NO CHILD SHOULD GO THROUGH LIFE
WITHOUT A FAMILY

It takes a family to help a child heal from abuse and neglect. But right now, there aren’t enough families to care for the thousands of kids across Montana without one. They’re waiting for someone like you.

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A Chance to Be Seen: Starr shares her story through foster care

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How Will Fostering Affect My Kids?

You may be wondering what foster care might take from your kids, but have you considered what it could give them? The Roach Family answers the questions many parents ask before stepping into this life-changing mission.

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What If I'm Too Old to Foster?

Are you an empty nester? Retired? You likely have reservations about bringing a child with trauma into your home. But is age really a reason not to foster? Hear what prompted the Hauns to foster and what their life looks like now.

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    take a step

    Will you be a part of God’s solution to this crisis? Sign up for one of our virtual Foster Care Info Meetings where you’ll learn about how children come into foster care and what it looks like to care for them — no pressure or commitment required.

    what if i decide to move forward?

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    We teach you the basics through our Foundations class.

    We introduce future foster parents to the training and resources needed to care for vulnerable children through a trauma-informed, Gospel approach.

    Learn More
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    We connect you with the right licensing agency.

    We offer guidance and introduction for people looking to take the next step toward getting licensed to foster in the state of Montana.

    Connect With Us
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    We coach and support you each step of the way.

    We create opportunities to learn new skills, access resources and connect with other families who will walk with you on this journey.

    See Our Services
    A yellow circle with the number 1 inside it.

    We teach you the basics through our Foundations class.

    A yellow circle with the number 2 inside it.

    We connect you with the right licensing agency.

    A yellow circle with the number 3 inside it.

    We coach and support you each step of the way.

    Foundations In Foster Care

    An opportunity for new and future foster parents to dive into foundational topics like trauma-informed care, a biblical foundation for resilience and an introduction into a community of support for your fostering journey.

    Week 1

    WEEK 1

    How God Equips for Foster Care

    • Recognize God’s protection and plan in the midst of the unknown.
    • Redefine success for yourself as you relinquish control over outcomes to God.
    • Consider the part you’ll play in a child’s story, not just how they will fit into yours.
    • Understand the cost vs. reward of fostering, for you and the child who enters your care.
    Sign Up

    Week 2

    WEEK 2

    Tools for the Spiritual Battle

    • Explore the spiritual battle undertaken through foster care and the necessity of keeping Christ at the center.
    • Prepare for the seasons of struggle and learn how to practice personal care.
    • Find encouragement for days when your best doesn’t feel good enough.
    • Learn what it can look like practically to give God control over specific situations.

    Week 3

    WEEK 3

    How to Prepare Yourself and Your Family

    • Discover how to identify the “right time” to foster.
    • Find encouragement and strength for your marriage in the midst of foster care.
    • Learn how foster care will not only impact your own kids, but benefit them.
    • Shift your mindset from a desire to parent or a fear of loss to the hope of giving a child a family.

    Week 4

    WEEK 4

    How to Stay the Course

    • Learn what it looks like to foster in a way that displays the Gospel.
    • Find the humanity in foster care and develop compassion for all the people involved.
    • Find the humility of foster care and discover the dangers of developing a “hero complex.”
    • Learn to trade toxic self-comparison for genuine help and support from the Christian foster community.
    • WEEK 1

      How God Equips for Foster Care

      • Recognize God’s protection and plan in the midst of the unknown.
      • Redefine success for yourself as you relinquish control over outcomes to God.
      • Consider the part you’ll play in a child’s story, not just how they will fit into yours.
      • Understand the cost vs. reward of fostering, for you and the child who enters your care.
      Sign Up
    • WEEK 2

      Tools for the Spiritual Battle

      • Explore the spiritual battle undertaken through foster care and the necessity of keeping Christ at the center.
      • Prepare for the seasons of struggle and learn how to practice personal care.
      • Find encouragement for days when your best doesn’t feel good enough.
      • Learn what it can look like practically to give God control over specific situations.
    • WEEK 3

      How to Prepare Yourself and Your Family

      • Discover how to identify the “right time” to foster.
      • Find encouragement and strength for your marriage in the midst of foster care.
      • Learn how foster care will not only impact your own kids, but benefit them.
      • Shift your mindset from a desire to parent or a fear of loss to the hope of giving a child a family.
    • WEEK 4

