Become a Foster Parent

In order to become a foster parent with WIN Family Services, you must…

• be at least 25 years old
• be a Maryland resident
• have a high school education, GED or equivalent
• bi-lingual preferred
• have a reliable source of transportation
• have a reliable source of income

Background Check (no felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense in the last 5 years)

• Physical
• PPD (Tuberculosis) test
• Drug Test
• Health/Fire Inspection

It requires an amazing person to want to be a foster parent—thank you for being one of those people! It takes a village to raise a child and WIN Family Services sincerely appreciates your passion for wanting to join our village and help children and families in Maryland. We are looking for loving and diverse families to make a real change in our youth’s lives!

• Are mostly 12 years old and older
• Emotionally challenged
• Have a background of verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse
• In need of therapeutic services

As an agency, we work to nurture and provide therapeutic treatment for these families.  Through prayer, skill, and love, we have helped to successfully reunite and provide desperately needed mental health and mentoring services for these families.

Accepting a foster child into your home will change your life in countless ways. You will see the transformation of a human being who has a chance to thrive because of your work and devotion.

1. Attend an initial orientation.
2. Complete a training series.
3. Prepare for a home study
4. Become a licensed professional foster parent.
5. A youth is placed in your home.

Foster Parents
Thousands of children, from birth to 21 years of age, enter the foster care system each year in the U.S. In Maryland, there are more than 8500 children in foster care. All foster children have unique backgrounds, experiences, personalities, strengths, and needs. As a result, understanding these circumstances and meeting the challenges of being a foster parent can be extraordinarily rewarding as well as extraordinarily difficult.

Below are some aspects of foster parenting to consider:

• Youth comes from a painful background of harsh experiences – for example, abuse and neglect.
• There can be emotional challenges of providing temporary care.
• Dealing with anger and resentment from your foster child.
• Accepting assistance and support from trained social workers.
• Giving all of yourself but potentially not receiving the same in return.

While the task of being a foster parent may be very challenging, it is also a very rewarding experience. There is a certain joy that comes with opening your home to a child in need, knowing that you are doing something great for them. Nothing compares to having a hand in raising the youth of today and shaping them for the future and guiding each child to be the best version of themselves. Being the source of love and support for a child can go a long way; be a blessing to a child today!

Faith-based: We are a spiritually-based organization with a true family atmosphere.  We uphold our Core Values: Godliness, Excellence, Teamwork, and Service.

Generous Stipend: We offer our certified foster parents a monthly stipend ranging from $1500 – $1800.

Counseling Support: Our staff works to support and enlighten youth on who they are, what their strengths and needs are, and help bring resolve to psychiatric symptoms.

Paid Vacation and respite: Our parents receive payment even when they are on vacation or respite. WIN offers  all parents two (2) weeks paid vacation/respite and pays the respite parent as well.

Committed Parent Support:  Each parent has a team composed of a licensed social workers and two (2) counselors to help parents support the youth in their home and community.

Activities for the Youth:  We have after school activities, assigned youth counselors, talent shows, and summer camp for youth.

Referral Bonus:  WIN offers bonuses for all parents referred to our agency.

Please note: You must be a Maryland resident in order to be a foster parent with us.

Get in touch with us!
Send us an email at parent@winfamilyservices.org. Let us know you are interested!  A representative will contact you within 48 hours.

Talk To Us
If you are considering becoming a foster parent and want an in-depth perspective on what to expect, please contact us at 410-578-8003 ext. 129.