Foster parents provide a temporary home for children when they cannot remain in their own home. Care is given until the child’s parents can resume this responsibility or until a permanent plan is made with relative or adoptive parents. Foster parents need to be caring and stable, as they will be helping children through a difficult time in their lives. Foster parents must be able to provide for their own family's financial needs, be good listeners, flexible, have a good sense of humor and work well with others in a team effort. 

Minnesota Prairie County Alliance is in need of foster parents for children of all ages.

 

To become a foster parent

The following are requirements to become licensed for Child Foster Care with Minnesota Prairie County Alliance:

• You must be at least 21 years old
• You must be at least one year beyond a major life event, such as a divorce, birth of a child, or a significant loss and two years beyond chemical dependency treatment 
• You must be open to a review of your criminal background, your human service and social service history
• You must be able to meet the financial needs of your own family 
• You can be single or be in a couple relationship
• You must have sufficient physical space to meet the needs of an additional child or children 
• You must reside in Dodge, Steele or Waseca Counties
• Your home must have at least two bedrooms. 

Types of foster care

Family foster care

Treated as family members, these children and teens receive full-time, short- or long-term care.

Kinship foster care

Relatives, family friends, and those with a significant relationship with the child(ren) may be licensed to provide child foster care.  
 

Respite care

This program provides birth parents and foster parents with relief care for a few hours and up to a few days at a time.