Any person, regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, or physical or mental disability, may apply for a foster family care license.

Must be a legal resident of New Hampshire (NH)

Must be at least 21 years of age

Have a high school diploma or its equivalent

Be able to communicate with the child, DCYF, and other service providers.

Have functional literacy, such as having the ability to read medication labels, etc.

Possession of a valid NH driver's license

Possession of an automobile that has a current and valid state inspection as well as automobile liability insurance

Have sufficient income to make timely payments for shelter, food, utility costs, clothing, and other household expenses prior to the addition of a child or children in care.

For more information on the Foster Family Care Licensing Requirements He-C 6446 please click here: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/document/he-c-6446-foster-family-care-licensing-requirements

The short answer is we don’t know. The child’s parent may be working to resolve problems or be in the process of having parental rights terminated. The child may be waiting for an adoptive home to open. The average stay is 12 to 18 months.

Foster parents are asked to provide a safe, stable, temporary, and caring atmosphere for a child placed in their home. Foster parents become part of a team effort to support the child and implement the plans made for the child. This will involve working with biological parents, NFI Clinicians and Case Managers, courts, DCYF, and perhaps other involved agencies.

We know how big a job you’ve taken on, and NFI North won’t leave you alone. In addition to providing a counselor that supports the child and foster parent(s), we also provide 24-hour phone support. We provide an in-depth series of training classes before you even get your child, and there are regular foster parent support groups. You’ll still be nervous, but you’ll know NFI North will be by your side in the process.

Your main partner in the care and decision-making regarding your foster child is your NFI North counselor.

He or she will answer all your questions about what is allowed, such as if you can take the child on vacation out of state or move the child to a new school. However, because the goal for the child is reunification with a healed family, you may have a role in helping your foster child stay in contact with his or her parents. Your counselor will work with you to ensure this is handled in a way that works for you.

To help offset the cost of bringing a child into your home and to help with any travel costs, NFI North provides foster parents with a monthly reimbursement that is based on the number of children in their care and the special needs of those children. Foster parents must use this reimbursement to provide their foster children with food, clothing, school supplies, incidental expenses and a monthly allowance. Foster parents must also ensure that the child is allowed to participate in school and extracurricular activities such as sports teams or band — and pay any expenses for those activities. State programs provide medical care for the children.

Then you are normal! Most everyone who considers becoming a foster parent is nervous, that’s normal. But you wouldn’t be reading this if there wasn’t something telling you that this might be a rewarding and meaningful way you can make a difference in the life of a child who just needs someone to care. Parenting was never meant to be done alone. Foster Parents always have 1:1 support available for when they really need it.

It is required by New Hampshire law. RSA 170-E:27 License Required: Prohibition Against Child Endangerment: No person shall establish, maintain, operate, or conduct any agency for child care or for child-placing without a license or permit issued by the department under this subdivision. RSA 170-E: 25 Definitions II. "Child care agency" means any person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association or other organization either established for profit or otherwise, who regularly receives for care one or more children, unreleased to the operator of the agency, apart from the parents, in any facility as defined in this subdivision.

You can call the Foster Care Specialist, Angela Monahan, at (603) 545-5709 or email Angelamonahan@nafi.com.