Yes. NH Statutes require a license for all individuals who care for unrelated children.

All licensing requirements must be met before a license is issued.  Because of the time necessary to meet all of the requirements, including various inspections, and the necessary training, it typically takes sixty (60) days or more to become a licensed foster care provider.  At least one foster parent must be 21 years of age.

Foundations for Fostering is a comprehensive 21-hour training course called  for new foster parents.   On-going in-service training is provided for licensed foster parents.

Yes, you may work outside your home.  The child's social worker will assist you in locating and arranging payment for a licensed childcare provider for a child in your care.

No, it is not necessary to own your own home, however, every residence must meet local town and city ordinances, including a fire and health inspection of the dwelling.

Foster parents are reimbursed at a set rate for care and supervision of a child.  The Internal Revenue Service does not consider foster care payments income for purposes of taxation.  Rates are reviewed annually.

Foster parents are not responsible for a child's medical expenses.  Children in care are usually eligible for Medicaid that covers all medical, mental, and dental health needs.  A child may also be covered under his or her family's health insurance plan.

You and the foster care worker will determine the best possible child match for your family which includes the gender and age of the child. The total number of children residing in the home cannot exceed six.  This includes relatives, birth or adopted children, and children in foster care.

Most of the children placed by DCYF have special needs and are between 6 and 10 years old:

• All have experienced abuse and or neglect;
• Most have special developmental, medical, educational and emotional needs as a result of their difficult life circumstances;
• Some are part of a sibling group who need to be adopted together; and
• Most have experienced significant losses in their lives and are grieving.

DCYF provides search services to adopted persons age 21 or older who were adopted through NH DCYF as well as to parents of persons over the age of 21 who were adopted through NH DCYF. 

Non-identifying background information is available to adopted persons without a court order.  The amount of information in adoption records, especially older ones, varies and is often very limited.  Once you get the information that is available in the record, you may request a search of your birth parent.  If you are a birth parent seeking contact with a birth child who is over the age of 21, you may request DCYF try to locate them and see if they wish to have contact.  If the birth parent or adopted person can be located, his or her wishes will be honored as to whether he or she desires contact.  Identifying information may be released only if everyone agrees.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children ensures protection and services to children who are placed across state lines for foster care or adoption.  The Compact is a uniform law enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.  It establishes orderly procedures for the interstate placement of children and fixes responsibility for those involved in placing the child.  The Compact applies to 4 types of situations:

• Placement preliminary to an adoption;

• Placements into foster care, including foster homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities and institutions;

• Placements with parents and relatives when a parent or relative is not making the placement; and

• Placements of adjudicated delinquents in institutions in other states.