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. 

Call 888-746-2850 or Complete The Form Below!

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.

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 

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 who 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.

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.

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.

Become a Respite Foster Care Provider

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 Care FAQ

Meet the Foster Care Team

Fill out our Contact Form below to have an LSS Foster Care colleague reach out to you directly!