Foster Care Indiana

Becoming a foster parent is an immensely impactful way to help local children in need of a safe, healthy, and loving home. In recent years, the number of kids and teens entering the Indiana foster care system has begun increasing, signifying a major need for foster parents. According to the 2026 Indiana Kids Count Data Book, 18,371 youth in Indiana required foster care in 2024.

The journey to foster parenting requires significant commitment, but it is manageable, and multiple sources of support are available to help you along your path. Consider this article your guide and a step-by-step roadmap to becoming a licensed foster parent in Indiana. We outline Indiana foster parent requirements, describe the process you’ll go through to become a foster parent in Indiana, and list sources of financial support and other official resources.

The Need for Foster Homes in Indiana

The foster care system exists to provide nurturing, stable homes to children and teens who need them. If you’re wondering how to foster in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) oversees the process of placing children in foster homes. Many children enter the IN foster care system because of an unhealthy or unsafe home environment, but with a strong, nurturing home, research shows they can be given the opportunity to thrive.

Foster parents are the backbone of this foster care system. Foster parents not only give kids and teens a home, they provide consistency and guidance. Research shows that when kids are moved from an unhealthy home environment, such as one containing abuse or neglect, to a healthy, stable foster home, they are more likely to stay safe and do better in school.

The Indiana DCS notes that older teens in foster care face increased risks. If they “age out” of foster care, they may not have the funds, support, or resources to begin adulthood on strong footing. Foster parents willing to provide a home to teenage foster kids or to continue to be a source of support after a teen turns 18 may have a particularly significant impact on a child.

Foster Parent Requirements in Indiana

You must meet a list of specific requirements to become a licensed foster parent in the state of Indiana. 

• Age: You must be at least 21 years old.
• Residency: You can be a homeowner or renter, but you must be a resident of Indiana.
• Marital Status: You can be married, single, or living with a romantic partner and foster children in Indiana. If you are living with a partner, you must have been together for at least a year before applying to become foster parents. Same-sex partners can apply, and there are no laws prohibiting LGBTQ+ applicants from becoming foster parents. 
• Financial Stability: You must have sufficient income to meet your own family’s needs, independent of the foster care stipend. Your records must indicate that you are financially stable.
• Health: All household members must be in good physical and mental health, and this must be demonstrated through medical statements from a doctor.
• Background Checks: All adults in the home must pass state and federal criminal background checks, including a child abuse and neglect registry check. These checks include checking your fingerprints against a national database.
• Home Environment: Your home must pass a safety inspection and have adequate space for a child. The home assessment will be conducted by the agency. They will check the number of bedrooms, as well as their sizes, along with safety features, like fire extinguishers. Adequate transportation is also considered a requirement of the home environment.
• Training: You must complete the state-mandated foster parent training program.

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

The process of becoming a foster parent in Indiana involves several specific steps.

1. Complete an Online Interest Form: The first step toward becoming a foster parent in Indiana is filling out the Indiana DCS Foster Care Interest Form online. This form asks for basic contact information. After you submit it, you will receive a confirmation. A DCS Regional Foster Care Specialist (RFCS) will then reach out to you.
2. Receive Information from DCS: When the DCS Regional Foster Care Specialist reaches out to you, they will give you a general overview of the role of foster parents and details about the process to become licensed in Indiana. They will also share an initial licensing packet with you that you must fill out.
3. Complete the Licensing Packet: The next step is to fill out the licensing packet provided to you by the DCS Regional Foster Care Specialist, which is the application form. The Specialist will remain available to answer questions if they arise and help you as you fill out the paperwork.
4. Participate in Pre-Service Training: Next, DCS will schedule your pre-service training. This is a crucial step in the process. Indiana uses a training program called Resource and Adoptive Parent Training (RAPT), as well as medical training. RAPT trains prospective foster parents on the DCS system, child development, and how to care for kids and teens in a trauma-informed way.
5. Complete the Home-Study Assessment: After pre-service training is complete, DCS will schedule home visits as part of a home-study assessment. These visits are a collaborative process that allow a social worker to get to know the family, inspect the home for safety, and prepare the family for placement. The completed licensing packet is submitted at this time.
6. Receive Your License: Receiving your official foster parent license is the final step in the process. Once the license has been granted, you are eligible to have a foster child placed in your home. At this stage of the process, DCS will assign you a Family Case Manager (FCM) who will guide you and act as a resource moving forward.

Financial Support: The Indiana Foster Care Stipend

In every state, foster care parents are eligible to receive a financial stipend for each child they foster. This is not an income or salary, but rather a non-taxable reimbursement for expenses related to fostering. Indiana DCS provides stipends on a per diem, or daily, basis and updates foster care stipend rates each year to correspond with the consumer price index. If a child needs additional services or therapy, a larger stipend is given. 

Here are the 2026 Indiana foster care per diem stipend rates calculated into monthly averages:

• Ages 0–4: $835.80–$2,145.60 per month
• Ages 5–13: $906.90–$2,215.20 per month
• Ages 14–18: $1,047.00–$2,352.30

In addition to the foster care stipend, all children in foster care are generally eligible to receive comprehensive medical and dental coverage through Medicaid. In Indiana, Medicaid falls under the Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP). Foster parents can find more information about applying for Medicaid through the dedicated Indiana Medicaid website. 

Also, Indiana foster care parents are eligible to receive property insurance at no cost through a program between Indiana DCS and a private insurance agency. This insurance covers property damage caused by a foster child, as well as legal defense costs in the event that foster parents face legal action due to a foster child’s actions. Foster parents can find out more about the insurance coverage and find the claim form on the Indiana Foster Care Insurance page.

Adopting from Foster Care in Indiana

The primary goal of foster care is reunifying the foster child with their original family. But, in some cases, reunification isn't safe or possible. As a result, children may be adopted from foster care in Indiana after a certain period of time and after a court has terminated parental rights of the original family. Often, foster children that become available for adoption are adopted by their foster parents, but in some cases, they may be directly adopted by prospective adoptive parents who didn't foster them.

The main state adoption page is Indiana Adoption Program. Indiana DCS also maintains an Indiana Adoption webpage containing information about public agency adoptions, or adoptions that happen through a government agency like DCS rather than through a private adoption agency. DCS provides resources related to public agency adoptions, including trainings, post-adoption services, and subsidies that, like the foster care stipend, reimburse for expenses related to children adopted from foster care.

For more details, see our guide to Adoption in Indiana.

Get Started: Indiana Foster Care Resources

Becoming a foster parent is a rewarding experience for many, because of the life-changing benefits it provides foster children. If you feel ready to become a licensed foster parent in Indiana, here are the resources to help you move forward:

• Official State Agency: Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS)
• Website: https://www.in.gov/dcs/foster-care/ 
• DCS Customer Service Email: DCS.CustomerService@dcs.in.gov
• Foster Care Interest Form: https://www.fostercare.dcs.in.gov/s/interest-form 
• Foster Care Helpline: (888) 631-9510
• Adoptive Parent Inquiries Number: (877) 265-0086

Find a Local Indiana Department of Child Services Office Near You.