Make An Incredible Impact: Become A Resource Parent*
Children in foster care are in desperate need of a stable, loving home where they can be nurtured and begin to realize their full potential.
*Formerly Foster Parent

What is Foster Care?
When children are removed from an unsafe home, they need to be placed with a resource family, a temporary stable home for the child or children to be loved and supported. During this time, the biological family and the resource family are supported and given the tools they need to reach the goal of reunification. Once the reason for removal has been resolved, we want to see the child reunited with their biological family. Becoming a resource family makes this goal possible.
Some FAQ About Foster Care
- How many kids are in foster care?
- What are the costs of being a resource parent?
- What do I need to be a resource parent?
- What are the benefits of fostering through Agape Villages?
- Is there an Agape foster care program in my area?
How many kids are in foster care?
A staggering number of kids, over 400,000, are in foster care annually in the United States. Over 50,000 of those kids are in California. Each year we have to turn away hundreds of kids entering foster care because we don’t have enough resource families to care for these kids. These kids will likely enter group homes. It is heartbreaking to have to say no to a child wanting a safe, loving home.
What are the costs of being a resource parent?
Basic needs for the child in foster care are met by a monthly, tax-free stipend. This amount should be enough to cover the added cost of things like food, clothes, and school supplies. Agape Villages also provides additional services that will help offset other costs, like enrichment activities.
What do I need to be a resource parent?
The requirements to becoming a resource parent are not that difficult to meet. If you are over the age of 18 and have a safe place with a room for a child, you meet the basic requirements. It doesn’t matter if you are single or married, own or rent an apartment or a single-family home.
The biggest factor to whether you can be a successful resource parent is if you provide love and support for the kids in foster care as if they were your own.
What are the benefits of fostering through Agape Villages?
Everyone becoming a resource parent needs to go through basic steps like CPR training and a background check. Agape also provides extensive training opportunities and a support program that connects resource parents in Agape to each other.
The biggest benefits to fostering through Agape are:
- Screening of children entering foster care to ensure the child or children placed with you are a good fit.
- A masters-level trained social worker that visits your home weekly to provide resources and support you and the child in foster care.
Is there an Agape foster care program in my area?
Agape’s service area includes the following counties. If you live in one of these, please contact us to start the process.
- Alameda
- Amador
- Calaveras
- Contra Costa
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Merced
- Napa
- Placer
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tuolumne
- Yolo
- Yuba
Your role as a Resource Parent
As a resource parent, you will:
- Provide a safe and supportive home environment to a child who has experienced trauma
- Help the child feel safe, loved, and connected until they can be reunified with family
- Provide transportation for education, medical appointments, and extracurricular activities
- Together with Agape, support the child and their family as they work toward reunification
Agape’s role as a support system
Agape will support you every step:
- When a child is placed in your home, your family will be assigned an Agape Social Worker who will be available to offer support and guidance.
- You will be offered free training through Agape’s Resource Parent Support Program where you will meet other resource families.
- Your Social Worker will visit your home each week (or every other week, depending on the need) and will be available should you need assistance; and, in case of emergency, he/she is available 24 hours a day.
What is the process for becoming a Resource parent through Agape?
- Fill out the form below, so you can be contacted by a former resource parent or Agape employee. They will be able to answer your questions.
- An Agape staff member will walk you through the certification process, from initial paperwork to a background check to training and certifications.
- Receive your first foster placement and welcome a child or children into your home.
Take The Next Step
We’re looking forward to hearing from you and helping you with becoming a resource parent. It is a rewarding process that we know can be scary. Let us talk with you and ease your worries.
