State of Missouri Children’s Division is committed to child protection and family preservation. Every child is entitled to grow up in a permanent family. The primary and preferred way of achieving this goal is to provide families experiencing turmoil with services to prevent the need to place children outside their homes. When a child must be separated from the family, the Children’s Division will provide a healthy and safe environment and will make appropriate and timely efforts to provide services to reunite the family. The Children’s Division and private agencies like Saint Louis PARTNERS, will provide appropriate homes for children who cannot be reunited with their families.

The overall goal is permanency for the child — whether this be with their biological family, a relative or through adoption. We know that kids succeed and are happiest in a permanent home where they feel safe and loved. Our priority is the child and always strive for reunification with their biological family — if this is a safe, viable option where the child will be well cared for. If not, we look at other options that are in the best interest of the child.

Foster parenting is a serious commitment. It requires giving the gift of unconditional love to children and youth who may never have experienced love of any kind and who may not know how to accept it. Anyone can be a foster parent/family that meets the qualifications and goes through all the steps in the licensing process.

• 21 years of age or older and single, married, or divorced
• Have adequate space for a child
• Have an income adequate for own family/to be financially stable
• Own or rent adequate housing
• Have adequate transportation
• Good physical and mental health
• Ability to work as a team with agency social workers, child’s family and other service providers
• Ability to understand and support the child’s parents

Foster parent licensing follows mandates set by Missouri law and agency policy. The following requirements must be fulfilled prior to an individual or couple being certified to provide care for children. Individuals or couples must:

• Complete STARS (Specialized Training Assessment Resources and Support) pre-service training — minimum of 27 hours of classes
• Be cleared through State Police and FBI criminal records checks — applies to all adults 17+ living in the home
• Be cleared through State Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect
• Obtain a physical examination for all family members
• Be in agreement not to use Corporal Punishment (i.e. any physical punishment inflicted in any manner on a child’s body)
• Provide at least 3 references
• Participate in an individual home study
• Agree to complete 15 hours of annual in-service training requirements

You are encouraged to be informed. Gather information about foster parenting through our website or by attending one of our monthly informational sessions . Talk to other foster parents, which we can help facilitate. Contact us at 314-938-5690 to discuss the process and take the next step.

Foster parents are expected to treat a foster child the same way they would treat their own child – with love and respect. Plus partner with your Saint Louis PARTNERS team (link to Your Team page) and the biological parents. Specifically:

• Maintain confidentiality regarding the foster child and their family
• Arrange and take child to medical and dental appointments
• Register the child in school
• Participate in school meetings and events
• Take the child to appointments and extracurricular activities
• Inform the child’s worker of events occurring with the child
• Participate as a team member with agency staff, attend agency meetings, court hearings
• Support the child’s parents in their effort to have the child returned to their care

Yes. You may have to work with the child’s birth parent. The Children’s Division Foster Parent Program is comprised of a team of persons working together to do what is in the best interest of children. Foster Parents are critical members of that team. The goal for a child placed in the Children’s Division’ custody is to achieve safety and permanency as soon as possible, which includes working with the child’s parents towards reunification.

Monthly room and board payments are made to licensed foster parents to reimburse for the cost of caring for a child. These payments are to help meet the daily needs of the child for shelter, food, allowance and incidental expenses. The payments are determined by the child’s age. The child’s health and dental needs are covered by Medicaid. The reimbursement varies by age and by level/type of foster care provided:

In addition, a clothing allowance is provided for each foster child based on age:

Age 0-5 = $250/year

Age 6-12 = $290/year

Age 13+ = $480/year

Yes. However, be aware that there are many children needing out-of-home care and with experience and training, you may find you are most effective in caring for a specific age group or a range of ages. The greatest need today is for children and youth between the ages of 11 and 16, sibling groups and teen moms.

Yes, you do. Saint Louis PARTNERS utilizes a family-centered approach and believes this is a partnership with you as a foster parent. You can turn down a placement if you do not feel comfortable or can’t make it work at a certain time. We may however, ask you to consider a child that has some additional needs, such as medical services or ADHD, as we often have kids with higher needs. You can say no, but often bringing a child in that is outside your “comfort zone” ends up being a blessing and easier than anticipated. Plus, many foster parents take “breaks” in between foster placements to allow some time to adjust.

The length of time that a child stays in a foster home varies according to the plans for reunification with their biological family. Children may be in foster care for a few days or a few months. The length of stay is influenced by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. The goal is to seek a permanent placement for the child as quickly as possible, be it reunification with the birth parents, kinship care, or adoption. If the child cannot be reunited with their biological family, the child will be placed in a permanent home. Foster care placement is for as long as it takes to achieve a permanent placement for the child.

Each family or child is assigned a case manager who is responsible for providing support to each family. Supportive services (respite care, training, crisis lines, etc.) are provided by the licensing agency. Support is also available through state and local associations.

No. Single persons, co-habitating adults and married couples are all able to be licensed in Missouri.

Foster children are eligible for Medicaid cards which cover medical, dental and counseling services

Yes. The agency will work with you to find an approved provider and pay for the day care expenses.

No you do not, however you must have space for a foster child.

In most cases, foster children can share a bedroom with another child of the same sex.

We always try to help you with any issues in the home. We will provide team meetings to work together and offer additional training or services for the foster child if needed. But if the child can not stay in your home, children can be removed with a two-week notice ideally.

Typically, foster children can go on vacation with their foster families as long as the team and court are made aware of it. If it’s not a child-friendly vacation or if they can’t go for some reason, you can utilize respite care which is temporary foster care for this person with licensed foster families.

Depending on their age, your biological children can attend the STARS training, but there is no other official training for younger children. They are part of the assessment process during the Home Study and have the opportunity to ask questions or give their thoughts then too.

This depends on the court, but typically you are given two weeks notice before the foster child leaves your home.

Yes, there are counseling services provided to foster parents as needed.

Yes, we realize some placements don’t work, but always try to find the right match for families and foster children. You can have another foster child in your home after a foster child has been removed from your home for a specific reason.