Articles Foster Care in Georgia

Written by: Adoption.com Staff | Published on: January 30, 2026

Foster Care in Georgia

Right now, there are more than 11,000 children in foster care in Georgia. When a child’s biological parents are not able to care for them, the state’s first option is kinship care, or placement with a relative. When a relative is unavailable, Georgia relies on caring foster parents to support the state’s children until their birth parents are ready for them to come back home.

While becoming a foster parent requires commitment, the right information can equip you with everything you need for the journey. This guide provides step-by-step directions on how to foster in Georgia, covering licensing requirements, the process, financial support, and official resources.

The Need for Foster Homes in Georgia

The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) is the official state agency responsible for child welfare in the Peach State. Foster parents are the bedrock of DFCS’s system, providing temporary care while children’s biological families work toward reunification.

Children are placed in foster care for a variety of reasons. No matter the reason, Georgia needs caring foster parents who can bridge gaps in childcare and look out for the best interests of the state’s youths. In some cases, a foster home provides the most security and stability that children have experienced up to that point in their lives.

Each Wednesday on the 6:00 p.m. news, Fox 5 showcases a child or sibling group in Georgia’s foster care system. There is also a photolisting of children waiting for adoption on DFCS’s website.

Foster Parent Requirements in Georgia

Age: You must be at least 21 years old and 10 years older than the child you wish to foster. If you are single, you must be at least 25 years old.
Residency: You can own or rent your home, but you must be a resident of Georgia.
Marital Status: You can be single or married and be a foster parent in Georgia; however, if you are single, you must be at least 25 years old. There are no explicit laws against LGBTQ+ people becoming foster parents in Georgia.
Financial Stability: Independent of foster care payments in Georgia, you must demonstrate sufficient income to meet your own family’s needs. There is no minimum income threshold, but you will have to show financial stability during the home study process.
Health: To become a foster parent in Georgia, all members of your household must be in good physical and mental health. You will have to pass medical and drug screenings as part of the home study process.
Background Checks: All adults in the home must pass a fingerprint-based background check, including screenings in the Georgia Child Protective Services division, the national Sexual Offenders Registry, and the Department of Corrections database. They will also be screened in other states’ child abuse and neglect registries.
Home Environment: To pass a home inspection, all prospective foster children must have their own bed. If they are under five, they are allowed to share a double bed or larger with another child of the same sex. They must also have adequate space for their possessions and clothes. Hazardous items like firearms must be locked and inaccessible to children. Each level of the house must have a working smoke alarm.
Training: Prospective foster parents in Georgia must complete National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) pre-service training. The curriculum consists of 34 hours of training and is delivered through a hybrid model that blends in-person and virtual learning.

How to Become a Foster Parent in Georgia: The Step-by-Step Process

1. Call the Information Line

The first step toward becoming a foster parent in Georgia is to call the information line (1-877-210-KIDS). This call will get you an invitation to an information session in your county.

2. Attend an Information Session

In most cases, prospective foster parents in Georgia can choose between an online webinar and an in-person, county-specific information session. These sessions are non-binding and may be individual or group gatherings, typically covering general information and safety screening requirements.

3. Complete the Application

After attending an information session, you must fill out a prospective caregiver application. At this point, the state will initiate pre-service training and the home study process.

4. Participate in Pre-Service Training

All prospective foster parents in Georgia must complete NTDC pre-service training, which consists of 34 hours of coursework. The curriculum covers basic competencies and skills in the following areas:

The fostering/adoption process
Emotional/cognitive/behavioral implications in fostering/adopting
Sexuality and sexual orientation
Communication and partnership
Identity and cultural issues

5. Complete the Home Study

In Georgia, the home study process consists of a minimum of three in-home consultations. The home study involves a physical evaluation of the home, meaning that firearms must be locked away, each level of the house must have a working smoke alarm, and pets must have current rabies vaccinations. Each foster child must have their own bed, unless they are under five and the same gender as their bedmate. All adults in the home must also pass fingerprint-based criminal background checks and several screenings, including the child abuse and neglect registry.

6. Receive Your License

Once you’ve completed pre-service training and the home study process, you’ll receive a letter from the county with a final decision. This decision will take no more than eight weeks. If you are approved, you’ll receive an initial license.

Financial Support: The Georgia Foster Care Stipend

Foster care stipends in Georgia are awarded through a 30-day reimbursement system. This monthly payment is a non-taxable reimbursement to cover children’s needs, not a salary. The base rate depends on the age of the child, and children with more severe needs receive additional money. Georgia differs from many other states in that it has a per diem rather than a monthly rate, though funds are still distributed on a monthly basis..

Each month, foster families must submit an invoice documenting basic needs and incidental costs. You will usually receive a direct deposit for the previous month’s expenses on the 15th of each month.

According to the Five Hive, an agency in Georgia, the base per diem rates for the 2026 fiscal year will be as follows:

Ages 0-5: $29.20
Ages 6-12: $31.51
Ages 13+: $34.27

All children in foster care in Georgia receive comprehensive medical and dental coverage through Georgia Families 360°, a division of the state’s Medicaid program. The program also includes behavioral health services and continuous care for when children move in and out of the foster care system.

Adopting from Foster Care in Georgia

The primary goal for foster care in Georgia is always reunification. The main purpose of foster parents is to care for children until their biological families are ready for them to come home.

That said, when reunification isn’t possible, children in Georgia become eligible for adoption. Most children adopted from foster care are eligible for a post-adoption subsidy to make sure that foster or adoptive parents can continue to meet their needs.

In Georgia, requirements for the foster-to-adopt pathway are similar to requirements for foster parenting. Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old and 10 years older than the child they want to adopt. They must have been a Georgia resident for at least six months prior to filing the petition to adopt.

While prospective adoptive parents may have to complete additional home visits, since foster parents have already completed a home study, they can apply for adoption before completing these home visits.

For more information, visit our guide to adopting in Georgia.

Get Started: Georgia Foster Care Resources

Ready to get started? While navigating the foster care system might seem daunting at first, with the right information, you can start your foster parent journey today. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re ready to begin, you can take your first steps through DFCS.

Official State Agency: Georgia Department of Family & Child Services
Website: https://dhs.georgia.gov/contacts/adoption-foster-care and https://fostergeorgia.com/
Phone Number: 1-877-210-KIDS

Find a local licensing agency or county office near you.