Finding Agencies That Welcome Older Foster Parents

Foster care agencies vary widely in how welcoming they are to older applicants. Some have entire programs designed to recruit and support foster parents over 55. Others have no specific outreach and may quietly steer older applicants toward respite-only or short-term roles. The difference is not in the law (which is the same in every state) but in agency culture. Finding an agency that genuinely welcomes older foster parents makes a major difference in your experience, the quality of your training, and the support you get during placements.

The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA, at nfpaonline.org) is the largest national membership organization for foster parents. NFPA has a state-by-state directory of local foster parent associations, an active community of foster parents over 55, and a Foster Parent Champion program that connects new applicants with experienced mentors of similar age and life stage. NFPA membership runs about 40 dollars per year and includes access to monthly support group calls, a quarterly magazine, advocacy newsletters, and discount programs. The organization also lobbies federal and state government on policy issues that affect foster parents, including age discrimination concerns.

AdoptUSKids (adoptuskids.org) is a federally funded program of the U.S. Children's Bureau and the Adoption Exchange Association. It serves two purposes: a national photo listing of children waiting for adoptive families, and a network of state and tribal adoption recruitment specialists who help connect prospective parents with children and with local agencies. AdoptUSKids runs nationwide ad campaigns featuring older adoptive parents and explicitly states that age is not a barrier to adoption from foster care. The website includes a state-by-state directory of public child welfare agencies and the questions to ask each one.

AARP, while not a foster agency itself, runs the AARP Foundation Kinship and Foster Care Resource Guide, which covers becoming a foster parent at 50+. The guide is free, available as a PDF on aarp.org, and updated every two years. It includes a state-by-state summary of legal age requirements, financial supports for grandparents and older adults raising children, and connections to local resources. AARP also runs the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, which is the closest cousin to older foster parenting in terms of demographics and support needs.

State-level foster parent associations exist in all 50 states, usually as affiliates of NFPA. Their names vary: Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association, Texas Foster Family Association, California Foster Parent Association, and so on. These are run by foster parents themselves, not the state agency. And they are often the most honest source about which local agencies welcome older applicants and which ones do not. Find your state's association through NFPA's directory.

The practical step is to interview three or four agencies in your area before applying. Most agencies will give you a 30-45 minute phone call with their recruitment specialist at no cost. The conversation tells you a lot. Some recruitment specialists right away ask about your retirement plans, your health, your energy level, and the children you have raised — in a curious, welcoming tone. Others get quiet when you mention you are 64. The first type is your agency. The second type, regardless of what their website says about diversity and inclusion, is not.

Private agencies and public state agencies both produce a state foster care license, but the experience differs. Public agencies (the state's department of children and families) handle the largest volume of placements and have access to every child in care in your area. Private agencies (faith-based, non-profit, or for-profit) often have smaller caseloads, more attentive support, and specialized training. Many older foster parents do well with a private agency for the closer relationships and faster phone response, while still being licensed for all available children. Ask each private agency how many of their families have parents over 60 — the answer tells you everything.

(Sources: National Foster Parent Association membership and program directory 2026; AdoptUSKids state agency directory; AARP Foundation Kinship and Foster Care Resource Guide; Child Welfare Information Gateway state agency contacts; Casey Family Programs foster parent recruitment research)