      How to Stay the Course

      • Learn what it looks like to foster in a way that displays the Gospel.
      • Find the humanity in foster care and develop compassion for all the people involved.
      • Find the humility of foster care and discover the dangers of developing a “hero complex.”
      • Learn to trade toxic self-comparison for genuine help and support from the Christian foster community.
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      5 Things to Consider Before Fostering
      5
      min read
      Consider what it will take and what is motivating you to move toward opening your home and your family to foster care.
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      Success vs. Statistics in Foster Care
      4
      min read
      How do we make a difference for the 23,000 children who age out of the foster care system each year?
      Read More
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      What If I Get Too Attached?
      4
      min read
      Uncover the truth that contradicts a common fear that prevents families from stepping into foster care — the fear of loving a child and letting go.
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      Why Is Reunification the Goal?
      5
      min read
      Learn why reunification is and should be the goal of foster care. Read how a real foster mom readjusts her heart in order to root for reunification.
      Read More
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      Why You'll Never Be Ready to Foster
      4
      min read
      Explore some of the top reasons many prospective foster parents hesitate before stepping into foster care and how to know the time is right.
      Read More
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        See the lives you could change

        A Chance to Be Seen

        How God gave one little girl the chance to flourish in a family.

        Read Story

        Love Like a Child

        How the relentless compassion of biological children transformed their parents’ view of foster care.

        Read Story

        A Friend and A Family

        The redemption story of Brooklyn and the family she found through friendship.

        Read Story

        The Love in Letting Go

        How one couple’s obedience in the face of fear brought about the redemption of two families.

        Read Story

        The Fight for Fatherhood

        How a foster family allowed one man to become the dad his daughter needed.

        Read Story

        Learning to Sing in the Dark

        A true story of unspeakable abuse and unexpected redemption.

        Read Story
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          How does getting licensed work?

          These are the general steps involved in becoming a licensed foster parent. These steps may vary depending on whether you get licensed through the State of Montana, a therapeutic agency or a tribe. We are here to provide answers and support throughout this process.

          Application Process
          Background Check
          Home & Health Assessment
          Training
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          Application Process

          Upon being introduced for licensing, you will fill out an application, providing basic information for you, your spouse and any other members of your household. This packet will also ask for the applicants’ employment status, income status and character references.

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          Background Check

          All members of your household over the age of 18 will be required to complete a fingerprinted background check by the licensing agency. The agency will also ask you to list all the states you have lived in outside of Montana to request background checks from them as well.

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          Home & Health Assessment

          A licensing worker will need to come in and check the safety aspects of your home, such as smoke detectors and rooming capacity. The worker will then conduct interviews with the applicants and children in the home to determine their physical and mental ability to care for children with trauma.

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          Training

          Applicants are required to participate in an 8-hour training that covers the rights and responsibilities of foster parents, rights of children in care, policies and procedures of the foster care system and how to care for kids using positive discipline. (Child Bridge training counts toward additional training requirements.)

          Visit the DPHHS website to learn more about the requirements to foster in Montana.
          A light teal icon of a clipboard with a list on it.
          Application Process
          Upon being introduced for licensing, you will fill out an application, providing basic information for you, your spouse and any other members of your household. This packet will also ask for the applicants’ employment status, income status and character references.
          A teal icon of a clipboard with a checkmark on it.
          Background Check
          All members of your household over the age of 18 will be required to complete a fingerprinted background check by the licensing agency. The agency will also ask you to list all the states you have lived in outside of Montana to request background checks from them as well.
          A teal icon of a house.
          Home & Health Assessment
          A licensing worker will need to come in and check the safety aspects of your home, such as smoke detectors and rooming capacity. The worker will then conduct interviews with the applicants and children in the home to determine their physical and mental ability to care for children with trauma.
          A teal icon of gears.
          Training
          Applicants are required to participate in an 8-hour training which covers the rights and responsibilities of foster parents, rights of children in care, policies and procedures of the foster care system and how to care for kids using positive discipline.
          Visit the DPHHS website to learn more about the requirements to foster in Montana.

          Common Questions

          How long does it take to get licensed?

          What if I want to adopt?

          Can I get licensed through Child Bridge?

          What does it cost to foster?

          What's the difference between State, therapeutic and tribal licensing?

          How do kids come into foster care?

          What is the goal of foster care?

          How should I parent a child from foster care?

          What are the requirements for becoming a foster parent?