Information Packet - The Requirements

Personal Characteristics and Family Composition
• Foster parents must be emotionally stable single individuals or legally married couples age 21 or over.
• A foster parent may be with or without their own children.
• Foster parents and persons 18 years and over living in the home pass a criminal background screening.
• Foster parents must provide verification of stable income, sufficient to meet the needs of the family.
• Foster parents must be legal permanent US residents.
• Foster parents must provide a medical reference letter for each caregiver.
• Foster parents must provide the State Office of Licensing the name, address, and phone number of four references.
• Foster parents may be licensed to care for up to three children at a time.
• Foster parents may not have more than two children under the age of two living in their home.
• Foster parents must keep confidential information shared by the agency and shall sign a statement of confidentiality at the time of licensure.
• Foster parents must provide routine transportation. Drivers must have a valid Utah driver's license.
• Foster parents may not use corporal (physical) punishment.
• Foster parents need patience and the ability to make a commitment to children in need.
• Please note that completing training and receiving a license does not guarantee that DCFS will place a
child in your home.

Physical Aspects of the Home
• The home shall be clean, in good repair and shall provide for normal comforts in accordance with accepted community standards.
• Foster parents may rent or own the home.
• The home must be free from health and fire hazards and must have a working smoke detector on each floor and at least one approved fire extinguisher.
• Each child in foster care must have a separate bed. Children of the same sex may share a room. No more than four children are permitted in a single bedroom. A minimum of 80 square feet must be provided in a single occupant bedroom or a minimum of 60 square feet per child in a multiple occupant bedroom.
• The home must have a telephone.
• The home must have an adequately supplied first aid kit. Medications must be kept in locked storage.
• Firearms and ammunition must be securely locked.
• Foster parents must have a written plan of action for emergencies and disasters.
• Foster parents will not be licensed to provide both day care and foster care at the same time.

Other Information Packet Pages:

Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent

The Rewards

Adopting from Foster Care

FAQ

Financial Information

What the Three Agencies Do

Toll-free 1-877-505-KIDS
or 1-801-994-5205
moreinfo@utahfostercare.org