A Resource Parent is a person who is trained and certified to be both a foster parent and an adoptive parent. Instead of having someone be just one or the other, Resource Parents can fulfill both roles should the need or desire arise.

Resource families—which include foster parents, foster-to-adopt families, and kinship caregivers—are critical partners for child welfare professionals because they provide care for children who cannot live with their parents, and they can play a supportive role in reunification. A broad range of resource families are needed to support the many needs of children and youth involved in out-of-home care.

Qualities of successful resource and adoptive parents are similar to all parents. These qualities include being willing to seek out and use support services, learn new parenting techniques, and advocate for your child. Flexibility and humor go a long way as well! Critical to being a successful resource and adoptive parent is understanding the challenges these children have faced and not taking their behavior personally.

Approximately 400,000 children are in foster care at any given time. More than 100,000 of them are available to be adopted.

Thousands of children in California’s foster care system require temporary out-of-home care because of parental neglect, abuse, or exploitation. The largest percentages are African American and Latino children. Some stay in foster care for weeks; some for years. The children are of all ages and varying needs.

Resource parents provide a supportive and stable family for children who cannot live with their birth parents until family problems are resolved. In most cases, resource parents work with social services staff to reunite the child with birth parents. Resource parents often provide care to many different children.

A license is required to operate a resource home. The process requires a licensing worker to visit your home and meet with you and other family members. Minimum personal, safety, and space requirements are required by law. Resource parents work with APAO staff to determine the type of child best suited for their home (i.e., age, health issues, and gender). The process of becoming a resource parent typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Resource parents receive a monthly payment to feed, clothe, and meet the material needs of the children placed in their care.

Medical and dental coverage is provided through the Medi-Cal program.

For working parents, appropriate childcare arrangements must be made by the resource parents.

Resource parents need to be a minimum of 21 years old. Age limits are flexible if your health, energy, and desire are appropriate. Retired foster parents are also needed.