Questions, answered.

Yes. F4F is a Christian foster care agency. Foster families with us are actively involved in a local church and affirm our Statement of Faith (which follows the National Association of Evangelicals’) and our Position on Morality. Both statements are short and available on our Foster With Us page.

Being active in a local church is one of our foundational qualifications for foster families. If you’re not currently part of a church but want to foster with us, the right first step is becoming part of a church community before pursuing the foster care process. Our regional staff can help you think through this.

Yes. The divorce needs to be finalized for a minimum of 12 months.

Yes. Single foster families are part of F4F. Marital status is not a barrier.

Per state policy, it’s preferred that children are up to date with vaccinations required for their age. A religious waiver of exemption may be applied for.

Yes. They must be locked up, with ammunition locked separately. Police officers are an exception to this rule.

You can rent your home as long as you have a rental contract.

Yes. However, the more specific your preferences, the longer the wait for placement.

A baby can share a bedroom with the foster parents until age 1. After age 1, the child needs their own space. No more than two children in a room. A foster child can share a bedroom with another child of the same sex. Some children’s needs (e.g., trauma history) may require them to be alone in a room. Each child needs their own bed.

Typically 2–4 months, depending on background checks and how quickly you complete paperwork.

No. F4F promotes a smoke-free environment in both our offices and our foster homes. We do not approve families that smoke.

Per state policy, we recommend (not require) caregivers for infants ages 0–2 and children with special needs to have current influenza and pertussis vaccines. Caregivers with these vaccines may receive preference when the agency makes placement decisions.

Felonies are non-negotiable. Misdemeanors are reviewed case by case, with the final decision left to the state of Georgia. If you have a criminal history, we recommend getting your fingerprints done first, before starting the process, so you know whether to proceed.

The home study itself is free. You’ll pay $50 per parent for fingerprints. You’re also responsible for your own medical bills and vaccinations — including for family members, biological children, and pets.

Yes. Pets must be current on rabies vaccinations and gentle with children — no aggressive behavior or biting. If a foster child has an allergy to your pet, the child may need to be placed in another home.

You’ll need to complete a water safety training course online. You must know how to swim and have a supervision plan in place. The pool must meet the state’s safety standards.

No. Foster children cannot be homeschooled. Private school is an option if you fund it yourself or the child has an IEP — the state will pay up to $9,500 per year with an IEP, and the state must approve private school enrollment in advance. Children under school age must attend daycare per state policy, even with a stay-at-home caregiver.

NTDC — the National Training and Development Curriculum — is required by the State of Georgia for every foster and respite parent. It’s a trauma-informed pre-service curriculum for foster and adoptive parents, developed with support from the U.S. Children’s Bureau. Children entering foster care have experienced trauma, and traditional parenting approaches often don’t work for them. NTDC gives foster parents specific tools that do.

Foster care is temporary care for children whose families are working toward reunification. Adoption is permanent placement after a child’s biological family rights have been terminated. Kinship care is when a child is placed with a relative or family friend rather than a non-relative. F4F primarily licenses and supports foster families; adoption typically happens after the foster relationship if reunification isn’t possible.

Church partnership ranges from informal collaboration (a church promotes F4F to its congregation, hosts an occasional info session) to formal Banner Church partnership (consistent annual support, dedicated foster care ministry leadership, regular engagement with foster families in the church). Most partnerships start informally and deepen over time.

No. F4F partners with churches across evangelical traditions — Baptist, non-denominational, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and others. We ask that partner churches affirm the same Statement of Faith we hold (which follows the National Association of Evangelicals’).

Yes. Some churches simply want to promote F4F’s work to their congregation, invite F4F to speak occasionally, or support a single foster family from within their membership. There’s no formal “partnership commitment” required to support this work in any of these ways.

Banner Church status is the formal partnership tier. It involves an initial conversation with F4F regional staff and leadership, alignment on what the partnership looks like for your specific church, and a defined annual commitment. The timeline depends on your church’s process — typically a few weeks to a few months.

Many churches partner with multiple foster care agencies. F4F doesn’t ask for exclusivity. If our work fits your congregation’s call and capacity, we can partner alongside other commitments your church has made.

Yes. Wrap-around support from a small group, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, or other church community is one of the most powerful forms of partnership. F4F can connect your group with a foster family in your area who’d benefit from this support.

Our regional staff have experience helping churches launch foster care ministries. We provide a starting framework, training materials, presentation support for congregations, and ongoing partnership. The Church Partner page has more detail on what we provide.