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Your Love is Enough
Opening your home to a child in foster care is an incredibly rewarding and worthwhile experience.
You’ll provide love and security during a difficult moment in the child’s life, making a profound difference
in their future. Good Shepherd’s team is here every step of the way through training, matching with a
child, and personalized, round-the-clock support.
Click her for real-world insights about foster care on Good Shepherd’s blog.
Becoming a Foster Parent
Requirements
There are a few requirements to become a foster parent:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have a safe house or adequate space for the child
- Be willing to undergo child abuse and criminal history background checks
- Be in generally good physical and emotional health
- Be financially stable
- Be of good moral character
- Be willing and able to accommodate and care for additional children in your home
- Partner with the child’s biological family as needed
Training
The process of becoming a foster or adoptive parent usually takes a minimum of 4 months and includes:
- Completion of a home study with a Family Development Specialist
- Attending MO CARES training (10 three hour classes taught over 10 weeks)
- Completing a background screening
- Participate in home evaluations and medical screenings
- Obtain character references including employment, school, and personal references
Support
There are a variety of services and support available to foster families. Our Fostering Faithful Families ministry reaches out to churches in the hopes of educating the community about the needs of children in foster care.
- Monthly stipend to help with expenses related to the child
- Missouri Healthnet to cover the child’s medical expenses including Mental Health Services
- Yearly clothing allowance depending on the child’s age
- Day care services at approved centers for foster children up to age 13
- Training and support groups offered by local agencies
- Ongoing support of staff who are trained to help with any situation you’ll face
Levels of Care
Traditional & Medical
Children are any age from birth to 21
Requirements:
- Traditional: 30 hours of MO CARES training
- Medical: MO CARES training + medical training specific to child’s needs
Elevated Needs
Level A
Children are often ages 6-21 and have moderate emotional/behavioral needs.
Requirements:
- MO CARES training + 18 hours of Level A elevated needs training
Level B
Children are often ages 6-21 and have severe emotional/behavioral needs.
Requirements:
- 30 hours MO CARES training
- 18 hours Level A training
- 12 hours Level B training
- Requires 1 year experience providing care to a child with mental health/behavioral needs
Treatment Foster Care
Children are often ages 10-21 and are pregnant teens, parenting teens, youth stepping down from residential care, or youth with severe emotional/behavioral needs.
Requirements:
- 30 hours MO CARES training
- 18 hours Level A training
- 12 hours Level B training
- 4 hours Treatment training
