Texas Requirements for Foster Parents

Have you been thinking about fostering a child who needs a new home, and now you are wondering what the requirements are for you to make this kind of impact on a young person’s life? Besides providing temporary care, love, and encouragement to children, you will also have to meet a specific list of requirements in Texas.

Those Requirements Include:

Texas Requirements for Foster Parents - Kids First, Inc. - Dallas and Fort Worth, TX

• Be at least 21 years old

• Be in good physical and mental health

• Have enough income to meet current expenses

• Able to provide beds and bedrooms for additional children

• Agree to a search of DFPS records

• Provide fingerprints of all who will be living in the household

• Certify that no household member has a previous conviction of any sexual offense

• Have a road worthy vehicle and a working phone

• Be a legal resident

• Undergo the mandatory pre-service training

A foster child can be placed with your family once you have met all of those requirements. They must be treated just the same as a biological child would be within state guidelines. Additionally, the agreement of the placement could allow that the child continue having contact with its birth parents and you will be expected to supervise and mentor this relationship.Foster parents should not take their responsibilities as a temporary family lightly. These children already feel abandoned, lost, and out of place, which is why it will be vital for you to treat the position you have received seriously by providing the best, loving home possible.If you need more information on how to get started fostering, give us at Kids First a call and we will guide you in the right direction.  Children in foster care deserve all the love and care that good foster parents can give them. If you have compassion for children in the foster program, this could be worth considering.