Become a Resource Family for Local Foster Children

Do you want to make a difference in the life of a child? Foster care is the out of home care of a minor who is a dependent of the juvenile dependency court. Some children require temporary out of home care due to parental neglect, abuse or exploitation. Foster parents, now known as "resource families," provide love, parental care, guidance and stability to children until they can be returned to their parents or move to a permanent home through adoption or guardianship.

There is an ongoing need to find and maintain resource families who can support children and their families in their area. While homes are needed for all types of children, family homes for sibling sets, as well as teenagers and children with medical needs, are also needed. The Sacramento County Resource Family Approval (RFA) program offers training, support, and guidance to resource families.

The Resource Family Approval Program:

• Recruits prospective resource families for temporary and permanent placement
• Provides RFA Scheduled Orientation
• Provides initial training to prospective families and annual training for approved families
• Evaluates potential resource family homes to ensure each meets space and safety requirements
• Interviews and assesses qualifications of prospective resource families
• Issues and updates resource family approvals
• Conducts annual inspections and complaint investigations when required
• Provides ongoing RFA training

We Are Looking for People Who Can:

• Help children in a temporary resource family home feel that they have a "home of their own"
• Help foster youth maintain and improve relationships with others, including parents
• Assist children with adjustment in school, community and new home environment
• Understand and respect the importance of the foster youths' bond with their natural family
• Share and maintain their own family while including a foster youth into the family environment
• Maintain the foster youths' cultural, ethnic and religious preference

To Qualify, Applicants Must:

• Reside in the County of Sacramento
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be in good health
• Each adult in the home must be willing to submit to a background check
• Have adequate bedroom space to accommodate all family members, including foster youth
• Have a home which passes a safety inspection
• Have sufficient income to meet current expenses
• Be willing to complete required training
• Complete application packet online

Level of Care Protocol (LOCP) Information:

Resource Parents Report Tool Activities in Support of Child

CS 80 LOC Redetermination Request

LOCP Slides

LOCP Training for Resource Parents

Other Information

RFA Scheduled Orientation

Steps to Becoming a Resource Parent

Contact Me - Interest in Becoming a Resource Parent

Support and Assistance

Ongoing Resource Family Training

Ready to complete the application packet