Foster Care Services More than 3,000 children are in foster care in San Diego county. We can help.

Could You Foster?

There is a critical need for foster homes! Attend a Resource Parent Information Session to find out more.

What is a Resource Family?

An individual or family that fosters. These "resource families" come in all shapes and sizes, including LGBTQ+ and single parents.

Youth Exiting Foster Care

We help ensure that, upon exiting foster care, youth have housing, independent living skills and a stable future.

Children need parents. They need families. We are looking for amazing parents who are all in, fully committed to the child in their trust until a permanent, loving family wraps their arms around that child.

We are passionate about our new brand of foster care that will meet the goals for every single child. Our highly trained and committed foster parents are the key to finding the solution instead of perpetuating the problem.

Are you in?

Adopted child and parents

Resource parent eligibility & requirements

Here are some eligibility requirements to become a resource parent/family with us: 

  • At least 21 years of age.
  • Single, married, divorced or living with a partner
  • Live in an apartment, house, and either rent or own, as long as you’re able to provide a safe home for a child
  • Be any race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or culture
  • We welcome LGBTQ+ parents
  • Able to support yourself financially
  • Willing to participate in specialized SDYS training program and pass LIVE Scan Background Check

How we support resource parents

San Diego Youth Services is one of the region’s best providers and source for foster care opportunities. We are with our resource parents every step of the way, giving them all they need to successfully provide loving homes and raise thriving/prospering kids and teenagers. We provide:

  • A one-to-one approach, to create outstanding outcomes for you and your foster child
  • Ongoing administrative and emotional support, so you know you have a partner in navigating your new life journey
  • We ensure you are feeling just as valued as your foster child

"We are new foster parents and San Diego Youth Services has been absolutely amazing at guiding us through this journey. It doesn't matter how big or small the issue may be, they're always there." - Laura Dominguez, resource parent

Understanding the critical need

The traditional foster care system is broken. Children who experience neglect and abuse are left with trauma, and then these children are exposed to re-traumatization when they are taken from their families. Then the traditional foster care model repeats that cycle each time a child is moved from one “bed” to another in the system created to protect them.

This model of intervention often causes unintentional additional trauma. The child is left with a home that has failed to provide a safe, loving, therapeutic environment that is necessary for our children to thrive and heal.

We provided foster services to 267 children and youth this year.

We do foster care differently.

Our foster families provide safe, stable and healing home environments for children who have experienced neglect and abuse.

Find out more by attending one of our online Resource Parent Information Sessions.