Foster parents

Important information to support new foster parents. You will review these materials with your licensing worker.

• Foster parent guide (PDF, 6MB)
• Peer Support Parents program: Connect with a foster parent mentor (PDF, 1MB)
• Comfort call guide (PDF, 1MB)
• Mental health emergencies
• Age-appropriate sexual behavior
• A guide to court proceedings for foster parents (PDF, 1MB)
• Foster provider liability insurance (PDF, 1MB)
• Paths to permanency: Adoption of children in foster care (PDF, 1MB)
• Paths to permanency: Transfer of physical and legal custody of children in foster care (PDF, 1MB)
• Relative permanency services: Reducing time in foster care (PDF, 1MB)
• Welcoming a foster child or youth to your home (PDF, 1MB)
• Minnesota Rules, 2960.3000-2960.3340

Family and friends referral incentives

Help us recruit new foster parents and you could earn incentive payments.

Hennepin County is piloting an incentive program for referring family and friends. The original end date of June 30, 2024 has been extended. Find full details about the program.

If you are ready to refer a family for non-relative foster care, talk to your licensing worker.

Essentials – foster parent email newsletter

Regular updates for foster parents, including policy and practice changes, training opportunities and events, guidance on caring for foster children and youth, and support and recognition for foster parents.

Foster parents receive the newsletter by email.

• Fire prevention month, building strong relationships - August 2025
• Employment and training for youth - June 2025
• Annual picnic and resource fair, Foster Parent Guide updates - April 2025
• Tax information, tips and tools, tickets for kids - March 2025
• Childhood services and assessments, permanency resource workers, car seat training - January 2025
• Education support, mental health matters, National Adoption Month - November 2024

Calendar and registration

Hennepin County foster care training calendar (PDF, 1MB) 

Training requirements

Foster care training requirements depend on the stage of licensure — initial, first year, or ongoing — and whether you are a relative or non-relative foster care provider. Find the requirements that apply to you below. If you have questions, consult your licensor.

All training must be completed before your relicensing or annual review due date. It is recommended that you start taking training right after your annual/relicensing review is completed each year.

Record your training on the Foster care provider record of training (PDF, 1MB). 

Relative

Initial license

• Ensuring Safety & Equity for LGBTQIA+ Youth
• Introduction to Children’s Mental Health
• Mandated Reporter
• Nuts & Bolts: Foster Care the Hennepin Way
• Prudent Parenting
• BEST car seat training – within 30 days of being licensed if fostering a child under 9 years
• SUID/AHT – within 30 days of being licensed if fostering a child under 6 years

First year (need 6 hours minimum, suggestions are below)

• Child Protection and Foster Care Court System
• Discipline in Foster Care
• Developmental Impact of Trauma
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder if fostering a child with this diagnosis
• Foster Parent Guide test
• Mandated Reporter
• Mental Health training of your choice

Ongoing after the first year (6 hours minimum, suggestions are below)

• Mandated Reporter
• Mental Health training of your choice
• FASD training of your choice if fostering a child with this diagnosis
• One training from Live Virtual Training list on training calendar
• Vulnerable Adult Mandated Training – if caring for a youth that will be turning 18

Non-relative

Initial license

• BEST car seat training – if fostering a child under 9 years
• Cultural Issues in Parenting (will need a Foster Parent College account)
• Discipline in Foster Care
• Developmental Impact of Trauma
• Ensuring Safety & Equity for LGBTQIA+ Youth
• Introduction to Children’s Mental Health
• Mandated Reporter
• Nuts & Bolts: Foster Care the Hennepin Way
• Prudent Parenting
• SUID/AHT if fostering a child under 6 years 

First year

• Child Protection and Foster Care Court System
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Foster Parent Guide test
• MAPCY
• Mental Health training of your choice
• Mandated Reporter
• Additional training from Live Virtual Training list to reach 12 hours

Ongoing after the first year (12 hours minimum)

• 5 hours minimum from Live Virtual Training list
• FASD training of your choice
• Mandated Reporter
• Mental Health training of your choice
• Vulnerable Adult Mandated training - if caring for a youth that will be turning 18

You may also count up to six hours combined from the following categories:

• Prerecorded training from Foster Parent College
• Up to three hours of relevant reading or videos of your choice, related to the needs of foster children
• Up to three hours individual training such as special staffing or meetings about a child in your care

Immediate, in-person support and stabilization for foster families

Family Response offers immediate in-person support and stabilization for children and youth and their caregivers.

If you feel overwhelmed by your foster child’s mental, behavioral, or emotional needs, Family Response can help. There are no specific criteria required to initiate Family Response, but concerns may include children or youth who are: 

• Having a hard time with a family member or change in the home
• Showing aggression or anger
• Feeling down or less engaged 
• Experiencing worry and concern
• Having issues at school

The goal of Family Response is to keep youth and families – including foster families – stable at home by helping you determine and connect to the support you need to thrive.

Call Family Response

• 612-979-9511
• Available 24/7

More about Family Response

Additional support groups

Several community organizations offer resources and support groups for foster, adoptive and kinship families.

Families Rising: Support groups for foster, adoptive and kinship families

Lutheran Social Services: Support groups for relative and kinship foster parents and caregivers

Foster Adopt Minnesota: Resources and support for relative, foster and adoptive parents and caregivers in Minnesota

Financial

• Foster care provider direct deposit enrollment
• Online invoice
• Miscellaneous expense voucher (PDF, 1MB)

Respite

• Respite reimbursement form (PDF, 1MB)
• Child questionnaire for respite care (PDF, 1MB)

Other

• Incident report form (PDF, 1MB)
• Resource family and caseworker visit discussion tool (PDF, 1MB)
• Medical monitoring equipment training (PDF, 1MB)
• Foster care minimum clothing standard (DOCX, 1MB)
• Certification of foster child status for school lunch or food program (PDF, 1MB)

Northstar Care for Children helps children in foster care grow up in safe and permanent homes. It provides medical and financial benefits for children in foster care and for eligible children finding permanency through an adoption or transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to a relative.

Learn more from the Minnesota Department of Human Services – Northstar Care for Children: Encouraging safe, permanent homes (PDF, 1MB)

Northstar payment rates

The Northstar basic payment is set by a child’s age and provides for a child’s food, clothing, shelter and daily supervision.

Beyond the basic payment, Northstar also has a supplemental payment that provides for the extra care and attention for many children and youth who are placed in foster, relative care or adoptive placements. This supplemental benefit level is determined by the Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY). 

2025-2026 rates (PDF, 1MB)

MAPCY (Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth)

Learn more about MAPCY from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

• Q and A for foster care providers (DOCX, 1MB)
• Prep sheet cover letter (DOCX, 1MB)
• Foster parent prep sheet (DOCX, 1MB) – an optional worksheet for foster parents to complete in preparation for MAPCY assessment
• Survey cover letter (DOCX, 1MB)
• Survey for foster parents (DOCX, 1MB)

For more information or assistance, talk with your placement or licensing social worker.