Become a Temporary Emergency Foster Parent

Provide Emergency Foster Care Placement

Help a Child in Need

Sometimes, children rescued from abuse and neglect don’t have a home immediately available. As an emergency foster parent, you can provide a temporary foster home for a child while a suitable foster home is sought. Being part of this crucial initiative with Knotts Family Agency allows you to aid in the temporary placement of a child and make a real difference in their life.

About Emergency Foster Care Placement

Emergency foster care placement or short-term foster care involves training families who are willing to provide temporary emergency placement services for children and non-minor dependents (NMD). The county and foster family agency will search for a suitable placement match during this time. When children are initially removed from a home, matching them to a placement that can meet their needs within a reasonable period can be challenging.

For this reason, emergency foster care placement programs allow foster parents to provide temporary shelter for these children. Placements are for a minimum of one day to a maximum of 15 days. Typically, children in temporary emergency placement do not have visitation with biological relatives, and you may not have all the responsibilities associated with regular foster care. As a result, serving as a temporary foster care parent might be ideal if you are interested in short-term care but do not want to commit to full-time foster parenting.

Emergency Kinship Placement for Relatives

If a child you’re related or close to has recently entered the foster care system, the state of California may turn to you to provide kinship care. Kinship care has several emotional and psychological benefits for children, in addition to providing financial support to caregivers.

In times of emergency, it is crucial to provide children with a familiar and secure environment as soon as possible. In situations where a child’s safety is at risk, emergency placements may be necessary. If a relative or close family friend passes initial safety assessments, they may temporarily care for the child. This provisional arrangement allows the child to stay in a familiar environment while the caregiver completes the remaining requirements of the resource family approval (RFA) process. 

See What Our Parents Have to Say

  • Me siento muy bien con la Agencia Knotts me siento orgullosa ser parte de esta Agencia

    Blanca Pichardo Avatar Blanca Pichardo

    Fue muy relajante y Sano para los ninos

    ariana talavera Avatar ariana talavera

    I appreciate all the guidance Knotts Family gave me.. which led to me getting my grandson, who was in foster care out of state.

    Katina Blair Avatar Katina Blair
  • It's a Great place!! The staff are kind and friendly. It is a Great Foster Agency to be in.

    ERNEST SORIA Avatar ERNEST SORIA

    Super helpful staff.

    Victoria Fonseca Avatar Victoria Fonseca

    I would like to take a moment to say how grateful I am to this agency not only are they very professional but the staff is very caring and supportive with positive energy. I see some of these negative remarks on the reviews and I would like u to know... read more

    Shana Zaragoza Avatar Shana Zaragoza
  • The agency has a lot of activities for the kids and the staff is reachable 24/7 for any questions and help

    Stephanie Ball Avatar Stephanie Ball

    Professional with a focus on excellence through training toward best practices! Meeting the needs of the community in real time!

    DLynn Tarvins Avatar DLynn Tarvins

    Thank you so much for the wonderful halloween event you had for the kids.so much fun

    Isabel Banuelos Avatar Isabel Banuelos
  • Our family has had such a great experience with this agency.

    Angelica Espinoza Avatar Angelica Espinoza

    Siento que la agencia hace lo mejor para nosotros y sobretodo para tantos niños que lo necesitan

    kayra granados Avatar kayra granados

    I only have good things to say about my social worker Dianne Garcia, always there to support me in what I need and when I need and always there for my children as well... Thank you very much for your dedication and your willingness to help

    Celia Santiago-Saldana Avatar Celia Santiago-Saldana

Support Services for Short-Term Foster Care Parents

As a resource parent in our temporary foster care program, you will receive comprehensive support and resources to help you manage a fulfilling foster care process. When a child is placed, you receive the full level of care (LOC) payment the child requires for the duration of their stay, which can amount to $2,400 a month. 

As a foster parent with Knotts Family Agency, you are also automatically enrolled in our Very Important Parent (VIP) program. This program includes personalized services for your family, such as:

Knotts Family Agency focuses on Parent Delight — a dedication to ensuring resource parents are happy as they care for children in nee. 

How to Become a Temporary Foster Care Parent

a baby girl with curly hair is smiling and wearing a white and orange polka dot dress

To become an emergency foster care parent in the State of California, you must meet the basic requirements:

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Have at least one extra bedroom in an owned or rented home
  • Have no criminal history that will prevent you from being a foster parent
  • Be able to manage your expenses
  • Possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance

Becoming a foster parent involves an application, background check, training, interview and agency approval. It can take as soon as two weeks to be approved. From there, your file will be submitted to your county for final clearance so you can begin emergency fostering.

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