Foster parents open their hearts and homes to children and families in need — for a few days, weeks, months, years and, sometimes, a lifetime. They provide the parents with time to focus on themselves and the work they need to do to be able to parent their children safely. 

They also help children to heal; accept and nurture children who enter their homes; make it possible for children to remain in their communities and schools; work with and support the children’s parents; and support efforts to reunite children with their parents.

Some foster parents:

• Provide emergency homes for children, with little advance notice.
• Help prepare older adolescents for the day they will be on their own and living independently.
• Provide specialized care for children who have special needs that require a high level of supervision and more sophisticated intervention strategies.

For More Information

For more information about becoming a respite provider, please contact the DCF Family Services District Office nearest to you and ask to speak to the Resource Coordinator.

Help children and families in your community. Become a foster parent!