Home & Family Finding

Families Thrive

The home-finding process for foster care is a collaborative effort involving case managers, social workers, foster families, and the child’s support network. The primary goal is to place children in safe, nurturing homes that can meet their unique needs and support their well-being. Successful placements can lead to better outcomes for children, including improved emotional health and stability. If you are considering becoming a foster parent, understanding this process can help you prepare for the responsibilities and challenges of fostering.

A diverse family

What is Home Finding?

  • Home finders recruit, train, and certify families to become foster parents. Agency Home Finders support and monitor the foster home monthly. Agency home finders will refer placement to selected families based on best fit. The agency will match the referred youth for foster care to a family who can best meet the child’s needs.
  • Cultural and Emotional Considerations are a priority.

Ongoing Monitoring & Support

  • Regular check-ins are conducted by Home Finders for the foster parents and the child with case managers monitoring the placement to address any concerns, and to ensure the family has the appropriate resources to meet the child’s needs for therapeutic care.
  • Family Finding, under the 2021 Family First Act, is part of the Home Finding role but is more specific to birth family members as resources for youth in foster care. Sometimes a parent may be temporarily unable to care for their child(ren), leading the child welfare system to determine that another family member is suitable to take care of the child while the parent recuperates.
  • Family Finders work to locate family members within the county of origin to train and certify that family member to become a foster parent. The Family Finder then works as (or with) a Home Fonder to monitor the home and family.