How to Become a Foster Parent in Minnesota

Most people who want to foster in Minnesota spend months circling the same problem: they know they want to do it, but they can't figure out who to actually call first. Minnesota doesn't have a single state intake line. Instead, licensing flows through 87 separate county social services agencies, and which one you use depends on where you live — not where a child lives. That single fact trips up more applicants than anything else in the process.

Here's a clear path through the system.

Step 1: Contact Your County Agency or a Private Agency

Your first call is to the human services office in the county where you reside. Hennepin County Human Services, Ramsey County Human Services, and Dakota County Social Services each run their own licensing programs. Some smaller counties have consolidated — for example, Southwest HHS covers six counties including Lyon, Murray, and Pipestone counties together.

If you don't want to go through the county, licensed private child-placing agencies are a legitimate alternative. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota operates statewide, and agencies like Ampersand Families in St. Paul specialize in older youth and permanency. The trade-off is that private agencies often have their own timelines and placement priorities.

Once you make contact, you'll be invited to an orientation session. This is mandatory and not optional. In Hennepin and Ramsey counties, orientations fill quickly — expect a wait of two to four months if you're starting now. Register as soon as you inquire.

Step 2: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

Minnesota's baseline requirements are less restrictive than many people assume:

• Age: You must be at least 21 years old.
• Residency: You must live in Minnesota and apply through your county of residence.
• Family structure: Single adults, married couples, cohabiting couples, and same-sex couples are all eligible.
• Financial stability: You don't need to meet a specific income threshold, but your existing income must cover your household's needs independently of any foster care reimbursement.
• Health: All household members must provide a signed statement that they are free of communicable disease and physically capable of providing care. A physical exam is required.
• Chemical use: All adults in the home must sign a statement confirming they have been free of chemical use problems for the past two years.

Children over age seven in the home will be interviewed as part of the home study. Pets must be vaccinated per local ordinances. Reptiles, chickens, and ducks are not allowed in homes caring for children under six due to salmonella risk.

Step 3: Complete Pre-Service Training (PATH)

Minnesota's pre-service training is called PATH — Parents as Tender Healers — though the curriculum is now delivered primarily through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (CWTA) using a blended learning model. You'll complete:

• Four instructor-led sessions, typically via Zoom
• Ten or more self-paced online modules through Foster Parent College or the Canvas learning platform
• The full process takes roughly two months and covers 30 to 40 hours of training

Core topics include how to navigate the court and agency system, trauma and attachment theory, cultural competency (including specific modules on Native American history and ICWA), and mandated reporting under MN Statute 260E.

Beyond the core curriculum, you'll also need to complete pediatric CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep training (if caring for children under six), and B.E.S.T. (Basic Education for Safe Travel) car seat certification. B.E.S.T. replaced the older CARS standard as of January 1, 2025 — new applicants must meet the new standard immediately.

If you're ready to get the full step-by-step checklist for training, documents, and the home inspection, the Minnesota Foster Care Licensing Guide covers each stage with the specifics that county websites typically don't provide.

Step 4: Complete Your Background Study Through NETStudy 2.0

All adult household members must be fingerprinted at an authorized location such as IdentoGo. Fingerprints are submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for state records and to the FBI for a national criminal history check.

The system used to manage this is NETStudy 2.0, which cross-checks fingerprints with photographs and social security numbers to verify identity. The system also searches the Minnesota Child Maltreatment Report registry, the predatory offender registry, and — if you've lived out of state in the past five years — child abuse and neglect registries from every prior state of residence.

Out-of-state checks are consistently the longest part of the process. If you've recently moved to Minnesota, factor in extra time.

Step 5: Pass the Home Study and Inspection

Your licensing worker will conduct a physical inspection of your home and a series of psychosocial interviews with you and other household members. The physical inspection is governed by Minnesota Rules Chapter 2960 and checks for specific safety items: egress windows in bedrooms, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level, locked firearm storage with ammunition stored separately, a fire extinguisher rated at minimum 2A:10BC near the kitchen, and proper storage of hazardous materials.

In older Minnesota homes — particularly those with finished basements — egress windows are a common stumbling block. Bedrooms cannot be used if the room is more than 50% below ground level without a fire-marshal-approved egress opening.

After the home study, your county or private agency reviews all information and recommends you to the state (now the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, or DCYF) for licensure.

Step 6: Receive Your License and Accept Placements

Your license will specify the number of children, their age range, and any specializations (such as emergency shelter or medically fragile care). Most licenses are valid for one or two years and require renewal with updated background checks and home inspection.

When a child needs a placement, your social worker searches the state's Social Services Information System (SSIS) for an available home that fits the child's needs. You have the right to accept or decline a placement based on your family's current capacity. Before you agree, the agency must share the child's social and medical history, behavioral background, and any known safety concerns.

What to Expect After Placement

Minnesota foster parents are considered professional partners, not bystanders. You have the right to participate in the child's Out-of-Home Placement Plan, receive notice of all court proceedings, and provide input to the judge. You also have the right to regular communication and support from your licensing and case workers.

Once licensed, you'll need 12 hours of continuing education annually. Each year must include at least one hour on children's mental health, one hour on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and completion of mandated reporter training.

The Minnesota Foster Care Licensing Guide walks through each of these stages with county-specific details, the NETStudy 2.0 process, and a home inspection checklist built around Rule 2960 standards.

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