Foster Care

Foster Care in Mississippi

Currently, in Mississippi, there are approximately 4,000 children in foster care.  Each of them has a name, a face, a smile, and a story.  Would you be willing to be a part of a child's story?  These children share the need for a caring and committed family that can bring them the future they deserve.  Our children need families willing to stand in the gap until they are reunited with their biological family or a plan is made for them to be adopted.   

Foster parents are individuals or married couples who complete the steps to become licensed to serve as caretakers for foster children. They work with birth families and hope changes are made to allow the children to return to a safe home. Foster parents may choose to adopt the children if reunification with their families isn’t possible.

Prospective Foster Parent Information Line

For more information on becoming a foster parent, please call 1-800-821-9157.

Am I eligible to become a Foster Parent?

Mississippi Foster Parents are people who: 

Are legal Mississippi residents. 
Can pass a criminal background check. 
Are at least 21 years old. 
Maybe legally married or legally single. 
Have no more than four children living in the home. 
Are financially self-supporting.

Foster Parent Information

What should I know about Foster Parenting?

The goal for most children in foster care is to be reunited with their parents. Foster families work with birth parents to achieve this goal. The length of time a child will stay with you depends on many factors. It could be for a few days, a few months, or much longer. It is important to note that medical and dental costs are covered for children in foster care. Teens in foster care are eligible for programs to help them learn life skills and may be eligible for some college financial assistance.

Shared Parenting

Shared Parenting promotes ongoing positive interaction between parents and foster parents. This practice encourages joint responsibility for caring, nurturing, and decision-making for the same child. 

Shared parenting relationships are:

Based on trust 
Mutually beneficial 
Essential to maintaining child-family connections 
Focused on increasing well-being and timely permanency for the foster child

Questions to ask yourself.

How is caring for a foster child different from caring for my own child?

In many ways it is the same. Foster children need to know that you will be there for them no matter what. Foster children may have different experiences than your own children and need an additional level of care. They need you to teach them new skills, help them cope with new experiences, and support them through the transition of being in foster care.

Will I be “rescuing” a child from an abusive or neglectful parent?

Many people may believe the child will be grateful and relieved to be out of their home situation. This is rarely the case. The child’s situation is normal to him or her, and being separated from family can be traumatic and stressful. Children often need time to establish trust.

What about children who have been neglected or physically, sexually, or mentally abused?

These children can be angry, resentful, and sad. They may act out or take it out on their foster family. The agency provides training to help foster parents work with these situations. Are you able to help teach children alternative ways to cope with stress while not taking their words and actions personally?

Inquire by completing one of the following online applications:

Foster Parent Application (Single) – Please complete this form if you are single. You will need to provide your name and an email address to sign your completed application. Thank you for your interest in becoming a Foster Family. 
 
Solicitud de Crianza (Soltero) – Por favor complete esta solicitud sí esta soltero. Tendrá que proporcionar su nombre y correo electrónico para firmar su solicitud completa. Gracias por su interés en convertirse en una Familia Crianza. 
 
Foster Parent Application (Married) – Please complete this application if you are married. Both individuals will need to sign the application. Please provide a different email address for each individual. After the first individual signs the completed form, an email will be sent to the second individual requesting a signature to complete the form. Thank you for your interest in becoming a Foster Family. 
 
Solicitud de Crianza (Casado) – Por favor complete esta solicitud si esta casado. Ambas personas deberán firmar la solicitud. Por favor proporcione una dirección de correo electrónico diferente por cada persona. Después de que la primera persona firme la solicitud completa, se enviará un correo electrónico a la segunda persona solicitando una firma para completar la solicitud. Gracias por su interés en convertirse en una Familia Crianza. 