Guilford County and Forsyth County Foster Care: Fostering in the NC Triad

The NC Triad — Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point — sits in the geographic and economic center of North Carolina. Guilford County (Greensboro) and Forsyth County (Winston-Salem) are the two largest counties in the region, and both have active child welfare systems with sustained need for licensed foster families.

If you live in the Triad and want to become a foster parent, here is what the process looks like in each county.

Guilford County: Greensboro and High Point

Guilford County Department of Social Services is the supervising agency for foster care licensing in Greensboro, High Point, and surrounding communities. Guilford County's DSS has a substantial child welfare division handling one of the larger case volumes in the state.

The county follows the standard NC licensing process under 10A NCAC 70E: mandatory online orientation, MAPP/GPS pre-service training (30 hours over 10 to 12 weekly sessions), background checks for all adults, a Mutual Home Assessment, and a fire and building safety inspection. The county does not charge application fees.

Guilford County's size means MAPP/GPS cohorts generally run more frequently than in rural counties — ask the DSS office or your chosen private agency about the next available training start date when you make your first contact.

Private Agency Options in Guilford County:

• Children's Home Society of NC serves the Guilford County area with training and family support resources
• Baptist Children's Homes of NC has a presence in the Greensboro area through its network of county partnerships
• Other NCDHHS-listed agencies serving Guilford County can be found via the agency directory on the NCDHHS website

Families in Guilford County who want therapeutic placements should inquire with agencies that specialize in that level of care, as the county has significant demand for therapeutic foster homes among its older youth population.

Forsyth County: Winston-Salem

Forsyth County DSS serves Winston-Salem and the surrounding area. Forsyth County has a history of partnership with private agencies and faith communities — Winston-Salem has an active evangelical presence that contributes to foster care recruitment through organizations like Baptist Children's Homes and church-based campaigns.

Forsyth County DSS's foster care and adoption program is accessible through the county's human services website. The county also maintains information about MAPP/GPS training schedules through its DSS website. Forsyth.cc — the official county website — maintains a foster care FAQ that covers the basics of the application process and lists training session availability.

Private Agency Options in Forsyth County:

• Baptist Children's Homes of NC has direct presence in Forsyth County and is a significant recruitment partner for faith-community families in the Winston-Salem area
• Children's Home Society of NC serves the Forsyth County region

What Both Counties Share

Both Guilford and Forsyth operate under the same state standards and both are large enough to run regular MAPP/GPS training cohorts. Applicants in both counties have access to private agency alternatives that may offer more intensive support or more frequent training than the county DSS office.

Key steps that apply in both counties:

1. Complete the mandatory NCDHHS online orientation video
2. Contact the county DSS or a private agency to attend an information meeting
3. Submit the DSS-5016 application with supporting documentation
4. Complete background checks — all adults in the household
5. Complete 30 hours of MAPP/GPS training
6. Complete the Mutual Home Assessment (home study and fire inspection)
7. Receive the license from NC DHHS (valid 24 months)

Both counties recruit for the same types of children most urgently: teenagers, sibling groups, and children with behavioral and emotional needs.

Board Rates and Financial Support

The board rates are set statewide and apply equally in Guilford and Forsyth:

• Ages 0–5: $702/month
• Ages 6–12: $742/month
• Ages 13–18: $810/month

All foster children receive NC Medicaid. Foster parents receive respite care through the state system and are entitled to in-service training support.

Getting Started in the Triad

The NC Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network (877-625-4371) can connect you to the right Guilford or Forsyth County contact. This hotline is the most direct path for families who are not sure whether to contact county DSS or a private agency first.

For a complete guide to the North Carolina foster care licensing process — including the shared parenting requirement, home study preparation, and the documentation timeline that helps you move through the process without delays — the North Carolina Foster Care Licensing Guide covers what families in both counties need from application through first placement.

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