Foster Care Certification
The Definitive Guide to Becoming a Foster Parent in Philadelphia
Eligibility
People in many different situations are able to become foster parents. See the list below for common situations that potential Philadelphia foster parents ask about. This list is by no means absolute. If you are concerned that your circumstances may pose a problem, discuss it with your local agency and they can tell you what options are available.
Unlikely to Pose a Problem
- Being single, unmarried, or living alone
- Being in a same-sex relationship
- Low income (as long as you are able to meet your child’s basic needs)
- Working during the day
- Living in an apartment or condo
- Having other children
- Having pets
May Pose a Problem
- Having a prior criminal or child abuse record
- Living with someone with a prior criminal or child abuse record in the same home
- Living outside of the greater Philadelphia area
- Living in New Jersey or Delaware
- Being unable to meet the home study requirements in step 4 below
- Having medical or physical conditions that would prevent you from caring for a child (such as being bed bound)
Steps to Certification
The following is a guide for foster care certification in Philadelphia. Some agencies may have slightly different requirements. Make sure to check with your local agency first.
Step 1: Find an Agency
The first step to becoming a foster parent is finding a foster care licensing agency. These organizations are contracted by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to license new foster parents and to support them in their role. Use the interactive map below to find an agency near you. You can also click the link below to see an alphabetical list of all Philadelphia foster care agencies.
A Second Chance
(215) 564-0790
1341 N. Delaware Ave.
Suite 101
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Bethanna
(215) 568-2435
2501 Reed St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Carson Valley Children's Aid
(215) 225-2649
2300 W. Allegheny Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19032
Children's Choice
(610) 521-6270
5238 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Concern
(610) 944-0445
1 W. Main St.
Fleetwood, PA 19522
Concilio
(215) 627-3100
141 E. Huntington Park Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Delta Family Services
(215) 887-6300
2210 Mt. Carmel Ave.
Glenside, PA 19038
Devereux Foundation
(215) 965-5772
3300 Henry Ave, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Elwyn Inc
(215) 254-2046
3300 Henry Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19129
First Choice Home and Community Services
(610) 461-1693
520 Pusey Ave, Suite 230
Collingdale, PA 19023
Friendship House
(215) 438-6665
57 E. Armat St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Jewish Family and Children's Service
(267) 256-2200
1501 N. Broad St, Suite 14
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Juvenile Justice Center
(215) 849-2112
100 W. Coulter St, 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Methodist Services
(215) 877-1925
4300 Monument Rd.
Philadelphia, PA 19131
New Foundations
(215) 203-8733
7210 Rising Sun Ave, Suite A
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Northeast Treatment Centers
(215) 238-1247
499 N. 5th St, Suite A
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Northern Children's Services
(215) 482-1423
5301 Ridge Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Pennsylvania Mentor
(215) 612-8200
10601 Decatur Rd, Suites 300 & 400
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Pradera (APM)
(267) 507-1326
2637 N. 5th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Progressive Life Center
(267) 238-1480
1341 N. Delaware Ave, Suite 501
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Turning Points for Children
(215) 875-8200
415 S. 15th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Silver Springs - Martin Luther School
(610) 825-4440
7208 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Tabor Children's Services
(215) 842-4800
57 E. Armat St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
The Village
(215) 730-2240
6517 Chester Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19142
For more information, look for the list of foster care agencies on the DHS resource page.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
A Second Chance | 1341 N Delaware Ave #101, Philadelphia, PA 19125, USA | (215) 564-0790 1341 N. Delaware Ave. |
Bethanna | 2501 Reed St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA | (215) 568-2435 2501 Reed St. |
Carson Valley Children's Aid | 2300 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132, USA | (215) 225-2649 2300 W. Allegheny Ave. |
Children's Choice | 5238 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA | (610) 521-6270 5238 N. Broad St. |
Concern | 1 W Main St, Fleetwood, PA 19522, USA | (610) 944-0445 1 W. Main St. |
Concilio | 141 E Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19124, USA | (215) 627-3100 141 E. Huntington Park Ave. |
Delta Family Services | 2210 Mt Carmel Ave, Glenside, PA 19038, USA | (215) 887-6300 2210 Mt. Carmel Ave. |
First Choice Home and Community Services | 520 Pusey Ave #230, Collingdale, PA 19023, USA | (610) 461-1693 520 Pusey Ave, Suite 230 |
Devereux Foundation | 3300 Henry Ave 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA | (215) 965-5772 3300 Henry Ave, 3rd Floor |
Elwyn Inc | 3302 Henry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA | (215) 254-2046 3300 Henry Ave. |
