We knew we’d eventually get our license as a Washington foster family. We were determined. But the journey that began in April 2022 didn’t end until March 2023. It required a measure of endurance we didn’t expect, but certainly laid the groundwork for our fostering experience.
We began by choosing to work with Olive Crest, one of many child placing agencies (CPAs) authorized to license foster families in Washington. We chose a CPA — rather than getting licensed through the Washington Department
for Children, Youth & Families — for several reasons:
- Olive Crest would provide wrap-around support from the beginning of the licensing process until we decided to end our foster care story.
- We feared facing the foster care “rollercoaster” without experienced guides committed to seeing us thrive as foster parents.
- We wanted partners in our journey who understood our motives and convictions.
Here’s the process we went through to become a licensed foster home:
Step 1 – Forms
We received a welcome email from Olive Crest containing seven forms, including a home study application, a financial
worksheet, and a statement of faith unique to Olive Crest, a faith-based organization. As we slowly completed those forms, we attended a Foster 101 Orientation. The two-hour zoom presentation provided a broad sense of what it meant to be a foster family.
Step 2 – Training
This step was probably the most demanding. We set aside two weekends for Caregiver Core Training. In 24 hours over four days, we were flooded with all the ins and outs of life as foster parents. We covered procedures, culture, communication, state requirements, and available resources. There were testimonials, videos, role-playing, and case studies. Time and again throughout these days we were assured that we weren’t expected to remember everything. That made me feel better.
Over the next several months we did more paperwork and completed things like CPR training, background checks, and medical reports. There were also online, self-guided trainings we needed to finish.
Step 3 – Home study
Three months after core training, the person who would write our home study contacted us and scheduled two meetings, one in our home and the other online. Her job was to complete an assessment of our family and our suitability to be foster parents. She interviewed each member of the family individually and then my wife and me together. We discussed our family culture and history. We explained our philosophies on discipline and finances, among other things. We reflected on our childhoods and how our parents raised us. We talked about our faith and how it influences our choices.
Step 4 – Home inspection
As we waited for our application to be sent to and processed by the state, we scheduled our final home inspection. The checklist included things like smoke alarms, outlet covers, and medication securely stored.
Step 5 – Waiting
We got the news of our licensing approval at the end of March 2023. We had finally reached the finish line of our year-long marathon. About a week later we said “yes” to our first placement. We’ve been fostering for two years now. Our licensing journey seems ages ago. But when we think of the children placed in our home, jumping through all the hoops was worth it.
This article is one piece of our special series on foster and kinship care, highlighting the voices and experiences of foster youth, caregivers, and communities supporting them. Explore the full series to read more of these important stories.
Unsung Heroes: Caring for kids who aren’t their own | Across Washington, tens of thousands of kids are being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives — often without formal foster care support. As the state prioritizes keeping families together, kinship caregivers are filling the gap, frequently at great personal cost. Explore how policy shifts, community programs, and grassroots resilience are changing the face of caregiving and the future for these children.
