusted foster mom what it might be like to date?
We commit to assuring our foster youth are treated with respect, you have a voice in their care! If a youth comes into our services with their belongings in trash bags we commit to providing them a duffle bag or suitcase. https://www.togetherwerise.org/sweet-cases-for-foster-children/
How can you become a foster parent and stand in the gap?
The main requirement to becoming a foster parent is having a heart for children and families in their time of need, and a willingness to open your home to the children. Foster care parents also must meet specific standards set by state and federal law.
We will walk you through the process and provide the training to move you forward in the process. Contact us at 888-746-2850 to start the application process. One of our LSS licensing specialists will assist you throughout the home study process.
You can take the first step and learn more at informational meetings, by calling or filling out contact us form below.
Once licensed, you can count on the LSS foster care team to provide you with training, ongoing support, and assistance. We are happy to talk with you and answer questions you have about becoming a foster care parent, including eligibility requirements.
We offer one-hour foster parenting informational meetings by appointment. To setup a time to learn more, call 888-746-2850 or complete the Contact Us form at the bottom of this page.
Become a Respite Foster Care Provider
Asking for help is a strength.
A respite provider provides short term care for children in foster care. This could vary from a few hours to the whole weekend. Respite providers receive a stipend to help cover the costs of providing for the child while they are with them. Our respite parents are willing to provide respite to both children in full time care or children who live with their family and are in need of some respite time.
Being a respite provider offers an excellent opportunity to help children in need while learning about foster care and its commitment. Many of our full-time parents started out doing respite care. Please use the form below to contact us if you are interested in providing short-term or weekend care to children in foster care or contact us at 888-746-2850 to start the application process.
Foster Parent Informational Meetings
LSS has provided foster care services for decades, and the current need for foster families is the greatest we’ve ever seen. Attend an informational meeting to learn how you can change the world for a child who needs you.
Foster Care Informational Meeting Topics:
- What it takes to be a foster parent
- How the skills you already have will help you
- What type of children need foster care
- Goals of the foster care process
- Responsibilities of foster parents
- How foster parents work with biological families
- How LSS provides training, assistance with the licensing process and continuing support to foster parents
- You can also view our foster parenting FAQs here. (Will review)
Informational Meeting Times/Locations
Stay tuned for upcoming Fall dates!
Individual meetings are also available! To find out more, please call 1-888-746-2850 to meet one-on-one about becoming a foster parent.
Fill out our Contact Form below to have an LSS Foster Care colleague reach out to you directly!
"*" indicates required fields