Friendship House | 57 E Armat St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA | (215) 438-6665 57 E. Armat St. |
Jewish Family and Children's Service | 1501 N Broad St #14, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA | (267) 256-2200 1501 N. Broad St, Suite 14 |
Juvenile Justice Center | 100 W Coulter St 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA | (215) 849-2112 100 W. Coulter St, 10th Floor |
Methodist Services | 4300 Monument Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA | (215) 877-1925 4300 Monument Rd. |
New Foundations | 7210 Rising Sun Ave Suite A, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA | (215) 203-8733 7210 Rising Sun Ave, Suite A |
Northeast Treatment Centers | 499 N 5th St Suite A, Philadelphia, PA 19123, USA | (215) 238-1247 499 N. 5th St, Suite A |
Northern Children's Services | 5301 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128, USA | (215) 482-1423 5301 Ridge Ave |
Pennsylvania Mentor | 10601 Decatur Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154, USA | (215) 612-8200 10601 Decatur Rd, Suites 300 & 400 |
Pradera (APM) | 2637 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133, USA | (267) 507-1326 2637 N. 5th St. |
Progressive Life Center | 1343 N Delaware Ave #501, Philadelphia, PA 19125, USA | (267) 238-1480 1341 N. Delaware Ave, Suite 501 |
Turning Points for Children | 415 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA | (215) 875-8200 415 S. 15th St. |
Silver Springs - Martin Luther School | 7208 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119, USA | (610) 825-4440 7208 Germantown Ave. |
Tabor Children's Services | 59 E Armat St, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA | (215) 842-4800 57 E. Armat St. |
The Village | 6517 Chester Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19142, USA | (215) 730-2240 6517 Chester Ave. |
Step 2: in-person training
All foster parents are required to complete at least 6 hours of in person training before certification. Different foster care agencies have different training classes available which vary in location and length. Your specific agency will let you know when their classes are available.
Annual training is usually required to maintain certification each year as well. A number of classes are available to meet this requriement.
Step 3: clearances and documents
All foster parents are required to collect a number of documents and clearances before they can be certified. Some items are required for the whole household, such as insurance. Other items are required for each person applying to be a foster parent. Government clearances are required for all adults age 18 or older living in the home, even if they are not applying to be foster parents.
Household Requirements
The following items are required for the household.
- Home/renters insurance
- Car insurance
- Pet records (vaccines)
- Foster child profile
- Foster care application
Individual Requirements
The following items are required for each foster parent getting certified.
- Proof of income
- Online mandated reporting training
- CPR training
- Physical checkup (medical clearance) including a TB skin test
- Personal references
Government Clearances
The following clearances are required for each person age 18 or older living in your house. You may be required to have one additional person cleared in order to watch your child in an emergency.
- PA criminal background check (do not select volunteer)
- FBI background check (service code provided)
- Child abuse clearance
Step 4: home study
After completing your clearances and documentation, the final step to certification involves a home evaluation. A representative from your foster care agency will come to your house and go through a checklist to make sure your home meets the requirements set forth by DHS.
Home Study Checklist
Kitchen, Bath, and Utilities
- Working stove and refrigerator
- Adequate nourishing food
- Running hot and cold water
- Flushing toilet
- Working electricity
- Heating system
Bedrooms
- Crib for each child 0-2 years old
- Bed for each child >2 with bedding
- Closet or dresser available for clothing
- Separate genders in separate rooms for all children over age 5
Safety Measures
- No exposed wires
- Door/window locks
- Childproofing (outlet plugs/gates)
- Working fire extinguisher
- Smoke detector on each floor
- No structural damage
- No lead exposure
Other Items
- Firearms registered and secured away
- No pet safety issues
- Medicines/chemicals labelled and stored properly
- First aid kit with basic supplies
- Land line or cell phone available
Step 5: Get certified
To learn more about receiving your first placement, see the new placement guide.
Learn More About Foster Care
The following guides can help get you up to speed on several important aspects of foster care in Philadelphia.
Finances
Learn about financial support available for foster parents.
Healthcare
Learn about healthcare topics such as doctors visits and insurance.
The Legal System
Learn about family court, hearings, and child custody.
Caseworkers and Visits
Learn about the different types of caseworkers, home visits, and parent visits.
New Placements
Learn about what to ask when receiving a new placement and the first week in care
School and Daycare
Learn more about education, school, and daycare.
Adoption and Permanency
Learn about foster care, adoption, and foster-to-adopt.
Foster Care Policies
Learn about policies like travel and babysitters