Child Foster Care

Child Foster parents provide care in:

• Emergency shelter: needed in emergency situations, providers must be will to care for both female and male children ages 0-18 and have some flexibility for sibling groups. Placements are typically 1 to 8 days.
• Family foster care: foster families care for children for 1 day to several months.
• Special services homes: foster families capable of providing care for children with medical needs, developmental disabilities, emotional & behavioral special needs, and youth who have been found delinquent. 
• Resource family homes: foster families provide care for children, actively support reunification while committing to the possibility of adoption if reunification can not take place.
• Respite care: foster families care for children for periods of times, as short as one day or up to 29 days. The purpose is to provide the children’s parents a brief break in their care responsibilities. 

• Must be an Olmsted County resident
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application, there is no upper limit. 
• A request for licensure cannot be denied based on marital status. 
• You may work outside the home. 
• You and other adult household members must sign a statement, indicating they have been free of chemical use problems for the past two years.
• All household member who are 13 years of age or older must pass a criminal and social services background check. Must be no history of abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults.
• Questions? Call Charlene at 507-328-6412  

• Must attend a 3 hour informational session, applications are given out at the end of the session.
• Must attend 2 additional training sessions before a licensing worker will initiate a homestudy.
• Complete and return the application packet, along with finger print card for anyone over age 13 in the household.
• A licensor will work with you in completing a “homestudy” and ensure that your home meets licensing safety standards.