From orientation to your first placement

Every county social services department and licensed Foster Family Agency (FFA) holds regular orientations — free, no commitment. You'll hear about the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process, the kinds of children needing homes, and ask questions.

California uses one unified Resource Family Approval (RFA) process for foster care, relative caregivers, and adoptive families. Your chosen agency will give you the application packet and a list of supporting documents.

Live Scan fingerprinting clears you through the Department of Justice and FBI. Child Abuse Central Index checks are also run. Past records don't automatically disqualify you — many are reviewed case-by-case.

California requires pre-approval caregiver training covering child development, trauma-informed care, the foster system, and your role. Many agencies offer evening or weekend cohorts; some include online portions.

A social worker visits to confirm your home is safe: working smoke alarms, locked medications, safe sleep space, water heater temperature, secured pools or firearms if you have them. They are looking for safety, not a magazine spread.

A series of interviews with each adult in the home about your background, relationships, parenting approach, and motivations. It's a conversation, not an interrogation. Honesty matters more than perfection.

Once your file is complete and approved, you're cleared to accept a placement. Your agency will work with you on matching — you can decline a placement that doesn't feel right.

Placements can come with little notice. Your agency provides 24/7 support, monthly visits, and ongoing training. Remember the goal is the child's wellbeing — that often means supporting reunification with their birth family.