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FOSTER CARE

Foster siblings
Foster Care Family
Kinship Foster Care
Foster Care siblings

There are over 25,000 children in the PA Foster Care system at any given time—every year.

Every child deserves to be HEARD, LOVED, and UNDERSTOOD.

Foster care provides temporary care for children who cannot remain safely in their own homes. Most children enter foster care due to abuse or neglect. Our goal is to offer a treatment-focused program within a safe, supportive family environment—where children feel loved as they await reunification with their birth families.
 
They want to experience what a “normal family” does—like eating dinner together, going to a baseball game, watching a movie, or simply having someone to talk to. Sadly, due to a critical shortage of foster families, many children are placed in other counties—separated from their friends, schools, and extended families.
 
If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, we’re here to help. Our free, no-obligation information sessions are a great way to learn about foster care and adoption.
 
Our foster families support children from birth to age 21, providing care in Berks County and surrounding areas. They work closely with a dedicated Case Manager and have access to 24-hour emergency on-call support.

FREE Info Sessions:

NO COMMITMENT!
Learn more about our Foster Care program and how you can make a difference.

VIRTUAL
Thurs, January 8, 2pm
Sun, February 15, 2pm

220 N 5th Street, Reading PA
DROP IN SESSIONS
Mon,  January 12, 12-6pm
Wed,  February 4, 10-4pm

2450 Brodhead Rd, Bethlehem PA
DROP IN SESSIONS
Tues,  January 27, 10am-3pm
Tues, February 24, 10am-3pm

QUESTIONS: CALL JEN
610-655-5555

PARENT PORTAL ACCESS
*PASSWORD REQUIRED

FOSTER CARE

(Male and Female, 11-Months, Ages 13-20)

CHORYFS’s Foster Care Program offers safe, supportive homes for children and teens from birth to age 21. We focus on family reunification and provide 24/7 support, training, and case management for approved foster families.
LEARN MORE>>

KINSHIP CARE

(Male and Female, Ages 0-21)

Kinship care supports relatives or close family friends caring for a child, offering guidance, training, and resources to ensure stable, loving homes rooted in familiar relationships and culture.
LEARN MORE>>

SPECIALIZED FOSTER CARE

(Male, Ages 12-18, Females and those younger than 12 will be considered)

Provision of specialized resource families and In-Home Interventionist services for clients with maladaptive sexual behaviors and/or co-occurring mental health disorders.  Sanctuary trauma trained.
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ADOPTION

(Male and Females, Ages 0-21)

CHORYFS’s Adoption Services support children, birth families, and adoptive families in achieving permanency. Services include child preparation, family profiles, placement, and post-adoption support. The program prioritizes stability, connections, and informed decision-making for all involved.
LEARN MORE>>

May - National Foster Care Month
May (1st Tuesday) - National Foster Care Day
May 31 - Foster Parent Appreciation Day
November - National Adoption Month
November 9 - World Adoption Day

Mayor of the City of Reading, Eddie Moran, proclaims November as National Adoption Month. (November 2020)

FAQS

To become a foster parent, you must meet the following requirements:
  • Be at least 21 years old and in good physical and emotional health (verified by a medical exam)
  • Have a stable, reliable income that covers your household expenses prior to accepting a child into your home
  • Complete required background clearances for all household members age 18 and older:
    • Child Abuse Clearance
    • Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check
    • FBI Fingerprinting
  • Provide three non-relative references who can speak to your character and ability to care for children
  • Complete pre-service foster parent training

A Resource Parent (or Resource Family) is someone who provides a safe, stable, and loving home for a child when their birth parents are unable to do so. The term “resource” reflects the many ways families can support children in out-of-home care—whether through foster care, adoption, kinship care, or emergency placements.

No, you do not need to own your home to become a foster parent. However, you must have adequate space for a child, including a bed and a dresser or designated area for their personal belongings.

Yes. All children and youth in foster care are covered by medical assistance (Medicaid), which provides health, dental, vision, and behavioral health services.

Yes. If your home is outside the child’s original school district, our Case Managers will assist you with the school enrollment process and help ensure a smooth transition.

In many cases, a foster child can share a bedroom with your biological child. However, there are important guidelines to follow:
  • Children over the age of five cannot share a bedroom with a child of the opposite gender.
  • For safety or therapeutic reasons, some foster children may require their own room.
  • Foster children may not be placed in a walk-through bedroom. This means the foster child’s room must be the final bedroom, not one that others need to pass through to access another space.
Our team will help assess your home during the licensing process to ensure all bedroom arrangements meet state and agency requirements.

