Parent & Home Requirements

I want to be a Foster Parent and provide a home for a child in need. What are some of the requirements?

  • Must be 21 years of age.
  • Must live in Davidson County.
  • Can be single or married.
  • Have a stable home and a stable income sufficient to meet your family's basic needs.
  • Must have room for additional children. Each child in foster care must have their own bed.
  • Maintain a safe clean home and yard.
  • Be willing to be fingerprinted and have a criminal record check and additional background checks (this is a requirement for all household members, ages 18 and up).
  • Have a fire safety inspection completed and approved by the local fire department.
  • Have a working landline telephone. This requirement is waived if there will be a working cell phone in the residence at all times.
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED. Exceptions can be made if applicants have basic reading and writing skills. Applicants must demonstrate that they can read and follow directions regarding giving medication.
  • Receive 30 hours of training prior to being licensed. The training includes information on topics such as abuse and neglect, working with birth parents and helping children in foster care deal with the issues they face. It also helps potential foster parents think about how parenting another child may affect their family. Husbands and wives and partners must attend.*
  • Any adult, 21 years of age or older, living in the home who will have responsibility for the care, supervision, or discipline of a child in foster care shall complete all licensing requirements.*
  • Be in good mental and physical health. Everyone in the home must have a physical exam -and adults must have a TB test.
  • Report any involvement with Child Protective Services.
  • Have reliable transportation.
  • Attend CPR and First Aid, Blood Borne Pathogens and Medication Administration Record Training prior to caring for a child in foster care. CPR, First Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogens training must be kept current.
  • Complete 10 hours of training each year while licensed.
  • May only have a maximum of five children in the home at a time. Children kept for daycare or babysitting, birth children, relatives, adopted children and children in foster care will be included in the total of five children.

*The majority of training for Foster Parents is provided at no cost by Davidson County Social Services.