Open your home. Change a story.
Foster with us
At Uniting Hope, we believe that every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving home.
If you feel a tug on your heart to foster, we are here to empower you from the very first question, through the licensing process, and throughout each child placement in your home.
We are a faith-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Georgia that recruits, trains, licenses, and encourages foster families.
Is Uniting Hope the right fit for your family?
Fostering is a ministry and a way of life. Uniting Hope serves families who:
Are active in a local church and want to live out their faith in practical, sacrificial love
Desire to support vulnerable children and birth families with compassion and dignity
Want to be part of a community of families, churches, and staff who pray, encourage, and show up in real, tangible ways
Are willing to learn, grow, and receive ongoing support as they foster
A community of support for every step of your journey
Why foster with Uniting Hope?
There are many agencies in Georgia. Here’s what makes Uniting Hope unique:
What it looks like to foster with Uniting Hope
Common questions from families just like yours
Frequently asked questions about fostering with Uniting Hope
We’ve gathered common questions from families who are just starting to explore foster care. If you don’t see your question here, we’d love to talk with you personally.
Understanding Foster Care
Who can foster with Uniting Hope?
Foster parents must:
Be at least 21 years of age and 18 years of age if relative/kinship caregiver.
Live in Georgia
Have a stable home and income
Pass background checks and a home study
Be willing to partner with DFCS and our team
Because we are a faith-centered organization, we also ask that families be active in a local Christian church and open to caring for children in a way that reflects Christ’s love.
What is a home study?
A home study is a supportive, collaborative process to help ensure fostering is a good fit for your family and your family is fit to care for a child. It includes background checks, interviews, home visits, and conversations about your lifestyle, strengths, and expectations. It’s not about perfection, it’s about preparing you and ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for a child.
What training do I need?
Prospective foster parents complete state-required training (NTDC // National Training and Development Curriculum) covering trauma-informed care, child development, de-escalation, and supporting birth-family relationships. The training is 31 hours and is offered completely online or in a hybrid format with some in-person hours. The goal is to help you feel confident and prepared. Uniting Hope helps ensure each caregiver is enrolled in a training that works for them.
What’s the difference between foster care and adopting from foster care?
Foster care is a system whose design is to be temporary with the primary goal of reunification. Uniting Hope seeks to license families who want to come alongside other families to see restoration.
Adoption from foster care occurs only when reunification is no longer possible and parental rights have been terminated. The State also prioritizes finding family or Kinship placements when at all possible. Foster parents often have the first opportunity to adopt the children in their care after Termination of Parental Rights.
Uniting Hope sees both Reunifications and Adoptions occur each year and facilitates Case Management for both permanency goals. If a family hopes to only adopt a legally free child, our team can help them connect with an agency that is specifically contracted to facilitate adoptions.
What if I have never been a parent?
That’s completely okay! Many great foster parents have not parented before. Training and ongoing support help build the skills you need. What matters is your willingness to learn and provide safety, stability, and care.
Eligibility & Household Requirements
Can you foster if you have ever been divorced?
Yes. Divorce does not disqualify you. We focus on your current stability and ability to provide a safe home.
Does it matter if I rent or own my home?
No. You can rent or own. What matters is that your home is safe and meets licensing and home safety requirements.
How many bedrooms should my home have?
You don’t need a separate room for each child. Some bedroom requirements:
- Children up to 24 months of age can share a room with an adult.
- Each foster child must have their own bed.
- Opposite-gender children over 5 years of age cannot share a room.
- Rooms must be safe and personalized to the child.
- Children need a closet or wardrobe of their own.
Are pets allowed? What if children are allergic?
Yes, pets are welcome as long as they are safe and vaccinated. Uniting Hope will ask and assess your pets’ behavior around children during the home study process. If a child has allergies, placements are matched accordingly.
Does having a pool, pond, or body of water affect approval?
Yes. Water of any kind requires additional safety measures such as locked gates, alarms, or pool covers. Requirements vary by body of water and will be explained during your home study.
Licensing Process & Placement
How long does it take to get licensed?
Most families complete licensing in three to nine months, depending on training, paperwork, and scheduling. Your Uniting Hope initial licensing team will guide you through every step.
What costs are involved in becoming licensed?
At Uniting Hope, training, background checks, and home study are free. Some cost may be accrued obtaining medicals or home safety adjustments needed in your home to meet licensing requirements. If financial needs are a barrier, Uniting Hope will work with families to continue to pursue licensing through the generous donations of Churches and partners.
Once licensed, every night a foster child sleeps in a foster home, foster parents receive a per diem payment, paid monthly, to help meet the child’s needs.
Do I get to choose the age and gender of foster children?
Yes. During licensing, you will discuss the age range, gender, and needs you are prepared to support. Flexibility may increase placement opportunities, but your comfort and ability is the guide to a good placement match.
Uniting Hope is committed to a placement matching process to ensure everyone’s needs are met in the placement.
Can foster children be homeschooled? What are their school options
Because the State of Georgia is the custody holder of a child in foster care, they are required to attend public school. There have been some exceptions to this requirement when it is in the child’s best interest.
Health & Safety Requirements
Do my biological children need to be vaccinated?
Children who are household members must be up to date on immunizations unless the immunizations are contrary to the child’s health as documented by a licensed health care professional or the caregiver expresses a sincere religious objection to immunization of their child. Waivers may be granted for specific circumstances or Uniting Hope can help you determine if a waiver is appropriate for your family.
Are any vaccinations required for adults in the home?
Caregivers do not have to have flu and pertussis vaccines to foster children 2 and under.
Are guns allowed in foster homes?
Yes, if stored safely and according to home safety requirements. Uniting Hope requires:
- Firearms must be unloaded and locked securely.
- Ammunition must be stored separately.
These requirements will be discussed and implemented during the initial home study process.
Background Checks & Personal History
Can I foster if I have a past criminal record? What about drug history?
Possibly. Approval depends on:
- The type of offense
- How long ago the offense and charge occurred
- Evidence of rehabilitation and behavioral change
Certain felonies (especially violent or child-related crimes) are automatic disqualifiers, but many older or nonviolent offenses are not.
Other Ways to Serve
Are there ways to support foster care without becoming a foster parent?
Absolutely. You can:
- Provide respite care (short-term care for foster families). Respite Caregivers must undergo the full foster care licensing process.
- Donate supplies, clothing, or gift cards
- Join a Care Team through our partner organizations Chosen for Life and Promise686
- Volunteer at events
- Become a CASA (court-appointed special advocate) in some regions
Every role helps strengthen children and families.
Ready to learn more? Join a info session.
“If you’re feeling even a small nudge toward fostering, I’d love to meet you. Our Info Sessions are relaxed, friendly, and truly meant for exploring — not committing. You don’t have to have everything figured out to take this step. Just come as you are. We’ll walk with you, answer every question, and help you discover whether fostering might be part of your family’s story.”