At Children’s Home of York, we believe in working with the entire family system. We want our Resource Parents to be coaches and supports to the biological families we work with. The initial permanency goal in foster care is almost always reunification, so we want to help give biological families the coaching or support they need while they are working diligently to get their children back.

The Permanency Program’s mission is to provide children with a safe, stable, nurturing family placement, until their permanency goal (reunification, guardianship, adoption, etc.) can be achieved.

The Permanency Program serves youth ages 0-21.

Interested in becoming a Resource Parent or have more questions?

Children’s Home of York hosts information sessions the 2nd Wednesday of every other month, starting September 2025, at 6:00 PM via ZOOM. Please reach out Resource Family Coordinator, Hannah Trimmer, for more information.

Htrimmer@choyork.org

At Children’s Home of York, we believe the term “Resource Parent” better defines the vital role these individuals and families play in providing safe, stable, and loving care to the children they welcome into their home.

Children’s Home of York is always in need of resource families willing to foster school age children, and sibling groups.

Requirements to become a Resource Parent:

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services provides the following as minimum criteria for applicants to be approved as foster parents:

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Pass a medical examination that states the individual is physically able to care for children and is free from communicable disease.
• Pass screening requirements related to child abuse and criminal history clearances (Childline, FBI, and State Police).
• Able to meet their own family needs.
• Have adequate space for the youth.
• Have a phone and access to reliable transportation.
• Have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance and automobile insurance.
• Provide proof of stable income.
• Disclose bankruptcies (prior 10 years).
• Ability to provide transportation to appointments and visits.

Part of the process is the completion of a home study. The home study is what allows us to understand you, your family, and your needs to make a successful match between you and a foster youth in need of a home. The home study process, which can take between three and six months to complete, may seem invasive or lengthy. We only want what’s best for our resource families and the children in our care.

While all of these requirements are important pieces of the puzzle, one of the most is the ability to keep a positive attitude and a great sense of humor.

Allowance Voucher
Dental Form
Expense Reimbursement
General Monitoring Chart
Guidelines for Clothing Purchases
Heating Audiometer and Vision Test
Medication Monitoring Chart
Mileage Reimbursement
Physical Form 0-23 months
Physical Form 24 months and older
Self Study Tracking Form

Kinship Care is when children who have been separated from their parent(s) are placed through a County Children and Youth Agency in the home of a caregiver who has an existing relationship with the child or the child’s natural family. Kinship Care providers can be families such as adult brothers or sisters, cousins, an uncle or aunt, grandparents, or others who have a close tie to the child in need of care. Kinship Care supports the concept of children residing with a relative rather than placing a child in a foster home or another type of out-of-home placement. For children who come into the care of the child welfare system.

Kinship Care creates another placement option for a child who may not be able to continue living at home with their parents. Like those who take foster children into their home, Kinship Caregivers must meet certain eligibility requirements and participate in initial and ongoing training. They also receive support and benefit from financial assistance to provide care for the child placed in their home.

Kinship Care is the natural way to support children within their family and community and offers many benefits, including the continuity of family traditions and preserving significant attachments, identities, and cultures.

If you know youth that are involved in the child welfare system and are a kinship resource, please contact the appropriate County Children, Youth, and Families agency and present yourself as a resource. You can request to complete your approval process with Children’s Home of York.

Why are children in foster care?

Sometimes biological parents are unable to meet their children’s physical or emotional needs.
A combination of factors may lead to a child’s placement in the foster care system:

• Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Mental illness
• Family stress
• Homelessness
• Substance abuse
• Death or incarceration of a parent

Foster Care is a program designed to provide a positive family life experience for children. During placement, the Resource Parent(s) provide a home, care, and work with the placement agency and biological parents to ensure the children in their care can succeed.

In most cases, Foster Care is intended to be a short-term supportive intervention for the child and their family. The initial placement goal is to reunite the child and their family whenever possible. However, circumstances may require that the child be placed in long-term Foster Care, considered for adoption or, for older children, assisted in making the transition to independent living.

Families are needed for boys and girls ages 0 to 21. Currently, the greatest need is for families who can open their hearts and homes to school aged children, sibling groups, teens, and willingness to work with youth who have mental health needs.

Do I need to be married to be a Resource Parent?

No. Single individuals and unmarried couples can also become approved as Resource Parents. However, if two adults present as a couple, then both must go through the approval process.

Will I receive financial support when working with foster children?

Yes. Children’s Home of York provides a daily stipend for each child in care with your family. Children are also covered by state medical insurance which includes medical, dental and pharmaceutical needs.

Why should I consider becoming a Resource Parent?

There is a growing need for foster homes for children and teens, and a particular need to keep siblings together. When a family is in crisis and children are unable to remain with their caretaker, we need loving, stable foster families to step in and walk with the children and their biological parent(s) through this challenging time. These children, like all children, need love, support, guidance, and structure in their lives. You have the opportunity to make a real difference in children’s lives at a time when they need it most.

Who Would Be a Good Resource Parent?

Quite Possibly — YOU! There are hundreds of children in need of a temporary or permanent home.
Whether you want to be a parent, you already are a parent or are now an empty nester, you would be a great resource parent candidate.

If you work full time, part time, have retired, or want to work from home as a professional foster parent — if you are single or married — as long as you’ve got a little bit more room in your heart and home, we want to hear from you.

Sometimes children come into foster care on what is expected to be a short-term fostering placement, but events make it impossible for the child to return home. If and when this occurs, the child’s goal could be changed depending on the case. Sometimes an older child will come into foster care and be adamant about not wanting to be adopted. For these youth, there are other options such as Permanent Legal Custodianship (PLC), Subsidized Permanent Legal Custodianship (SPLC), or Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA). APPLA is only for youth 18 and over who meet criteria.

Any of these reasons can lead to long-term or permanent fostering. That is, the child remains in care until reaching legal adulthood. Ideally, a child will stay in the same home for the whole time, but unfortunately, many children get moved from one placement to another every few years or even months.

Our Permanency Program serves children who are able to function in a family setting with support and structure. This includes children with family conflicts, truancy, and defiant and runaway behaviors; victims of physical and/or sexual abuse; minor delinquency; those with intellectual disabilities and children who have emotional disturbances.

Referral inquiries are made directly to the Permanency Program from County Children and Youth agencies. During the intake process, referral material including: social history, family service plan, and amendments, school records, health/immunization records, psychological and/or psychiatric reports, and other pertinent information is gathered.