Foster Care

Child Foster Care Licensing

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children when they cannot remain in their own home. Care is given until their own 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.

Children placed in foster care also have health insurance coverage at no cost to the foster family. During the application process, a potential foster family will need to have a criminal background check, 3 letters from references, a home study, a fire and safety check of the home and discussion of state foster care guidelines and standards.

To apply for a foster care license, a person must be 21 years of age and reside in Crow Wing County. Additional foster homes are always needed, particularly homes that are able to effectively parent teenagers.

Application

If you are interested in applying to become a foster parent and would like someone to discuss the foster care program with you, please call Allyson Davis at (218) 824-1165.  

• Crow Wing County Community Services Foster Care Licensing Application

Upcoming Orientation/Training

• The next orientation class for families who are in the process of being licensed will be held December 4, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Community Services building, 204 Laurel St., Brainerd, MN 56401, Room 31A.

• CARS training will be held on January 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Land Services building, 322 Laurel St., Brainerd, MN 56401, Room 2.