If you are interested in becoming a Good Hearts’ foster parent either in Houston or in Austin, please call us at  281-298-4028 – one of our Foster Home Developers will be happy to speak with you about the process!

Below are the general steps to becoming a foster parent with Good Hearts.

1. Initial Inquiry and the Prospective Parent Information Packet: An informational packet is provided to any interested families. Good Hearts will then contact the family to schedule an initial home visit.
2. Pre-Assessment Meeting: A Good Hearts staff member will schedule a time to meet with you and your family in your home. Because Good Hearts places children who may have sustained neglect and/or emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse, it is important that we license only those families who will be able to adequately meet the needs of the children in our care.
3. Initial Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for a foster home license, prospective foster parents must meet the following initial criteria (additional criteria are required for some programs):

• at least 21 years of age;
• if married, the couple must be married for at least one year; Good Hearts only verifies couples as a unit – Good Hearts does not verify only one spouse;
• if divorced, an individual must show documentation that the divorce has been final for at least one year;
• the ability to financially support the family separate from any financial reimbursement; prior to being licensed, the family must provide documentation stating that their expenses do not exceed income; and
• the ability to provide proof of current homeowners or renter’s insurance that includes liability insurance.

1. Mutual Assessment and Making an Informed Decision: By the time you complete PRIDE training, you and a member of the Good Hearts staff will have met again and one of the following decisions will be reached:

• Both parties agree foster care is the right choice and a decision about the number, ages, and behaviors of the children that you feel you can successfully accept into your family is agreed upon. Good Hearts will share any issues or concerns about your ability to become licensed as they arise.
• You decide that foster care is not the right choice. Good Hearts respects your decision and appreciates the thought and time you put into making it. Good Hearts will suggest some other ways that you can help children.
• Good Hearts decides that foster care is not the right choice for you. Good Hearts has the final responsibility for the decision to license families. If the final decision is not to move forward with the licensing process, Good Hearts will provide you with the reason(s) in writing. Good Hearts will also suggest some other ways that you can help children.