Built by foster parents, for future foster parents

Right Now, a Child Near You Needs a Home

Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States. Many are waiting for a family like yours — not a perfect family, just a willing one.

Enter your zip code and we'll show you exactly who to call, what to expect, and how to get started — all in one place.

Currently covering Pennsylvania · Expanding nationwide soon

Four steps. That's it.

Your Journey from Here to Foster Parent

It's more straightforward than you think. Here's the whole path, start to finish.

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Find Your People

Enter your zip code. We'll show you the agencies, contacts, and resources in your community.

⏱ 5 minutes

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Ask Questions

Call your local agency and attend an info session. No commitment — just learning.

⏱ 1 phone call

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Get Trained

Complete pre-service training (usually 20-40 hours). It's free, flexible, and genuinely useful.

⏱ A few weeks

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Open Your Home

After training, a home study, and background checks, you're licensed. Then you wait for the call.

⏱ 3-6 months total

Read the Full Guide →

400,000+

children are in foster care right now

More than 100,000 are waiting to be adopted. They're in your county, your school district, your neighborhood. You don't have to adopt. You don't have to foster forever. Even one safe placement changes a life.

Let's clear these up

You're Probably More Ready Than You Think

Almost everyone talks themselves out of fostering at first. Tap any of these to hear the truth.

Foster parents receive monthly reimbursement to cover the child's expenses. Children in care also qualify for Medicaid. This isn't meant to be a financial burden — the system is designed to support you.

Single individuals can foster in all 50 states. What matters is your ability to provide a safe, loving home — not your relationship status.

You will get attached. That's the point. These kids need someone who cares enough to get attached. And yes, it's hard — but the support is there, and so is the impact you'll make.

You don't need a mansion. You need a safe sleeping space, working smoke detectors, and a willingness to open your door. Renters can foster too.

Neither did we. That's exactly why we built this site. The training teaches you everything you need to know, and your caseworker is there to help along the way.

Perfect parents don't exist — in foster care or anywhere else. What these children need is someone consistent, patient, and present. If you're worried about being good enough, you probably already are.

Ready to see what's in your area?

Written by foster parents

Practical Guides for Real Families

From the first phone call to the first placement — honest, practical info from people who've been in the trenches.

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Your First Placement

What to have ready, what to expect the first night, and the checklist we wish someone had given us.

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Financial Support

Reimbursement rates, WIC, clothing allowances, and what you actually need to know about the money side.

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All Guides

From certification to healthcare to navigating the legal system — practical info for every stage.

Real families. Real experiences.

Hear From Families Who've Been Where You Are

Nothing we can write will tell you more than hearing from people who are living it.

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Our First Placement Changed Everything

The Liefer Family · Pennsylvania · Fostering 4+ years

We went in thinking we'd help a child. What we didn't expect was how much our whole family would grow through the experience.

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I Never Thought a Single Guy Could Foster — I Was Wrong

Marcus · National · Fostering 2+ years

As a single man, I assumed foster care wasn't an option for me. Turns out, single foster parents are not only allowed — they're desperately needed.

Why This Site Exists

When we started our foster care journey, we spent weeks Googling, calling wrong numbers, and piecing together information from dozens of outdated government PDFs. It shouldn't be that hard.

Open to Foster was built by a foster and adoptive dad who believes the biggest barrier to fostering isn't willingness — it's information. Enter your zip code, get your local resources, and know exactly who to call. That's it.

Read Our Story →

Take the First Step

You've read this far, which means something in you is saying "maybe." That's enough. Enter your zip code and see what's near you. No commitment. No signup. Just information.

A child near you is waiting. Maybe you're the one they're waiting for.