New York State Office of Children and Family (OCFS) requires the completion of National Training and Development Center (NTDC) as part of the certification process for all foster parents. Once fully certified as a foster parent each individual foster parent is required to complete a minimum of 4 hours of additional training per year. Erie County Department of Social Services may require foster parents to complete additional hours of training specific to the needs of children in their home at any given time.
- You must be 21 years or older to be certified as a foster parent
- Single adults can be certified
- You can be certified even if you work outside the home
- Committed couples need to both agree to the process, but don’t need to be married
- You can have pets and be a foster parent
- You can live in a rented home – home ownership not required
- Certification requires criminal fingerprint background checks of all adult household members
- Applicants with criminal history may still be eligible – we can answer any questions you have.
- Child and vulnerable adult abuse registry background checks are required of all adult household members
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