Foster Parent FAQs

What is foster care?

Foster care provides a nurturing environment for children and youth who have endured the heartbreaking experience of being separated from their primary families. Whether through voluntary or involuntary circumstances, young individuals find themselves in need of a haven. The goal of foster care is to offer a temporary home, with the common objective of reunification with their primary families. This process demands unwavering empathy, patience, and a deep commitment to the well-being of children and youth, ensuring they feel valued and cared for during their transition.

A foster parent’s role is to provide a safe, nurturing, and stable environment for those we serve until they are successfully reunified, adopted or are old enough to live independently.

What is the difference between traditional and treatment foster care?

Traditional foster care refers to care provided to a child or youth whose needs are limited to safety, daily care, and age-appropriate support. Treatment foster care or therapeutic foster care, is provided to children or youth who are struggling with emotional, behavioral, or physical challenges. NYAP provides additional support and treatment services for children and youth who are assessed in need of a treatment or therapeutic level of foster care to help them and you while they are in your care.

What are some benefits of being a foster parent?

As a foster parent, you are empowered with the unique ability to bring safety and stability to children or youth who have been removed from their homes. The space to heal and grow in your home is critical to their well-being and eventual return home. Besides the opportunity to positively change the life of a child or youth, additional benefits of being a foster parent are:

• High-Quality Training -  Meet regularly with your NYAP team of professionals 

• Comprehensive Support – Help from caring professionals is always available 

• Convenient Licensing Process - We will work around your schedule  

• Monthly Stipend - For the care of children and youth living in your home 

Do I get the opportunity to meet the biological or kinship parents of my child or youth?

In most cases, NYAP employees are the ones who have contact with the family of a child or youth living in your home. However, it is sometimes critical that foster parents embrace and support the family of their child or youth to help resolve issues and concerns that led to the child or youth’s separation from their primary or biological family. For foster parents, this typically may involve transporting children and youth to regular visitation when appropriate, speaking in a strengths-based manner when referencing a child or youth’s family, and engaging in a supportive, transparent relationship with the child or youth’s family whenever possible.

Am I financially responsible for the youth’s care?

Foster families receive a bi-monthly reimbursement to cover the cost of food, housing, school activities and supplies, personal care supplies, birthday and holiday gifts, and other day-to-day expenses. Foster parents are paid twice each month via direct deposit, and payments are based on a daily rate and the number of days the foster child or youth lived in a licensed foster home. Foster children and youth are typically provided with Medicaid to cover the cost of all health-related needs.

How are children and youth selected for my home?

It’s a team effort. We take the time to listen to you and will make placements based on the best interests of the children and youth referred for foster care and your family's identified preferences. We carefully review and match children and youth to foster parents based on a thorough home study review process, personal preferences, the age of the child or youth, and other children in your home, along with each foster child or youth’s unique needs. We take a collaborative approach in finding the child or youth who fits best with your family.

How long does it take to get licensed?

Most foster families can complete the licensing process within 60 – 90 days from the date of application.

How long does a child or youth typically stay in my home?

The length of time a child or youth live in your home varies considerably. Some stay only a few days, others for a year or longer. Our overall goal is to reunify or otherwise establish a safe and stable independent living arrangement in collaboration with family court, and the children, youth, and families we serve. As wonderful as your home is, it is extremely difficult for children and youth to live in foster care. Our goal at NYAP is to ensure we communicate the permanency plan for each child or youth with you in a timely manner and to keep you informed on all developments related to their placement status.

What are the qualifications to become a foster parent?

Each state has slightly different qualifications. For more information on the qualifications in your state, please refer to the States We Serve.

What programs do you provide for children and youth in treatment foster care?

NYAP provides many programs designed to meet the needs of children and youth living in foster care. We strive to provide a continuum of care to ensure those we serve have the best possible outcomes. To learn more about the programs offered in your state, please refer to the States We Serve.