Actually, there’s no typical model. Some of our foster families are single-parent families. Some have kids in their home while others don’t. Some older foster parents have already raised their own family, but want to open their hearts and homes to more kids. Some are homeowners, and some are renters. And our parents come from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds and sexual orientations.

After completing your training, you will automatically be assigned a support specialist who will work with you to determine your individual needs and create a support plan.

Respite care can also offer additional help, and Iowa KidsNet will provide you with information and resources through our newsletter and our website. Through the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA), you can also receive mentoring and peer support.

Iowa KidsNet also offers free post-adoption support services to families with an adoption subsidized by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS).

Learn more about support services here.

Yes! Some foster parents like caring for a variety of children. Others find they work best with just boys or just girls. Some work with younger children. Some foster parents become experienced at caring for children with medical needs. In time, you will find your own niche. 

While working on your home study, the social worker will ask you about the age, gender and special needs of children you are interested in fostering. Once you are licensed, a social worker will call you and describe the children needing a foster home before any child is brought to your home. If you would not feel comfortable caring for any child described, you simply decline the placement.

Foster and adoptive parents must be at least 21 years old. Otherwise, your age is only a consideration if it affects your ability to care for a specific child and function in a parental role.

The contract does not include adoption matching. However, DHS needs to work out how to get current information on waiting families. As a DHS Adoption Worker, you make the final placement decision.

Unfortunately, the need in Iowa is ongoing throughout the state. Children continue to enter the foster care system and foster and adoptive families leave the system, often because of positive reasons such as adoption from foster care.

• Marketing and recruitment activities
• Orienting and providing PS-MAPP training
• Background (child abuse, criminal and sex offender) checks
• Home studies for relative placements and foster and adoptive initial licenses and relicensing.
• Identifying homes (matching) for children referred for foster care.
• Providing on-going support services to foster, pre- and post-adoptive families, including crisis and behavior management to maintain the stability of children in placement.

The Recruitment and Retention Project includes activities and services that were previously offered separately by different providers and DHS staff. The project includes recruitment, background checks, orientation, home studies (licensing and relicensing) and matching and support services for foster and adoptive families. Relative home studies and connections between foster children and birth families are also offered to facilitate reunification and life-long connections.

The project has clear performance targets to ensure consistent, improved outcomes for resource families and children in out-of-home care statewide. It is operated by a new statewide network of agencies and staff called Iowa KidsNet.

Iowa KidsNet is a partnership of six experienced, credentialed organizations: Four Oaks, Boys and Girls Home and Family Services, Children's Square U.S.A./Child Connect, Family Resources, Lutheran Services in Iowa and Quakerdale. Iowa KidsNet is a new organization, formed for the purpose of providing local and statewide solutions for kids that meet the quality, capacity, efficiency and comprehensive needs of the Department of Human Services, Juvenile Court Offices, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, Magellan and other state and local funders.

The Recruitment and Retention of Resource Families Project is a statewide contract between Four Oaks (on behalf of Iowa KidsNet) and the Iowa Department of Human Services. Other agencies that are involved by subcontract on this project include American Home Finding Association, Children and Families of Iowa, Young House Family Services and Youth and Shelter Services.

See our "Who To Call" list here for the answer!

If you still have questions, please call Iowa KidsNet customer service at 1.800.243.0756 for further assistance and direction.