Support for Foster Parents
There are great rewards to being a foster parent, but it can be challenging too! North Dakota provides a strong support system to help manage the foster parenting experience.
- Financial
- Reimbursement for the care of a North Dakota foster child is issued monthly to the foster parent depending on the child's age and whether the child requires special care due to physical, emotional or behavioral problems. Expenses such as room and board, specified travel costs, clothing, personal allowances, and other material needs are paid for a foster child. A child's health care needs are paid through Medicaid or health insurance.
- Liability Coverage
- North Dakota provides property damage liability coverage for licensed foster homes subject to certain conditions. This coverage is secondary to the foster parent's own insurance.
- Training
- The licensing agency provides orientation followed by pre-service training. Each licensed foster family is required to complete annual training hours. Annual training opportunities are available on a local, regional and statewide basis.
- Social Workers
- Social workers are assigned to work with each foster parent and child to help meet home, school, family, and community needs.
- Foster Parent Organizations
- The North Dakota Foster Parents Association provides a forum for foster parents to exchange and learn from each other's experiences. Local communities function differently across the state.
- Quarterly Newsletter
- Foster parents receive Fostering Communication, a quarterly newsletter published by the UND Children and Family Services Training center.