Idaho Foster Care and Adoption Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in adoption and foster care. We encourage your active participation in foster care and adoption programs and look forward to helping you on your journey.

Interested families can contact the Idaho CareLine for more information.

• Phone (Teléfono): 800-926-2588 or dial 2-1-1
• Email (Correo Electrónico): careline@dhw.idaho.gov

Things You Should Know

• Foster Care and Adoption Licensing Requirements
• Costs to Foster and Adopt
• Parent Support Groups
• Agency Contact and Orientation Information
• Information on Idaho's Waiting Children
• Upcoming Events

Foster Care and Adoption Licensing Requirements

Foster and/or adoptive parents can be individuals and/or families. You may qualify if you:

• Are 21 years of age or older;
• For adoption only: while there is no upper age limit, most agencies prefer that there be no more than forty years between the age of the parents and the age of the child;
• Have a stable source of income suitable to support the family;
• Have adequate space in your house or apartment to provide a safe environment for the child;
• Can pass a physical examination (You don’t have to be in perfect physical condition to qualify; blindness, deafness or other physical disabilities will not disqualify you as a prospective adoptive parent.); and
• Take PRIDE training classes.

A homestudy is an educational and information-gathering process which helps agencies and social workers link couples and single adults with waiting children. The homestudy:

• Shares in-depth information about adoption;
• Prepares adults and other family members for the transitions that occur when a child is adopted;
• Helps determine if a person or couple can provide a safe, nurturing environment for a youth or sibling group;
• Provides written information about each parent and her/his life experiences; and
• Reveals any past criminal history and makes recommendations as to present ability to provide a safe, nurturing environment for a young person.

Individuals who are thinking of fostering and/or adopting should immediately call their social services office to schedule a fingerprint and background application. This process may take more than six weeks. Placement of a child in your home cannot take place without these results.

Family preparation is vital to the success of any adoption or fostering experience. Classes, literature and private instruction offered by homestudy social workers give prospective parents the tools to build on each child’s strengths. With these aids, you can be realistic about your expectations. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do need to be perfectly committed to being the best parent you can be.

The selection process takes time. Depending on the needs of the child, the number of applicants and legal considerations, it can take six weeks to three months before a child can be placed with a pre-adoptive family.

Costs to Foster or Adopt

Families wishing to adopt from foster care will need to work with a private agency or approved, certified adoption professional. Families will need to pay for their own homestudy. Typically this costs between $500 to $1000.

Foster Care certification is provided through the state Department of Health and Welfare and is free to families wishing to become foster parents.

Parent Support Groups

• Care Net of the Palouse
  Phone: 800-395-4957
  Address: 115 N. Jackson, Ste. A, Moscow, ID 83843

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

• A New Beginning
  Contact: Stephanie Pearl
  Phone: 208-939-3865
  Address: 9703 W. Ustick Road, Suite 101, Boise, ID 83704
  Ofrecen asistencia en español

For more information on certified adoption professionals, view a list of approved professionals.

Information on Idaho's Waiting Children

There are 1,818 children in foster care in Idaho; 373 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.

Children who need foster and adoptive families:

• May have experienced neglect or abuse
• Range in age from newborn to 18 years old
• May be members of a large sibling group that need to stay together
• Reflect all cultural and economic groups.

Upcoming Events

For information call 208-345-6646.