Questions about Fostering

No, you don’t have to be married. You don’t even have to be in a relationship. Many single people are successful foster and adoptive parents.

Absolutely. Same sex couples or LGBTQ individuals make wonderful foster and/or adoptive parents.

In order to foster, you must demonstrate your ability to take care of yourself and your monthly living expenses prior to fostering. There are no general education requirements, however, KidLink will work to ensure that you have all of the proper training prior to approving your home for fostering.

You are not required to own a home. You must demonstrate that you have stable housing and that are capable of maintaining the costs associated with your residence.

KidLink requires that their foster parents be at least 21 years old but reserves the right to accept or deny individuals based on a case by case basis.

Yes! A KidLink case manager will work with you from the time a child comes to your home. The case manager will have weekly contact with you and the child, either in person or by phone. You will also have assistance available to you through our emergency on-call service 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Yes. A daily stipend for each child in care with your family based on their level of need. A child will also come with their own state medical insurance which will cover medical, dental and pharmaceutical needs.

KidLink takes pride in being flexible and working closely with a family to become approved. The average amount of time it takes for a family to become fully approved is about two months. This includes training classes, home studies and home inspections.

Complete the online form and one of our staff will be in touch with you shortly so we can answer all of your questions and get you scheduled for an informational session.

Yes, this is a great use of your monthly stipend. Also, seek resources within the community for scholarships for these types of activities, as many communities have funds and scholarships to assist.

Traditional foster care refers to the out-of-home placement of any child between the ages of 0 to 18 without any health restrictions, mental or physical disabilities. Therapeutic foster care is fostering children or youth who are specifically struggling with any mental or physical disabilities as well as behavioral issues. Therapeutic foster care also includes larger sibling groups. Specialized training and team members are put into place for therapeutic foster parents so that there is an additional layer of support.

Questions about Adoption

Yes! There are many children in foster care who need an adoptive home. KidLink will help you through the foster-to-adopt process.

In Tennessee, parents must foster a child for six months before an adoption can occur. KidLink will walk through this fostering process with you providing support and education along the way to prepare you for a successful adoption.

In most cases, adopting a child(ren) from the State of Tennessee through KidLink is free, including attorney fees and court costs. KidLink and The State of Tennessee remove the financial burden to allow qualified parents from all backgrounds the privilege of adopting.

The state often assists with medical assistance and mental health programs post adoption. Additionally, adopted children may be eligible for educational benefits, tuition assistance, subsidies and other forms of assistance depending on each child’s individual circumstance.

KidLink requires that their foster parents be at least 21 years old but reserves the right to accept or deny individuals based on a case by case basis.

When children cannot be reunited with their parents, we work diligently to identify a kinship option to adopt the children. When this isn’t possible, we work to identify an appropriate adoptive home outside of the family.

Yes, if you are a legal in the United States you may be able to adopt as a Green Card holder.

Their average age is approximately eight years old but children of all ages can be adopted. 42% of the majority are white, 24% are African American, 22 % are Hispanic of a different race and 2% are Native American.

Not always but research has shown that siblings placed together in foster care or adoption experience a lower risk of failed placements, fewer moves and hold emotional benefits. At KidLink, we believe in preserving the sibling bond when it is in the best interest of the children.