Become a Foster Parent in Indiana
At StepStone Family & Youth Services, our primary focus is the safety, stability, and well-being of children and all members of their families. Currently, in Indiana, there are roughly 12,000 youth in foster care in need of a safe, loving, and supportive home.
As the demand for foster care grows, foster parents play a vital role in providing a stable environment that promotes the well-being and development of children in their care. If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, our team is here to guide you on this journey!
Overview of Our Services
- Therapeutic Foster Care: Foster parents work with a child’s therapist, case manager, and social worker to ensure each child can reach their full potential.
- Non-Therapeutic Foster Care: Non-Therapeutic foster care is traditional foster care that provides care, safety, and security for kids, no matter what their needs may be.
- Community-Based: This involves supervised visitations between youth and biological parents in the community/at our office(s), and engaging with the biological parents to work on independence and reunification.
General Requirements for Foster Applicants
The list below provides a brief overview of foster requirements:
- 21+ years of age, valid drivers license, insurance, & reliable transportation
- Background checks – criminal, financial, and Dept. of Child Services
- Environmentally safe home. This includes a minimum of 50 square feet of space and a bed for each child.
- Cannot have anyone in the home with a felony or misdemeanor. (Speak with a licensing specialist to discuss the possibility of a waiver for previous misdemeanor)
- Additional requirements to be addressed with the licensing team.
Join us in our mission of providing a safe, stable, and caring home for every child in need!
Read What Our Foster Parents Are Saying!
Eric Westrick
“StepStone Family & Youth Services helped me fulfill my dream of becoming a father. As a previous foster parent, StepStone encouraged me to use a trauma-informed approach to better understand foster youths’ needs and concerns. By providing me with vital information and resources, I was able to adopt two extraordinary children. After my adoption, I took on the role of licensing coordinator professionally. I find value in working for StepStone as a way to raise awareness about realities foster youth face; StepStone works directly with the Department of Child Services to help provide support in the permanency plan of each youth. I will be forever grateful to StepStone for their wondrous work in the foster community!”
Susan Bellamy
“I have been a foster parent for 20 some years. Many years ago, I watched a show on tv featuring an orphanage in Romania. Ever since that day, I have had a calling to help hurting and neglected children. I have taken several children into my home over the years. I try to show each and every one of them a better way of life. I try to show them joy, love, and kindness that they will always remember. I made sure that they knew that they were loved, and they were valuable. All of these children have touched my heart in a way that is beyond words. When you reach out and show that you care, it warms your heart. I will continue to foster until I feel my calling has been fulfilled. If I can touch a heart and change a life, it makes it worth it all.”
Shelton & Katrise Hawkins
“The reason why we chose and continue to choose to open our hearts and home to the sweet kids in the foster care system is because our Christian Faith has taught us to live purposely. Therefore, we have an opportunity to be a blessing to those that have been through the most traumatic times in their lives. Often foster children are overlooked and underserved; therefore, we take fostering as our responsibility to give love, hope, and help to those who have been abused and neglected.”
Why Choose StepStone?
StepStone is more than a fostering agency, we’re your partner from the moment you apply through successful permanency. Since 2020, StepStone has maintained a positive permanency rate over 90%.
At StepStone, we’re with you every step of the way — we’re not just a fostering agency, but a dedicated partner from the moment you apply through to successful permanency. Since 2020, we’ve maintained a positive permanency rate of over 90% and have proudly celebrated 85 adoptions and counting. Our team provides 24/7 support because we know fostering doesn’t come with office hours. The long-term success of every placement is important to us, and we’re committed to reducing caregiver burnout and helping create stable, lasting homes for children.
Indiana Foster Care Offices
Fort Wayne • Indianapolis