What Happens After You Submit Your Foster Care Application in Pennsylvania

Taking that first step and submitting a foster care application in Pennsylvania is a meaningful act of courage and compassion. But for many prospective foster parents, the moments right after hitting “submit” can feel uncertain. What comes next? How long will it take? What will people ask you? What does the process actually look like from start to finish?

You deserve clear answers. At Family Care for Children & Youth (FCCY), we believe that understanding each stage of the foster care approval process can ease anxiety, build confidence, and help more caring adults follow through to become the foster parents that Pennsylvania’s children so urgently need. Right now, approximately 15,000 children in Pennsylvania are not living with their birth families. Each one deserves a safe, nurturing home. Yours could be one of them.

Here is a straightforward, step-by-step look at what you can expect after you submit your foster care application in Pennsylvania.

Step One — Initial Contact and Inquiry Review

Once your application or inquiry reaches FCCY, a member of our team will reach out to you personally. This initial contact is a welcoming conversation, not an interrogation. We want to learn a little more about you, answer any questions you have, and help you understand what the process involves from here.

This is also a good time to think honestly about where you are in your readiness journey. If you are still exploring whether fostering is the right fit for your family, our post on 7 Signs You May Be Ready to Become a Foster Parent can help you reflect on what you already bring to the table.

During this stage, you may also be invited to an informational orientation session where you can meet staff, ask questions in a group setting, and get a fuller picture of what fostering looks like day to day.

Step Two — Formal Application and Background Checks

After your initial inquiry, you will complete a formal application if you have not already done so. This includes gathering documentation and consenting to required background clearances. In Pennsylvania, all prospective foster parents must complete the following checks as part of the how to become a foster parent in Pennsylvania process:

• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

• Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check

• FBI Criminal History background check (fingerprinting)

• Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) check

These checks protect children in the foster care system and are required by Pennsylvania law. Processing times can vary, but your FCCY caseworker will guide you through exactly what is needed and where to go. This is a standard part of the foster care approval process and nothing to feel intimidated by.

Step Three — Pre-Service Training

Before your home can be approved, you will complete pre-service training. In Pennsylvania, this training is commonly known as the Deciding Together curriculum for foster parents. It is designed to prepare you for the realities of caring for children who have experienced trauma, separation, and loss.

Topics covered during training typically include:

• Understanding trauma and its effects on child development

• Building attachment with children who have experienced loss

• Working with birth families and supporting reunification goals

• Navigating the child welfare system in Pennsylvania

• Meeting the needs of children with behavioral or emotional challenges

• Self-care and building a support network as a foster family

This training is not just a box to check. Many foster parents say it was one of the most valuable parts of the entire process. It gives you language, tools, and perspective that will genuinely serve you once children are placed in your home. If you are wondering what to expect once a child arrives, reading about the first 30 days of fostering can give you a meaningful preview of early placement life.

Step Four — The Foster Parent Home Study

The foster parent home study is one of the most important and, for many people, most anxiety-inducing parts of the process. But understanding what it actually involves can go a long way toward calming those nerves.

A home study is not a test with a pass-or-fail grade based on the size of your home or how spotless your kitchen is. It is an in-depth assessment designed to help your caseworker understand your family, your background, your motivations, and your capacity to provide a safe and caring environment for a child.

What the Home Study Includes

During the home study process, your FCCY caseworker will typically:

• Conduct one-on-one interviews with each adult in the household

• Complete a walk-through of your home to ensure basic safety standards are met

• Speak with your children, if you have biological or adopted children living in the home

• Contact personal and professional references

• Review your financial stability (not wealth, but basic stability)

• Discuss your family’s history, relationships, and support systems

If you have children already in the home, you may have questions about how to involve them in this process and what to say. Our resource on how to talk to your biological children about foster care offers practical, compassionate guidance for exactly those conversations.

How Long Does a Home Study Take

In Pennsylvania, the home study process typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly documentation and clearances are gathered and how scheduling aligns. Your caseworker at FCCY will keep you informed throughout and help you move the process forward as efficiently as possible.

Step Five — Approval and Licensure

Once your home study is complete and all required documentation has been reviewed, FCCY submits your file for approval. Upon approval, you will receive your foster care license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is your official certification as a licensed foster family.

It is an important milestone, and it is worth pausing to recognize what you have accomplished to reach it. The paperwork, the interviews, the training hours, all of it reflects a genuine commitment to opening your home and your heart to a child who needs you.

Step Six — Matching and First Placement

After licensure, FCCY will work with you to identify children whose needs align with your household’s strengths, capacity, and preferences. Matching is a thoughtful process. Our team will talk with you about the ages, needs, and circumstances of children you feel prepared to welcome, and we will never pressure you to accept a placement that does not feel right for your family.

FCCY provides specialized, community-based foster care services across Pennsylvania, including care for children with complex medical needs. If you are curious about supporting children with higher medical needs, you may want to learn more about what medically fragile foster care involves and who it serves.

When a potential match is identified, you will receive information about the child and have an opportunity to ask questions before a placement is made. From there, your caseworker will walk you through everything you need to know to prepare your home and welcome your foster child with confidence.

Ongoing Support After Placement

Becoming a licensed foster parent is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of an ongoing relationship with FCCY and with the children and families you serve. As one of Pennsylvania’s most experienced foster care agencies, FCCY is committed to walking alongside you every step of the way.

You will have regular contact with your assigned caseworker, access to training and resources, and a network of support from fellow foster families. FCCY also offers respite care services, which give foster parents planned breaks to rest and recharge while ensuring children remain in safe, caring hands. To understand how that service works and why it matters, visit our overview of respite care as a lifeline for foster families in Pennsylvania.

Our team of experienced foster care and behavioral professionals provides culturally competent services, meaning we are committed to honoring each child’s background, identity, and heritage throughout their time in care. Compassion, empathy, and hope are not just words at FCCY. They are at the core of everything we do.

You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone

The foster care application process in Pennsylvania has real steps, real timelines, and real support behind it. You do not need a perfect home, an unlimited budget, or a background in child welfare. You need a genuine desire to make a difference in a child’s life and a willingness to learn and grow alongside them.

FCCY serves families across Pennsylvania from our offices in Milton, Dunmore, Greensburg, and West Lawn. As a private nonprofit social service agency, we are here to serve children and families, not a bottom line. Every step of the approval process is guided by one purpose: finding safe, loving homes for children who need them.

If you are ready to take the next step or simply want to learn more about what fostering looks like with FCCY, we encourage you to reach out today. Submit an inquiry through our website or call us directly at (570) 522-9790. The children waiting for a home like yours cannot wait forever. But with your help, they will not have to.