Becoming a Foster Parent

Becoming an adoptive or foster parent can be extremely fulfilling and a great way to offer a loving, stable environment for a child. The process of adopting and fostering can sometimes overlap, though they are two very different processes on their own.

Iowa offers three kinds of approval for people interested in fostering or adopting: 1) you can be licensed for foster care only, 2) you can be licensed for foster care and to adopt, or 3) you can be approved to adopt only.

The process can take around 6–9 months to get approved. You can find more information and paperwork to start the process by visiting the Iowa Department of Human Services.

If you are interested in adopting, visit our pages on Adoption in Iowa and the Adoption Process in Iowa.

How to Become a Foster Parent

To get started on becoming a foster parent in Iowa, first determine the service provider for your area. The two foster care service providers in Iowa are Four Oaks and Lutheran Services in Iowa.

To become a foster parent, you first have to submit an inquiry form, which is available from Four Oaks. Four Oaks provides an orientation guide, which you should read before submitting an inquiry. You then need to complete an orientation for prospective foster/adoptive parents.

After completing these steps, you will also have to:

• Get fingerprinted for a background check
• Attend trainings, which are described in more detail here
• Have a home study conducted to ensure your home is a safe environment for a child

After this process is complete, the caseworker assigned to you will submit your application. You will then need to wait to hear back from the Department of Human Services on whether you have been approved.