Practical Info for Real Families
Foster Parent Guides
Written by foster parents who've been in the trenches — not by people who've only read about it. Plain language, practical advice, real-world checklists.
Our approach: The foster care system is full of jargon, acronyms, and processes that no one explains until you're already in the middle of it. These guides are the resource we wish we'd had — organized by the topics that actually come up, in language that actually makes sense. We're adding new guides regularly. State-specific details are noted as Pennsylvania where applicable, with more states coming.
Available Now
Start here. These guides cover the questions that come up most.
Your First Placement
What to have ready, what to expect the first night, questions to ask, and the checklist we wish someone had given us when we started.
Read guide →Financial Support & Reimbursement
Monthly reimbursement rates, clothing allowances, WIC eligibility, and what you actually need to know about the financial side of fostering.
Read guide →Getting Licensed
The certification process from start to finish: training, clearances, home study, and what the timeline actually looks like.
Read guide →Coming Soon
We're working on these. Each one is written from experience and carefully researched.
Healthcare & Insurance
Coming SoonHow Medicaid works for foster children, what's covered, how to get a new child set up with doctors, and navigating prescriptions and specialists.
The Legal System
Coming SoonUnderstanding dependency court, permanency hearings, TPR, and your role as a foster parent in court proceedings.
Caseworkers & Visits
Coming SoonBuilding a good relationship with caseworkers, preparing for home visits, navigating birth family visits, and advocating for your foster child.
School & Daycare
Coming SoonEnrollment rights, school stability protections, IEPs, accessing daycare assistance, and advocating for your foster child's education.
Adoption & Permanency
Coming SoonWhen reunification isn't the plan: understanding the permanency process, adoption from foster care, and what it means for your family.
Fostering Babies & Toddlers
Coming SoonSpecial considerations for infants and toddlers in care: attachment, feeding, sleep, medical needs, and navigating the uncertainty.
Sibling Groups
Coming SoonThe unique rewards and challenges of fostering siblings: keeping them together, managing different needs, and creating a cohesive family dynamic.
When a Child Leaves
Coming SoonReunification, disruption, and grief. How to process the emotions, support the child's transition, and take care of yourself.
Have a topic you want us to cover? We're building this based on what foster parents actually need. If there's something you wish someone had told you, we want to hear about it.
Learn how to contribute →