Families who wish to adopt or provide foster care to children in the foster care system in Santa Cruz County must become a "Resource Family" in order to do so. The process for becoming a Resource family is detailed below.
Attending an orientation is mandatory, and will provide you with an overview of the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process and an opportunity to meet with our RFA social work staff.
After attending an RFA orientation, you'll receive a link to start the RFA application process. An RFA social worker will be assigned to you once an RFA application is completed and submitted.
RFA application requirements include:
A pre-approval training is offered through an online "Foster Parent College", at their Online Training for Caregivers site and is free of charge for all applicants who complete an RFA application. This training is self-guided and can be taken at the applicant’s pace. Completion of all pre-approval training courses is a requirement for approval. Your RFA social worker will sign you up!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Resource family! For additional information, please call: (831) 345-2700