A gentle starting line for a big decision
OpenHeart CA exists to make the first steps of fostering in California feel less intimidating. We're an independent informational project — not a state agency, not a recruiter, and not affiliated with any specific Foster Family Agency.
Every tool on this site works without an account. Your quiz answers, checklist progress, and bookmarks live on your device. We don't track who you are. Exploring should feel private.
The content here draws on the California Department of Social Services' guidance for the Resource Family Approval (RFA) program. Foster care policy evolves, and county practices vary — always confirm specifics with your local county or licensed FFA before making decisions.
A note on language
We talk about "fostering" and "resource families" interchangeably. California uses "resource family" to cover foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers under one unified process.