Child Foster Care Licensing

Foster Care Introduction

Child foster care homes are utilized when children cannot live with their own families. Children typically enter foster care due to neglect, abuse, or a family crisis or the child's acting out at home. Foster parents provide a safe, consistent, nurturing and stable living environment for these children until they can be safely returned to their families. Becker County Human Services is responsible for the licensing of foster homes located in the county. Additional foster homes are always needed, particularly homes that can effectively parent teenagers.

Foster Parent Responsibilities

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children when they cannot remain in their own home. Foster parents provide care to children until the parents can resume this responsibility or until a permanent plan is made with relative or adoptive parents. Foster parents need to be caring and stable, as they will be helping children through a difficult time in their lives. Foster parents must be able to provide for their own family's financial needs, be good listeners, flexible, have a good sense of humor and work well with others in a team effort. Foster parents receive a financial reimbursement to care for the needs of children.

Foster parents:

  • Provide the daily basics: food, clothing, shelter, as well as the love, stability, guidance and discipline that all children need.
  • Know that foster parenting will not make them rich or famous. Foster parents are people who are genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of children and parents.
  • Are people who believe that children are worthy of their best efforts every day.
  • Are supportive of reunification with the child's family.
  • Do all these things knowing that the child(ren) may only be with them for a short time.
  • Are acutely aware of the crisis, stresses, and social problems resulting from the abuse and neglect of children.
  • May have children living at home, have raised their own children to adulthood, or are without children.
  • Decide if a placement is appropriate for their family.

More Information

We hope this information will assist you in determining your next steps in becoming a foster parent.

  • If you reside with another adult who will be in a caregiving role, both of you will be considered applicants and shall be involved in all aspects of the licensing processes.
  • If you have questions please feel free to call Nicole LeDoux, Foster Care Licensor at 218-847-5628 ext. 5362 or send an email.

Foster Family Requirements

Prospective foster parents may be married or single and must:

  • Live in Becker County
  • Be at least 21 years old, financially stable, and responsible adults
  • Live in a home that meets fire-safety code and have appropriate sleeping space
  • Complete and pass an Adam Walsh Background check on all household members who are 13 years or older
  • Participate in a home-study that includes interviews with all household members
  • Participate in six hours of foster care orientation
  • Complete all necessary licensing paperwork
  • Attend 12 hours of ongoing training annually to learn more about related issues
  • Be free of chemical use problems for at least the past two years.

Types of Foster Care

Foster care services in Becker County come in several forms to address the specific needs of children and the foster parents who care for them.

Family Foster Care
Treated as family members, these children and teens receive full-time, short- or long-term care.

Kinship Foster Care
Relatives, family friends, and those with a significant relationship may be licensed to provide care to specific children in foster care.

Respite Care
Respite care provides a break for birth parents or foster parents from caring for children on a scheduled basis.

Foster to Adopt
Foster parents assist and support reunification with the child's birth family while committing to provide a permanent home for the child if the child cannot return to the parents or other appropriate family.

Foster Care Rules & Statutes

Below are the Rules and Statutes that are pertinent to each of the Licensing categories. We suggest that you visit the State of Minnesota Revisor's website using the links below to review and/or print each section applicable to your program license.

Getting Started

To begin the child foster care licensing process, click on the link or QR code below and follow instructions. The licensor will be notified, and then reach out to schedule a time to visit with you.

QR code for foster care licensing application