Children deserve to fall asleep at night in a safe and nurturing home. LSS/NCA protects children in crisis by providing loving foster homes while at the same time working to strengthen and bring health and wholeness to their families.

Foster families provide critical support to children who have been temporarily removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Not only do foster parents provide a safe living environment, they offer much needed guidance and encouragement. Through patience, faith, and love, foster parents help children regain their sense of well-being and confidence so that if and when their home environment stabilizes, they are able to re-enter with a greater sense of trust and security. While the job of a foster parent is certainly challenging, it is an opportunity to have a tremendously positive impact on a child’s life. We invite you to learn how you can help support a child either as a foster parent or a foster program supporter.

LSS/NCA Foster Care Services

LSS/NCA offers three complimentary foster care services, including traditional foster care, foster care to adoption, and unaccomapied refugee minors. The services provided across each are similar and include orientation, training, support, and respite. LSS/NCA also recruits volunteers to help with tutoring, mentoring, and educational and recreational outings.

Traditional Foster Care

Working in partnership with the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Administration (CFSA), children who have been removed from their home are temporarily placed in foster families until which point it is safe to return home.

Foster Care to Adoption

If it becomes clear that a child will not be able to return home, LSS/NCA will begin the permanent adoption process. Many children are adopted by their foster parents or relatives.

Refugee Minor Care

In 1980, LSS/NCA expanded its programming to serve unaccompanied refugee minors -- young people who legally entered the United States without parents or adult refugees. Often having overcome tremendous adversity in their escape, the refugee minors present unique acculturation and emotional challenges.

Becoming a Foster Parent

LSS/NCA is committed to providing children in foster care, birth families, and foster parents the best possible service and care. We are always in need of adult (ages 21+) couples and individuals able to provide a stable, secure, and loving home environment for a child. Below is a guideline for those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent.

STEP 1: Complete Foster Parent Inquiry Form

Download our Foster Care Inquiry Form. Once completed, please return the form to our offices and a staff member will promptly contact you to schedule an appointment and foster care orientation.

STEP 2: Attend Foster Care Orientation Session

LSS/NCA hosts monthly orientation sessions for potential foster parents. Come learn more about our program and be inspired by past parent stories.

STEP 3: Complete an Application

Following the orientation, potential foster parents will receive a formal application, which they complete and return to LSS/NCA.

STEP 4: Complete Pre-Service PRIDE Training and Assessment

LSS/NCA hosts quarterly in-house PRIDE training and assessment designed to provide foster and adoptive families with information and skills essential to caring for children in foster care.

STEP 5: Complete Home Study Assesment and Finalize Documentation

Children deserve to be matched with the best family for them. Therefore, LSS/NCA takes great care in conducting thorough home studies. We will not place a child in a home until it is in their best interest.

STEP 6: Approval and Placement

After an application is approved, the case management staff will begin screening children to find the best match for both the child and foster parents.

Quick Foster Care Eligibility Facts

Prospective foster parents often have similar questions concerning eligibility and confidentiality. The following are series of quick facts to help you decide if fostering is the right decision for you.

• Foster parents can be single married, or divorced.
• Foster parents must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.
• Foster parents must have adequate income to meet existing family and household needs
• Foster parents may live in a house or apartment. Homes must include a bedroom for the child or children separate from the parent(s). Children 5 years of age and older cannot share a room with a child of the opposite sex.
• Foster parents must agree to obtain FBI/police and child abuse clearances for yourself and household members.
• Foster parents must provide annual physician reports certifying that all household members are in good health and free of any communicable diseases
• Foster parents must have an appropriate childcare plan for any time you are absent from the home, whether for employment or other reasons.
• Foster parents are not expected to pay for the foster child’s health daycare.
• A monthly stipend is provided to foster families based on the age and needs of the child.
• Biological parents will not know the location of foster families.
• Potential foster parents must live within 25 miles of the borders of the District of Columbia.