Hello all! Thank you for your interest in Kentucky’s waiting children. We look forward to talking with you about fostering and adopting and when you are ready, helping you to move forward with the process. Please contact us at 1-877-994-9970. Our offices are open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time from Monday through Friday. However, we are available to you in the evenings as well. Please leave a voice mail message and we will call you back as soon as possible.
Contact Information
Murray State University, Training Resource Center
Caroline Crump, caroline.crump@murraystate.edu
Tammy DeBoe, deboe1@paducah.com
1-877-994-9970
Out of state: (270) 809-6946
Para información en español, contacte:
Irma Garcia Brown, irmalgarcia@yahoo.com
1-877-994-9970
Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption
There are several requirements for adults who want to become foster or adoptive parents. These requirements may vary slightly by agency, but most require some variation of the following:
- Interested families must attend an informational meeting;
- Applicants must be at least 21 years old;
- Parents can be married or single;
- Parents should be financially stable and have an income (separate from any financial support offered to foster or adoptive parents for the child’s needs) sufficient to meet their family's needs;
- Applicants must be able to provide a safe, secure and healthy home for a child;
- Parents must be in good physical and mental health;
- The home must meet requirements for housing safety and space;
- All adults in the home must successfully complete 30 hours of preservice preparation training and all paperwork to help them make an informed decision about whether fostering and/or adopting is appropriate for their family.
The training, evaluation and approval process normally takes four to six months. The amount of time until a family receives a child depends on how flexible the family is about the type of child they wish to parent. Foster parents may receive a child shortly after approval. Adoptive placements generally take longer because the move to an adoptive home must be planned and gradual so that both the child and the family have time to adjust.
Does it Cost to Foster or Adopt?
Some private agencies may charge a fee to cover the cost of the training, evaluation and approval process. The state social services agency’s foster care and adoption program is free. Regardless of your choice of agencies, you are not obligated to become a foster or adoptive parent simply because you attend the program. The only cost that may be associated with the training and approval process with the state social services agency is the cost of the required physical examination.
Parent Support Groups
Kentucky Foster and Adoptive Parent Training Support Network
www.kentuckynetwork.org
Fifteen parent led teams in various locations across the state that provide support, training and recruitment. A peer support program—for parents, by parents. 1-877-994-9970.
Adoption Support for Kentucky
Sixteen adoptive parent support groups throughout the state. 1-877-440-6376.
Resource Parent Mentor Program
Experienced foster and adoptive parents serve as mentors to new foster and adoptive parents during their first six months after approval/placement. Includes weekly calls to respond to questions, concerns or to provide assistance during challenging times. 1-877-440-6376.
Kentucky Foster / Adoptive Care Association
Parent-based association dedicated to the empowerment and encouragement of foster and adoptive families through advocacy and training.
Agency Contact and Orientation Information
The Lakes Region
Includes Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken.
Informational meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month, 5:30 p.m., 333 Charles Drive, Mayfield. 270-247-2979.
The Lakes Region
Includes Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and Trigg.
Informational meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 5:00 p.m., 110 Riverfront Drive, Hopkinsville. 270-889-6570.
Jefferson Region
Includes Jefferson county.
Informational meetings are the:
- 1st Tuesday of each month, 6:00 p.m., 920 Blankenbaker Parkway, Louisville;
- 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m., 908 West Broadway, Louisville;
- 3rd Tuesday, 1503 Rangeland Road @TJ Middle School, Louisville;
- 4th Thursday of each month, 12:00 noon, 3610 Bohne Avenue, Louisville. (502) 595-5437.
Two Rivers Region
Includes Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren.
Call 270-746-7447 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Two Rivers Region
Includes Daviess, Hancock, McLean, and Ohio.
Informational meetings are the 1st Monday of each month, 6:00 p.m., 311 West Second Street, Owensboro. (270) 687-7491.
Two Rivers Region
Includes Henderson, Union and Webster.
Call (270) 826-7178 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Southern Bluegrass Region
Includes Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer and Powell.
Call (859) 245-5488 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Salt River Trail Region
Includes Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington.
Informational meetings are the 2nd Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m., 916 North Mulberry, Elizabethtown. (270) 766-5099.
Salt River Trail Region
Includes Anderson, Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford.
Call (502) 633-2055 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Northern Bluegrass Region
Includes Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton and Scott.
Call (859) 292-6632 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Northeastern Region
Includes Bath, Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Robertson and Rowan.
Call (606) 845-2381 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Northeastern Region
Includes Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, and Lawrence.
Call (606) 920-2130 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Eastern Mountain Region
Includes Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike.
Call (606) 788-7100 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Eastern Mountain Region
Includes Breathitt, Lee, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe.
Call (606) 633-0191 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Cumberland Region
Includes Ball, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Laurel, Knox, Rockcastle and Whitley.
Call (606) 330-2001 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Cumberland Region
Includes Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor and Wayne.
Call (606) 677-4086 for dates/locations/times of informational meetings (they vary each month).
Information on Children
There are approximately 7,000 children from the ages of birth to 21 who are living in out of home care in Kentucky; 2,126 of these children are waiting for adoptive families.
- The greatest percentage (51%) of these children are age 12 and older.
- Many have brothers and sisters who also need care.
- They represent all races and many ethnic groups.
- Most (75%) are able to return home when their birth families or relatives can provide appropriate care for them.
Other Resources