How to Become a Foster Parent in Indiana

To foster through Childplace, you need to be 25 or older, pass background checks, have a home that meets the state's environment checklist, and complete 10 hours of pre-service training. The licensing process takes approximately 120 days from application to receiving your license.

You do not need to be married, own your home, or have parented before.

Foster parents come from every kind of household. What they share is a willingness to provide love and stability for a child who needs it most.

To foster through Childplace, you must:

• Be 25 or older
• Be single, or married at least one year
• Complete medical reports for everyone in the household
• Own or rent a home that meets Indiana's home environment checklist
• Pass background checks for every household member 6 or older

Show financial stability, which means you can cover your own household expenses without the foster care per diem

Flexibility and patience matter more than a perfect house. Progress with a child who has been through abuse or neglect is slow, and the families who do well are the ones who embrace that going in.

Step 1: Connect With Us — Call (812) 282-8248 or email fostercare@childplace.org. We'll answer questions and walk you through what's ahead. 

Step 2: Attend Orientation — A short meeting with Foster Care Program staff covering the licensing process and the start of your paperwork. 

Step 3: Attend Training — 10 hours of Initial Pre-Service Training, plus CPR/First Aid and Universal Precautions. To be approved as an adoptive parent, 6 additional hours are required. 

Step 4: Complete Documentation — Application, references, criminal background checks, and financial verification. 

Step 5: Complete the Home Study — A licensing specialist visits your home 3-4 times. This process enables you to make an informed decision to determine if fostering is right for your family, while we confirm you can provide a safe and loving home.

Step 6: Receive Approval and Placement — If and when your license is approved, our staff contacts you about children who need a home. You and Childplace decide together whether a specific placement fits your family.

Foster parents receive a daily reimbursement to cover the cost of caring for a child. It is not income and does not function as a salary. Indiana sets the rates, and the amount varies by the child's age and level of need.

The child's medical costs are covered separately through Indiana Medicaid or the biological parents' insurance, so routine care and therapy don't come out of your pocket.