Get the Facts...

about Foster Care

Who are the children in foster care?

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families has children of all ages in foster care, from infants to older adolescents and from all ethnic and economic backgrounds.

How long do children stay in foster care?

The average stay is somewhere between three to eighteen months.  The Department of Children and Families feels very strongly that children should be with their parents whenever possible and works very hard with the children's parents to try to help this happen.  When this isn't possible, the Department works to find an alternative, permanent family for the children.

Foster parents are especially needed for:

• Older children and teens
• Children with special needs
• Medically involved children
• Drug-affected children
• Sibling Groups
• Linguistic and ethnic
• Minorities

Other Facts:

You may be single, married, partnered, divorced or widowed to become a foster parent.

In Massachusetts, you need to be at least 18 years of age to become a foster parent.

You may either rent or own your own home.