Foster Care Licensing

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Becoming a Foster Parent in Lee County

In North Carolina, a single person or married couple must be at least 21 years old to become a foster parent and at least 18 years old to become an adoptive parent. Lee County does not discriminate and encourages people of any race, color, sexual orientation, or national origin to become active members of the foster care/adoption community.

You do not have to own a home or meet a certain amount of income to be a foster or adoptive parent. You do need to consider what it will mean to have a child come into your family and how this will affect your lives and the child’s life. Foster or adoptive parents must be ready to give a child or children opportunities to develop to their full potential—physically, academically, socially, and emotionally—with realistic expectations and unconditional support and love.

To become a licensed foster parent you must provide/complete the following:

• Participate in TIPS-MAPP training: 30 hours of pre-service training (done before anything else)
• Complete 10 hours of in-service training each year to maintain your license
• Pass a fire and building safety inspection
• Pass an environmental conditions checklist
• Have a working phone, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
• Every household member must have physical examination/TB test
• Everyone over the age of 18 living in the home must have a criminal history check and fingerprint check through the State Bureau of Investigation with no serious offenses (completed through DSS after TIPS-MAPP class is complete)
• Provide a copy of your driver’s license, SS card, automobile insurance and similar documents
• Provide your family background & history (it helps during the licensing process)
• Have adequate income without relying on the foster child’s board payment
• Have adequate sleeping accommodations for each child
• Will work in partnership with other professionals (including birth parents) in order to coordinate care for the child or children

Helpful Resources:

• MAPP-TIPS Information
• MAPP Registration Form
• You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be a Perfect Parent Brochure
• Foster Parent Orientation

For additional information please contact Kim Cherry,
Licensing Social Worker at
919-718-4690 x 5235 or kcherry@leecountync.gov.