Foster Care in Ohio

Empowering Youth, Supporting Families

Since our founding in 1978, the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) has called Ohio home. Our headquarters in Columbus anchors a national network dedicated to providing exceptional foster care services. With deep roots in communities across Ohio, NYAP brings decades of experience supporting children, youth, and foster families throughout the Buckeye State.

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Our Vision for Foster Care in Ohio

In Ohio, we view foster parents as valued partners in the healing and growth of every child and youth. This partnership model means our foster parents receive the training and support they need to go beyond providing daily care; they are active members of the treatment team, advocates for the children and youth in their homes, and help build bridges to permanent family connections whenever possible.

Our philosophy of unconditional commitment drives everything we do. We maintain an unwavering belief in each child and youth's potential to overcome challenges, develop healthy relationships, and build successful futures.

Ohio Foster Care Program Levels

Ohio's foster care system recognizes that children and youth experiencing foster care each have diverse experiences and needs. We provide multiple levels of county-specific care to ensure the appropriate support for each individual:

Family Foster Care

Serves children and youth with minimal needs, providing temporary, safe care while their family works toward reunification.

Treatment Foster Care

Provides intensive, therapeutic foster homes for children and youth who need behavioral, emotional, or medical support. Services are structured into tiers based on each child or youth’s assessed needs.

Becoming an Ohio Foster Parent

Our Ohio team guides you through each phase of the foster parent journey. Throughout this process, NYAP's Ohio employees are there to address concerns and provide individualized support.

Contact Us
Reach out through our online form or contact your local office directly

Information Session
Learn about Ohio's foster care system and what NYAP foster parenting involves

Pre-Service Training
Gain specialized skills in trauma-informed care and behavior management strategies

Home Study
Work with our licensing team to complete Ohio’s foster licensing requirements

Ohio License
Become a certified Ohio foster parent, generally within 45-60 days of starting the process

Welcome Your First Child or Youth
Begin your fostering journey with NYAP’s ongoing support

Ohio Foster Parent Requirements

Ohio foster parents come from diverse backgrounds. What unites them is a shared commitment to helping children and youth who need a temporary, nurturing home. NYAP seeks Ohio applicants who are:

  • At least 18 years old

  • Committed to supporting each child or youth’s unique needs

  • Physically and emotionally healthy

  • Able to maintain their household’s financial stability without foster care payments

  • Able to provide a stable, welcoming living environment for a child or youth’s privacy and comfort

  • Willing to complete comprehensive background checks

  • Free from a confirmed history of child abuse or neglect

  • Dedicated to completing pre-service training and ongoing education

  • Willing to collaborate with our multidisciplinary team, including educators, therapists, and medical professionals

Ohio Foster Care Questions and Answers

  • Ohio foster parents begin with virtual or in-person pre-service training that includes trauma's impact on development, positive behavior support strategies, maintaining child and youth safety, cultural competency, and understanding Ohio's child welfare regulations. After licensure, foster parents continue learning through ongoing training requirements that keep their skills current.

  • Absolutely! We welcome single individuals, married couples, and committed partners as foster parents. Some of our most successful foster parents are single individuals who bring unique strengths, dedication, and compassion to the children and youth in their care.

  • Yes. We provide foster care payments to help cover the costs of caring for a child or youth. However, foster parents must be financially stable without depending on these payments to meet their own household expenses.

  • Working toward reunification whenever it is safe and possible is at the heart of our foster care services. We prioritize meaningful, consistent connections between children and youth and their families, and support foster parents in building collaborative relationships with primary families. By strengthening partnership and providing families with the tools and support they need, we help create the foundation for long-term stability and success.

  • Beyond 24/7 crisis support, Ohio foster parents have regular visits with their treatment coordinator, access to support groups with other foster parents, respite care options, as applicable, and assistance navigating services like education and healthcare.

Join Ohio's community of NYAP foster parents and become part of a network committed to providing nurturing, temporary homes to children and youth in need.

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