Become a Foster Parent with Sample Supports
Could You Be a Foster Parent?
You may already have what it takes.
Have a desire to support children and make a difference
Are 21 years of age or older
Have an available bedroom in your home
Can provide a safe and stable home environment
Are willing to complete required training
Can complete required background checks and the home study process
Are willing to collaborate with the child’s support team
Already a Sample Supports Provider?
You may still be able to become a foster parent if you’re currently a Family Caregiver, Host Home Provider, or other residential provider. Apply to learn more about opportunities that may work with your current services and household.
Foster Parent Compensation
$2,000–$5,000/month*
Foster parents receive compensation for providing a safe, supportive home and meeting the individual needs of the child in their care.
Compensation varies based on the individual needs of the child and eligibility for services. Actual compensation is determined by placement and service needs.
Already a DD Provider?
CHRP funding is currently higher than traditional DD residential funding. If you already have experience providing residential services, foster care may be an opportunity to expand the impact you’re making while receiving higher provider reimbursement.
There’s More Than One Way to Make a Difference
Sample Supports offers several opportunities to support children and young adults. Our team can help you explore which opportunity may be the best fit for your home, experience, and goals.
Specialized Foster Care
Provide a safe, supportive home for a child with intellectual or developmental disabilities who may need additional services and support. This may be a great fit for people interested in supporting children with disabilities and higher support needs.
Traditional Foster Care
Provide a safe, nurturing home for a child or youth referred through one of our county child welfare partners. This may be a great fit for individuals and families interested in supporting children who need a safe and stable foster home.
Young Adult Transitions
Support young adults ages 18–21 with special needs as they build independence and prepare for adulthood, adult services, and community living. This may be a great fit for providers interested in helping young adults build skills, confidence, and greater independence.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Foster Parent?
You could be ready to foster in less than 60 days.* Sample Supports will guide you through training, the home study, background checks, and certification requirements to help you move through the process efficiently.
Timelines vary based on individual circumstances and completion of required certification steps.
What Does the Foster Parent Process Look Like?
The process starts by applying for a foster parent opportunity in your region. Our team will review your application, connect with you about next steps, and guide you through the requirements.
From there, you’ll complete required background checks, a home study, foster parent training, and licensing or certification requirements. Once approved, our team will work with you to identify an appropriate placement and prepare your home to welcome a child.
Support doesn’t stop after placement. Sample Supports provides ongoing guidance, resources, and support throughout your foster care journey.
What to Expect
1. Apply: Choose the foster parent opportunity for your region and submit your application.
2. Meet With Our Team: Connect with our team to discuss foster care, requirements, compensation, and next steps.
3. Complete Application & Paperwork: Work with our team to complete the required application process and paperwork.
4. Home Study & Licensing: Complete the home study and required licensing steps.
5. Training & Preparation: Receive training, resources, and support to prepare for foster care.
6. Placement Matching: Work together to identify an appropriate placement for your home.
7. Welcome Your First Child: Prepare your home and welcome a child when an appropriate match is identified.
8. Ongoing Support: Receive continued support, guidance, resources, and training from Sample Supports.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Becoming a foster parent starts with an application. Choose your region below to view the current opportunity, learn more, and apply directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Become a Foster Parent?
People from many different backgrounds may be eligible to become foster parents. You do not necessarily need previous foster care experience to begin exploring the opportunity.
Because foster care has specific licensing and home requirements, our team will help you understand the qualifications and determine whether fostering is a good fit for you and your household.
How much are foster parents compensated?
Foster parent compensation typically ranges from $2,000–$5,000 per month.*
Compensation varies based on the individual needs of the child and eligibility for services. Actual compensation is determined by placement and service needs.
Do I Need Previous Foster Care Experience?
Previous foster care experience is not necessarily required. Experience with parenting, caregiving, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health, education, healthcare, or human services can be helpful, but training and guidance are provided as part of the process.
What matters most is your ability and willingness to provide a safe, stable, supportive home and learn how to meet the needs of the child in your care.
Do I Need a Spare Bedroom?
Bedroom and household requirements can vary based on licensing standards and the needs of the child being considered for placement.
Our team will review your home situation with you and explain the requirements that apply before moving forward.
Can I Work Another Job While Being a Foster Parent?
Employment does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a foster parent. However, foster parents must be able to meet the individual child’s supervision, transportation, appointment, school, and support needs.
Our team can help you determine whether a potential placement is compatible with your household and schedule.
What Is the Process to Become a Foster Parent?
The process generally includes applying, meeting with our team, completing required documentation and background checks, participating in a home study, completing training, meeting licensing or certification requirements, and preparing for placement.
Once approved, our team works with you through the matching and placement process and continues supporting you after a child enters your home.
How Does Placement Matching Work?
Becoming an approved foster parent does not mean a child is automatically placed in your home.
Placement matching considers the needs of the child as well as your household, experience, preferences, available space, and ability to provide the appropriate level of support. Our goal is to identify placements that have the potential to be successful for both the child and foster family.
What is CHRP?
CHRP stands for Children’s Habilitation Residential Program. It is a specialized program for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need additional support outside of their family home.
Sample Supports specializes in supporting children with disabilities through CHRP while also providing traditional foster care opportunities through county partnerships.
What Is the Difference Between CHRP and Traditional Foster Care?
CHRP is specialized foster care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who require additional residential and habilitative support.
Traditional foster care generally serves children and youth referred through county child welfare agencies who need a safe foster home.
Sample Supports can provide both, and our team can help prospective foster parents understand the differences and determine which opportunity may be the best fit.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Foster Parent?
The timeline varies for each applicant and can depend on factors such as completing paperwork, background checks, training, the home study, and applicable licensing requirements.
Our team will help you understand what is required and guide you through each step as efficiently as possible.
What Support Will I Receive?
You won’t navigate foster care alone. Depending on the placement and program, Sample Supports provides training, licensing guidance, clinical consultation, ongoing resources, and support from an experienced team.
Our partnership continues after a child is placed in your home.
Why Foster Care with Sample Supports?
Becoming a foster parent is an opportunity to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home while making a lasting difference in a child’s life. Sample Supports provides training, guidance, clinical resources, and ongoing support throughout your foster care journey.
Does Sample Supports only provide CHRP placements?
No. While Sample Supports specializes in CHRP and serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we are also licensed to provide traditional foster care placements through county partnerships.
Can I Provide Adult Residential Services and Foster Care in the Same Home?
In some circumstances, a household may be able to provide foster care while also supporting an adult receiving residential services. However, this depends on licensing requirements, household composition, available space, compatibility, and the individual needs and safety of everyone living in the home.
Because every household and placement is different, Sample Supports will review these situations individually before determining whether the arrangement is appropriate.
What Ages Are the Children You Serve?
Sample Supports works with children and youth who need safe, supportive foster homes, including children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The age and needs of children seeking placement vary. During the process, our team will talk with you about the ages and support needs you feel prepared to welcome into your home.
What Happens After a Child Is Placed in My Home?
Our relationship with you doesn’t end at placement. Sample Supports continues to provide guidance, resources, training, and support as you and the child adjust and grow together.