Foster Care on the Mid Shore
Foster Care on the Mid Shore
  • Home
  • Mid-Shore Foster Care
    • Contact Us
    • Foster vs Adoptive Parent
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Requirements
    • Becoming Licensed
    • Training
    • Support For Our Families
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • Mid-Shore Foster Care
      • Contact Us
      • Foster vs Adoptive Parent
      • Other Ways to Help
      • Requirements
      • Becoming Licensed
      • Training
      • Support For Our Families
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Mid-Shore Foster Care
    • Contact Us
    • Foster vs Adoptive Parent
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Requirements
    • Becoming Licensed
    • Training
    • Support For Our Families
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Requirements to Become a Foster Family

What qualities make a successful resource parent?

  • Empathy and good listening skills 
  • Perseverance when things get tough 
  • Flexibility and adaptability 
  • Patience and sense of humor 
  • Stability and consistency in your personal and family life 
  • An ability to guide and discipline children without the use of physical punishment 
  • Openness to support and education
  • Willingness to work as part of a team
  • The ability to look after yourself emotionally and stay well 
  • A willingness to work with other people in the child’s life including birth parents, extended family members, social workers, and the court system 
  • A willingness & openness to support the child to develop a sense of positive identity that includes their culture, language, sexual orientation, and religion
  • The ability to support families in unique or out-of-the-box ways
  • An openness to children of all different ages and backgrounds

Individual Requirements:

  • Be at least 21 years of age or older and a United States citizen or legal immigrant who is admitted for legal residence
  • Be a resident of the county in which you wish to serve
  • All household members must have a physical exam
  • Provide verification of marriage(s) and divorce(s)
  • Provide proof of income and complete a family financial statement
  • Undergo a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services background check, Child Support and MVA records checks, and Sex Offender Registry check
  • Be CPR certified
  • Provide 3 references, 1 of which can be a relative and 2 non-relatives. 

Home Qualifications:

  • Certain counties require health and sanitary inspections of the home by local Health Department
  • Certain counties require a fire inspection of the home by Fire Marshall 
  • Each child must have his or her own bed and provision for privacy, study, and storage for their belongings
  • Pets must be licensed and properly vaccinated 
  • All firearms in the home must be safely stored, registered and ammunition must be stored separately. 

Special Safety Requirements (Pools, hot tubs, waterfront properties):

  • Ensure areas are maintained in a safe and sanitary condition
  • Comply with county zoning, building, and/or health codes or ordinances
  • Waterfront property must have a fence with a locked door or gate, controlling access to the body of water 


In-Ground Pools:

  • Must be completely enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high; fence gate must be locked
  • Must be completely covered in a manner to prevent access by the child, or  must have power safety covers that may be used as an alternative to fences


Above-Ground Pools:

  • Must include retractable or removable ladders that are locked when not in use or stored away from the pool
  • Shall be at least 4 feet above ground at all points. Doors and gates that access the pool shall have lock; if a pool has a deck area with a door, the door shall be locked; permanent steps shall have a locked gate
  • May not have climbable objects on the exterior of the pool


Hot Tubs/Spas:

  • Must include retractable or removable ladders that are locked when not in use or stored away from the hot tub/spa
  • Must have secured covers when not in use
  • May not have climbable objects on the exterior of the hot tub/spa


Copyright © 2021 Mid-Shore Resource Parents - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by