How To Become A Foster Parent in California

How To Become A Foster Parent in California

This guide is designed for writers creating content that helps you learn how to become a foster parent in California, understand exactly how to begin the process, what to expect, and how to succeed. It outlines key steps in the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process, explains requirements, and gives clarity for caregivers who want to provide safe, supportive homes for children in foster care.

Resource Family Approval and Foster Care

Resource Family Approval (RFA) is the process California uses to approve adults and families to care for children who need foster care. A resource family is someone approved to look after a child who can’t live with their birth parents. Resource families may care for children short‑term, long‑term, or through adoption.

While we often say “foster parents,” the word resource family better fits today’s system because it includes both temporary care and permanent care when a child cannot return home.

The main goal of foster care is to keep children safe, help them grow in healthy ways, and support them while adults work to fix the problems that caused them to need care. Foster care helps children feel safe, learn, and heal from neglect, abuse, or instability.

How to Become a Foster Parent Through the Resource Family Approval Process

The RFA process has several main steps from start to placement. Most families take a few months to complete everything.

1. Application and Orientation:
   You begin by filling out the RFA application, often online. After that, you attend a local orientation session where staff explain what comes next. Before applying, gather basic information like addresses, household members, and contact details.
2. Training and Pre‑Approval Requirements:
   All potential resource families must complete training before approval. Training covers topics like how children grow, how trauma affects children, and how to support kids who have faced hard experiences. You also must complete CPR and first aid certification. After approval, you will continue training each year.
3. Home Visit and Safety Inspection:
   A RFA social worker will schedule an in‑home visit to check your home’s safety. They will look at things like smoke detectors, sleeping areas, and general room setup. You should prepare your home and be ready to talk about your family’s routines.
4. Background Checks and Health Clearances:
   All adults in the home must submit fingerprints for a background check. You also must provide proof of a TB test and a basic medical screening. If there are past problems in your background, your social worker can explain how to request an exemption.
5. Approval and Placement:
   After training, home visits, checks, and interviews are complete, your county reviews your application and lets you know if you are approved. Once approved, you talk with your social worker about potential child matches. You can accept or decline a placement if it doesn’t fit your family’s needs.

Who Can Become a Foster Parent

To become a foster parent, you must be at least 18 years old and live in California. The program accepts people in many different family situations. You can be single, married, partnered, living with extended family, or caring for relatives — as long as you can provide a safe home.

Your home must be safe and have enough space for a child. You also need a stable income so you can meet the child’s daily needs. The goal isn’t wealth — it is a supportive, safe, and nurturing environment for a child.

Not Ready to Become a Foster Parent? You Can Still Make a Difference for a Child!

Becoming a foster parent is a big commitment, and it’s not the right fit for everyone. But there are many other ways to support children in foster care and make a real difference in their lives. Foster Love offers opportunities for individuals, families, and community groups to help children through service projects, shopping sprees for essential clothing, birthday boxes, and other programs that provide foster youth with resources, support, and moments of joy. By volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, you can help foster children feel safe, cared for, and valued—even if you’re not able to open your home as a foster parent.

Learn more about how to support foster youth through Foster Love’s programs here!

Application and Orientation

To start the process, you fill out the RFA application, usually online. After you submit it, you attend an orientation in your county. Orientation helps you understand what training is required, what documents you need to gather, and what your next steps will be. It also gives you the chance to ask questions before continuing.

Training and Pre‑Approval Requirements for Resource Families

Training prepares you to care for children who may have experienced neglect, abuse, or trauma. Pre‑approval training often includes teaching about:

• Child development
• How trauma affects kids
• How to support children’s behavior and emotional needs

You also must get CPR and first aid certification so you can respond to emergencies. After you are approved, you continue learning through ongoing yearly training.

Home Visit and Safety Inspection by RFA Social Worker

Once you complete training, your RFA social worker visits your home. This visit checks whether your home is safe and ready for a child. The social worker may talk with each family member and look for things like working smoke alarms, proper sleeping spaces, and a clean living environment. Be ready to explain where children will sleep and how you keep your home safe.

Background Checks and Health Clearances

Everyone 18 or older in the home must have fingerprints taken for a background check. You also need a TB test and proof of general health screening. The goal is to make sure children are placed in homes where they are protected and healthy. If you have concerns about your background, talk with your social worker about how to request an exemption.

The Role of the RFA Social Worker

Your RFA social worker is your main guide throughout the process. They schedule your home visits, answer questions, and help you prepare for interviews. You will also complete a psychosocial assessment — a conversation about your family, motives, strengths, and how you plan to support a child. Your social worker can connect you to local supports like parenting classes, community groups, and counseling.

Approval, Matching, and Placement Steps

Once all requirements — training, home assessment, background checks, and interviews — are complete, your county team reviews your entire application and communicates an approval decision. If approved, you’ll receive official notification and can begin discussing child placement matches with your social worker.

Matching involves reviewing a child’s needs alongside your household’s strengths and preferences. You may receive information about the child’s background, developmental needs, and any required services. You are encouraged to ask questions and consider each placement carefully. If a match does not feel right for your home, you can decline and wait for another opportunity. This ensures that children are placed in homes where they will thrive.

Support for Resource Families and Foster Parents

After becoming approved, you still have learning and support options. Many counties offer:

• Specialized classes on trauma, child behavior, and emotional support
• Peer support groups where resource parents connect and share experiences
• Counseling resources for your family and the child

These supports help families stay strong and responsive to each child’s needs.

Resource families receive financial support to help with the day‑to‑day costs of caring for a child. Make sure to document your expenses so you can be reimbursed correctly. It also helps to talk with a legal advisor so you understand financial rules, adoption choices, and how foster care payments work.

After Approval: Caring for a Foster Child and Resource Family Duties

Once officially approved and a child is placed, your role as a caregiver deepens. Resource families must maintain required records, such as healthcare documents, school information, permission forms, and communication logs. Establish a family safety and emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and procedures for medical or behavioral crises.

Coordination with the child’s social worker is essential. Regular check‑ins, service planning meetings, and updates on the child’s progress help ensure that care remains child‑centered and responsive to evolving needs.

Ready to Become a Foster Parent?

To find your county’s foster care contact information, visit the Department of Social Services website. They can give you complete and accurate information on becoming a foster parent in your county. You can also call the Resource Family Approval Policy Unit at (916) 651-7465 for more.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and follow up with an email so you have a record of your application progress and next steps. Good luck!