Child Foster Care
Become a foster parent/family
When children can't safely stay with their family, they are placed with a licensed foster care provider.
Foster parents play a crucial role in the lives of children in need, offering them a safe, supportive home when their families are unable to provide care. Most children who enter Washington County's foster care system are eventually able to return to their families. When reunification is not possible, foster parents offer a stable, nurturing environment until a relative can step in. In some cases, foster parents may even provide a permanent home for children who cannot return to their family or be placed with a relative.
Washington County is looking for foster homes that reflect the diversity of our community, including children’s racial, cultural, and LGBTQ+ identities. To learn more about fostering and how you can make a difference, please watch the video below.
Getting started: Attend a child foster care informational meeting
To become a foster parent, start by attending an information meeting to learn about the licensing process, requirements, and children in need of care. Both partners must attend if applying together. Please note, children should not attend these meetings.
This is a live, interactive virtual or hybrid session where participants can ask questions, engage in discussion, and receive answers from a foster care licensing staff. It allows for direct communication and clarification on the foster care process.
2026 Meeting Dates
- Monday, January 5 | 1–3 p.m. (Virtual.)
- Tuesday, March 3 | 10 a.m.–noon (Virtual.)
- Wednesday, May 13 | 6–8 p.m. (Hybrid: virtual and in-person options.)
- Thursday, July 23| 10 a.m.–noon. (Virtual.)
- Monday, September 28 | 6–8 p.m. (Hybrid: virtual and in-person options.)
- Tuesday, November 17 | 1–3 p.m. (Virtual.)
Register
- To register, Email Child Foster Care Licensing Team.
- Include the first and last name of all adult attendees and the date of the meeting you want to attend.
- After you register, we’ll send you an information packet and the link to the virtual meeting.
Meeting Format
The meeting will occur through Microsoft Teams.
Meetings in the following calendar year will be posted when registration is available.
This is a self-paced, pre-recorded video intended to be an option for anyone interested in becoming licensed child foster care providers who are unable to attend a live virtual session with licensors. It provides essential information about becoming a foster parent, but does not offer the opportunity for live interaction or questions during the viewing.
- Step 1: Watch the video.
- Step 2: Take the quiz to check your understanding of the information presented in the video.