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Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Minimum foster care parent requirements for consideration of licensure:

  • Applicant(s) must be at least 21 years old and exhibit general stability in their lives.
  • Applicant(s) must have one extra bedroom in their home to use for foster children. Consideration for the care of infants will be addressed on an individual basis.
  • Applicant(s) must have the physical stamina and emotional aptitude necessary to care for children.
  • Applicant(s) must complete and pass all background checks. For more information on foster care parent requirements, visit the Background Check page.
  • Applicant(s) must have a valid Colorado Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle maintained per Colorado law (i.e. insurance and registration).
  • Applicant(s) may not smoke in their home or vehicles while caring for foster children.
  • Applicant(s) must pass a home inspection ensuring their physical space/property is maintained safely for children.
  • Applicant(s) must be financially stable without foster care reimbursement. If you have received financial assistance or have prior bankruptcies, please be prepared to discuss these in length.
  • All potential foster parents must be willing to work with biological parents should always feel comfortable talking with your placement supervisor about your placement preferences and how things are going with your home supervisor.
Background Check

Background check must be completed prior to being considered for foster care licensure.

Foster Care Requierments:

The Background Investigation Unit Form will be completed by applicants to determine if a family has been founded for child abuse and/or neglect by a Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) county office.

Once an application is submitted, applicants will receive instructions regarding how they are to be electronically fingerprinted at an Identigo location.  There is no cost to the applicant and the fingerprints will then be submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. All arrests are listed, whether an applicant was convicted or not.  The applicant will be instructed to provide a disposition on any arrest in order to determine how the case was closed.  Deferments are considered guilty convictions by the CDHS.

According to Volume VII of the Colorado Children’s Code, Kids Crossing CANNOT license a foster parent who has been convicted of child abuse, a crime of violence, felony offenses involving unlawful sexual behavior, any domestic violence felony, any physical assault, battery and/or drug/alcohol related offenses within 5 years.

Kids Crossing CANNOT license an applicant (or if this applies to an individual in the home) who has been determined to be insane or mentally incompetent.

Kids Crossing CANNOT license an applicant who has had a pattern of misdemeanors in the last 10 years, which includes:

  • 3 or more convictions of 3rd degree assault and/or domestic violence misdemeanors.
  • 5 misdemeanors of any type with at least 2 of the 5 being 3rd degree assault and/or any domestic violence misdemeanors.
  • 7 misdemeanors of any type.

Kids Crossing MAY or MAY NOT be able to consider an applicant for foster care if he/she does not meet the foster care requierments and has been convicted of a 3rd degree assault or any domestic violence misdemeanor, any misdemeanor violation of a restraining order, any misdemeanor offense of child abuse.

Additionally, the applicant MAY OR MAY NOT be considered for foster care if there is a conviction of unlawful use of a controlled substance, unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, sale, or possession of a controlled substance or unlawful offenses related to marijuana.

License Requirements

Start your foster care journey today!

For more information, watch our webinar, attend an open house, or contact one of our knowledgable licensing coordinators who have helped hundreds of families over the years!


Length of the Process: The licensing process takes approximately 4 to 6 months for highly motivated individuals and families. Kids Crossing believes the best decisions are made through a thoughtful process, and we are committed to progressing through the licensing process in this timeframe barring any outside circumstances. Please review the fostering regulations for care.

Cost: Kids Crossing is committed to keeping the cost of foster care licensing to a minimum and is one of the only agencies that does not charge a licensing fee. Prospective foster parents will be required to pay for fingerprinting at their local police station ($5 to $15) and CPR/First Aid certification ($40 to $50). Kids Crossing will cover everything else!

Application: The first step toward becoming a licensed foster parent is to complete an application packet, which includes the initial application, background check forms, and basic policies and procedures to be reviewed and signed. Request your packet today!

Background Checks: To be completed by all members of the household 18 years of age or older. Click here for more information.

References: Three (3) letters of reference from people who are un-related to you.

Physicals: Current physical exams for everyone in your home, including children.

Pets:  Proof of vaccination for your pets must be submitted.

CPR/First Aid Certification: Certification must include both adult and infant/child. Kids Crossing offers classes to current and prospective foster parents. Click here for class schedules and infomation, costs may vary.

Required Training: If you meet the fostering regulations for care, you will then do twelve (12) house of foster parent CORE training must be completed prior to licensure. Visit the Training page for information on upcoming classes. An additional fifteen (15) hours of training must be earned within the first 90 days of licensure. Ongoing training is also required as a part of the re-certification process. Kids Crossing offers many free trainings throughout the year to help foster parents meet these requirements, click here for more information.

Family Assessment: A SAFE Home Study will be completed by agency staff. The SAFE Home Study is a requirement of all potential foster and adoptive parents in the State of Colorado and is facilitated in a consistent, uniform manner, as individuals who have completed the SAFE training can only complete it. The SAFE Home Study process is our way of getting to know you and your family over an extended period of time, with at least three (3) visits in the family home. The Home Study process is the last step in becoming licensed and can take up to 45 days for completion. All background checks must be received prior to initiating the home study process.

Physical Space: A safety inspection will also be conducted by agency staff. This is also one of the last steps, giving potential foster families plenty of time to ensure their home is ready for children! Agency staff will ensure each bedroom has adequate square footage for the number of foster children expected to live in the home, emergency numbers are visibly posted, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are present in the home, all areas have been “baby proofed” as needed, etc.

Kids Crossing is an agency founded BY foster parents, FOR foster parents.

Interested in learning more about Kids Crossing? Attend our monthly informational meeting, or schedule a meeting today!