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, complete all three forms listed below and turn in to Crow Wing County Community Services Child Foster Care Licensing. Forms can be dropped off at our Community Services building, mailed in or e-mailed to cwcss@crowwing.us.

The next orientation class for families who are in the process of being licensed will be held December 12th, 2022 from 8:00am to 10:00am at the Community Services building, 204 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401, Room 31A.

CARS training will be held on December 10th, 2022 from 9:00am - 12:00pm at the Land Services building, 322 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401, Room 2.


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 Nikki Alich at 218-824-1154.