Become a Foster Parent
It takes a special person to open their heart and home to a child or teen in need. It takes courage, hard work and love. It takes someone like you.
Since 1952, through its dedicated foster parent network, Little Flower has provided safety and care for thousands of children unable to remain at home with their families of origin. Little Flower strives to match children with foster parents who can provide love, stability, nurturing, and the sense of family permanency that all children need.
Like any loving parent, foster parents tend to the physical, medical, emotional, social and educational needs of children. They assure a home environment that is clean, safe, orderly and embracing. Foster parents help improve the well-being of the children in their care by teaching them life skills in the home, and by facilitating child well-being plans that connect children with the services they need.
Little Flower joyfully welcomes the LGBTQIA+ community to join our care team as prospective candidates for fostering and adoption. All families and parents are provided with support through training before, during and after each child or youth’s placement. Our whole community benefits and thrives when families are diverse and inclusive.
Click here to begin your application and take the first steps to become a foster parent with Little Flower!
You can scan this QR code to be taken to the application:
You can apply to become a foster parent if you:
- Enjoy engaging with, teaching, and mentoring children and youth.
- Have a sincere interest in caring for children and working with their families of origin.
- Are at least 21 years old, married or unmarried, with or without children, and in good health.
- Are able to meet your own financial obligations through employment, pension, public assistance, and/or social security (not unemployment benefits).
- Are willing and able to accompany youth to and from required appointments and meetings, and to participate in them.
- Are able to provide each child with their own bed and have a home that meets all NYS requirements.
- Complete NYS’s mandated foster parent training program.
- Are willing to comply with all requirements needed to be certified by NYC as a foster parent (including Statewide Central Register (SCR) and federal fingerprinting).
Supports to foster parents include:
- A monthly stipend based on the child’s age and special needs.
- Free foster parenting and special needs training.
- A monthly clothing allowance for each child in care.
- Professional case planners work closely with you and birth families to meet all child and family needs.
- Assistance from our Family Support Unit to stabilize placements and provide ongoing support, encouragement, and intervention when necessary.
- Additional home-based services that address behavioral and emotional needs.
Please contact the Home Finding Department at 631-644-1421 or at fosterparent@lfchild.org with any questions.
