Missouri Foster Care and Adoption
Every day 12 children enter foster care in MissouriFoster Care in Missouri
Children across Missouri need safe and loving homes. Ranging from infants to age 21, some need short-term homes while others need long term care or a forever family.
Provide temporary care for children coming from unsafe situations. Work as a team with the child’s caseworker and biological family to safely return them home. Colorado needs another 1,200 foster homes to support the current need.
FOSTER CARE
Children in the foster care system may become eligible for adoption while in your care. Foster parents are considered if the child’s biological family members are unable to care for him or her.
FOSTER TO ADOPT
Be a forever family for a child who cannot return home to their biological family and is legally free for adoption. Foster for approximately six months until the adoption can be finalized. There are over 290 children in Colorado’s foster care legally free for adoption at any given time.
FOSTER ADOPTION
Two homes provide short-term care, between 30 to 90 days, for Adams County children in emergency situations as they enter foster care for the first time. These homes offer a safe haven so children can remain in their community, schools, and with their siblings until longer-term options are explored.
HOMES FOR HOPE
Your advocate on the foster care journey
Nightlight works alongside the 64 counties in Missouri as well as out of state organizations to find the best matches for children.
Friendly, professional, and ministry-minded staff provide you with spiritual and emotional support throughout the journey
Once we think we have a match, we send you the information and give you time to pray and consider each situation without pressure.
Our focus is on supporting the entire family unit so you can maintain a strong and healthy family while nurturing the needs of a new member
How do I become a foster parent?
The first steps to starting your foster parent journey. It’s simpler than you think. We guide you step-by-step through the foster parent certification process. The steps include:
- Meet the staff. Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one meeting with our foster team. Let us help you explore whether foster care is a good fit for you and your family.
- Fill out an application. We’ll review to ensure you meet foster parent qualifications. To become a foster parent in Missouri, you must be at least 21 years of age. You can rent or own your home but you must have at least one extra bedroom for the child. You’ll need to pass background checks and have adequate financial, emotional, and physical resources to meet the child’s needs. Learn more about additional qualifications here (link to Overview Page).
- Attend Foster Parent Training. Our 28 hours of pre-certification training focuses on trauma-informed caregiving and Trust Based Relational Interventions
- Complete a Home Study. The home study includes in-depth interviews with you and your family and an assessment of your house with an experienced Nightlight staff member. This helps us ensure we’re finding the right fit for your family and that you’re adequately prepared for the journey ahead.
- Prepare for Your Child’s Arrival. Nightlight will contact you about children needing families. We want every child to be placed with the family that will best meet their unique needs. We walk through the matching process together, discussing your concerns and hopes for your family. We’ll be available and ready to support you as your child enters your home!
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Nightlight! They are an amazing adoption agency. We are foster parents and I can’t imagine going through forst care without them. They have always been by our side no matter what. They have helped us undestand the foster system as well as our children. They have been by our side through the rough times and the good times. We love Nightlight and are so happy with our partnership with them.
Katie Magnus
Foster Parent Training
Our training calendar for 2020 is now available. Please check here to find a location near you!
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