offered by
Massachusetts Department of Children & Families
related to
Child Services
Caring for Children
Adoption & Fostering

Foster Care

Foster care provides a safe, loving home for children until they can be reunited with their families.

Children are sometimes temporarily placed in foster care because their parents aren’t able to give them the care that they need. The Department of Children & Families (DCF) first tries to place children with relatives. When that’s not possible, they enter foster care. There are all kinds of foster parents. You can be single or married, own a home or rent one. There’s a need for foster parents across Massachusetts, from all diverse backgrounds.

First time? Start here.

Check eligibility 

What would you like to do?

Top tasks

Apply to become a foster parent  Email us about foster care 

All other tasks

Register for foster parent training  Go to FosterMA Connect 

What you need to know

Foster and adoptive parent FAQs  Resources for foster parents  Learn about the foster care placement process  Foster and adoptive parent supports 

Contact Information

Address

DCF Foster Care/Adoptive Recruitment
600 Washington St., 6th Floor, Boston , MA 02111
Directions 

Phone

(800) 543-7508
Learn more about this organization 

More Information

Related Services

Additional Resources

DCF Foster Care/Adoption Application (DOCX 3.79 MB)
Eligibility Standards (PDF 35.51 KB)
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