Generally speaking, if you have a stable home and some solid parenting skills, you can become a foster parent. You can be single or married and it doesn't matter whether you have children of your own. People who work outside the home can also be foster parents.

There are some specific requirements you have to be able to meet. You must:

1. Be at least 21 years old.
2. Have enough room (and beds) in your home for a foster child to sleep and keep his or her belongings.
3. Have a home that can meet basic fire, safety and sanitary standards.
4. Be physically and emotionally capable of caring for children and have no alcohol or drug abuse problems.
5. Be able to pass a criminal background check and have no substantiated record of abusing or neglecting children.
6. Make enough money to provide for your own family, so you do not need to depend on the foster care reimbursement you receive from the state as income

"We received as much as we gave."

~ Bill, foster parent

Alaska Foster Parent Training Center

1-800-478-7307

815 Second Avenue Suite 101
Fairbanks, AK 99701

E-mail: afptc@nwresource.org

Office of Children's Services

PO Box 110630
Juneau, AK 99811-0630