Yes. The level of contact with a child’s birth parents varies by case. In most situations, you may see the birth parents before or after scheduled visits, as well as during court hearings or family meetings. Your Case Manager will help guide these interactions and ensure they are safe and appropriate.

No. Visitation is a time reserved for the child and their birth parents. You are not required or expected to be present during these visits. However, as a foster parent, you are typically responsible for transporting the child to and from the visit location, unless other arrangements are made by the agency.

Resource parents are responsible for transporting foster children to and from visits with birth parents, court hearings, medical and dental appointments, therapy sessions, and extracurricular activities.
 
While CHOR staff may occasionally assist with transportation, this support is limited and should not be expected on a regular basis.
Legal risk refers to the possibility that a foster child placed in your home may eventually leave—either to reunify with their birth parents or to live with a kinship caregiver (such as a relative).
 
Concurrent planning means working toward reunification while also exploring permanent options like adoption if reunification is not possible. As a resource parent, it’s important to understand that foster care is intended to be temporary, and the child’s permanency plan may change based on the outcome of the case.

No. The reimbursement you receive for caring for a foster child is not considered income and is therefore not taxable. It is intended to help cover the costs associated with meeting the child’s needs while in your care.

Saying goodbye to a child who has been part of your home can be emotionally challenging. However, reunification is often a positive and healing outcome for families. As a foster parent, your role is to provide stability, love, and support during a critical time in a child’s life.
 
While it may be difficult, the bonds you form help a child learn to trust and form healthy relationships in the future. Your commitment—though temporary—can have a lasting impact on their well-being and development. You are part of their journey, and that is a powerful gift.
Yes. During the approval process, we will discuss your preferences regarding the age, race, gender, and number of children you are able to care for. When we receive referrals, we will contact you with placements that match—or are close to—your preferences. You always have the option to say no if you feel the placement is not the right fit for your home at that time.
Yes. If you feel a placement is not working, you may request a child’s removal by providing written notice. This is called a 30-day notice. Unless there is an imminent safety concern for your family or the child, we will use the full 30 days to identify another resource home that better meets the child’s needs.
 
Our goal is always to minimize the number of moves a child experiences, ensuring as much stability as possible during their time in care.
Sometimes, even after you agree to accept a referral, a child may not be placed in your home. This can happen for several reasons:
  • The county agency may select a resource home that is geographically closer to the child’s birth parents to make visitation and reunification efforts easier.
  • In some cases, the agency is preparing for a possible placement in anticipation of a court hearing. If the judge does not agree with the agency’s plan, the child may not enter foster care at all.
  • Occasionally, changes in the child’s situation or family dynamics alter the need for placement before it happens.
While this can be disappointing, your willingness to open your home is still valued and appreciated, and you may be considered for future referrals.
When a county agency refers a child for possible placement, we contact our approved resource families and share all available information about the child. Resource families are then asked to decide—sometimes within a short timeframe—whether they are able to care for the child being referred.
 
We work closely with you to ensure you have the details needed to make the best decision for your family and the child.
An Emergency Referral occurs when a child or sibling group needs immediate placement in a resource home. In these situations, county agencies often contact several provider agencies, including CHOR, at the same time.
 
Typically, the first agency to respond with an available and appropriate family is selected for placement. Because of the urgent nature of these referrals, we may have very limited information—sometimes only the child’s name and age—and you may need to make a decision quickly based on minimal details.
Planned Placements occur when county agencies refer children or sibling groups ahead of an upcoming court hearing, anticipating that they may need foster care. Planned placements can also involve children who need to move from their current foster home.

Saying “yes” to a planned placement does not guarantee the child or sibling group will be placed in your home. County agencies may choose another resource home that is geographically closer to the child’s birth parents, or the court may decide that foster care is not necessary following the hearing.

At The Children’s Home of Reading (CHOR), it is our policy to respect and uphold the rights of every client and their family. We ensure that all clients and families are informed of their rights while receiving services through our programs. Information about these rights is provided in a clear and understandable manner to support transparency, dignity, and empowerment.

How to Become a Foster Parent

Contact a Foster Care Specialist

We will guide you through the application and certification process, answer your questions, and provide the training and support you need to become a successful foster or resource parent.

Meet Your Foster Child

After completing your training and becoming an approved resource parent, you'll be matched with a child in need—and welcome them into your home with the support of our team every step of the way.

Receive Continued Support

As a foster parent, you’ll have access to a full range of supportive services, including clinicians, a consulting psychiatrist, and 24-hour emergency on-call support. We're here to guide and assist you every step of the way.

Make a Difference

As a foster parent, you provide a safe, loving environment where children can heal, grow, and thrive—until they are reunited with their birth families or find permanency through adoption.
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

QUESTIONS: CALL JEN
610-655-5555