HRT was the first agency to provide therapeutic foster care services in 1981 when the State began contracting with private agencies to provide foster care licensing, placement and monitoring. Today, our Foster Care Support Program licenses all levels of foster care including Regular, Medically Complex, Therapeutic, Kinship, Native, Respite Care, and Child Developmental Homes. HRT‘s main office for Foster Care is located in Phoenix, AZ with staff located in Maricopa, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, and Apache counties. HRT’s desire is to be a family of families; big enough to meet the need for foster homes but small enough to know our families individually. We’ve enjoyed low turnover among our staff and take pride in knowing our families well. Together we build families and strengthen the lives of Arizona’s children and families.

Please follow this link for more information on the steps to become a foster parent: https://dcs.az.gov/fosteradoption/steps-becoming-foster-parent

Scroll down for FAQ’s about Foster Care and Adoption.


What is foster care?

Foster care is the temporary placement of children who, due to abuse and neglect, have been removed from their primary caregiver by the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Foster parents provide care and supervision while the family works toward living together again.

Is there really a need for foster parenting?

Yes! Families for sibling groups and teens are always in high demand but families for children of all ages are needed. We need people willing to learn to parent children who have experienced trauma and may have developmental delays, medical issues or behavioral challenges. We are experts in these areas as we have almost 40 years of experience serving foster children.

What different types of foster parenting does HRT offer?

Regular Foster Care
Regular foster care, or a Family Foster Home, is community foster care. Children are placed in foster families when they are removed from their home and cared for until they can return home or be adopted.

Kinship Foster Care

Kinship foster care is a license for families in which DCS has placed relative children such as grandchildren, nieces or nephews, etc. These families are not expected to care for other children in foster care. HRT is committed to assisting kinship families with the licensing process and providing them with the necessary supports needed to care for family members.

Respite Care
Respite foster families care for children for short periods of time (i.e., a few days to a week) if their regular foster family is unavailable due to family emergencies, practicing self-care, etc.  Family Foster Homes can have 1or 2 beds reserved for respite care.

Medically Complex
Medically Complex trained foster families provide care for children who have chronic physical, developmental, or medical conditions. A child must meet specific criteria to qualify as Medically Complex.

Medically Complex foster families receive 18 hours of additional pre-service training and are required to attend 24 hours of training every 2 years for renewal.

Therapeutic Foster Care
Therapeutic foster homes provide care for children with significant behavioral and mental health concerns. The goal is work with youth on specific behavioral goals to help them stabilize and transition to Family Foster Homes.

Therapeutic Providers receive 18 hours of additional pre-service training and are required to attend 24 hours of training every year for renewal.

Is there a difference in licensing/eligibility for Kinship Foster Care?

The licensing process is the same for Kinship Foster Care and Regular Foster Care. There are some waivers available for non-safety licensing rules specific to Kinship Foster Care. The license is restricted to the children currently placed in the home.

What makes a good foster parent?

All types of people and families can make good foster parents. Each individual has different strengths and a drive to help others. Foster parents must be patient, flexible, and have compassion for children who are going through a difficult time. Additionally, we need people who genuinely care about children, and are willing to learn new skills, and want to improve a child’s life.

What are the rewards of being a foster parent?

The greatest reward is changing a child’s life and future. You are providing a supportive and stable family for children while they cannot live with their biological families. Foster parenting is a challenging experience with lifelong benefits – helping children heal from trauma and break the cycle of abuse and neglect.

What are the challenges of being a foster parent?

Children from all different ethnic and racial backgrounds come into the foster care system. Children have typically been separated from their biological families due to abuse or neglect. These children also suffer from trauma and loss in varying degrees. There can be delays in services and system-related delays. 

How are Native American children served?

HRT serves children from sovereign tribes throughout Arizona, including the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Navajo, Gila River, White Mountain Apache and the Hopi Tribe.

Foster families need to be willing to incorporate Native American culture into their home. Typically, families caring for Native American children are expected to transport to visits, medical appointments, or counseling sessions on the Reservation. A slightly higher reimbursement rate is offered to account for the additional transportation and cultural expectations. While reunification is the primary goal for all children, many Native American children will need long-term foster families.

HRT also serves Native American children with therapeutic needs through our Therapeutic Foster Care program.

Is every child eventually reunited with his or her biological family?

Sadly, reunification is not always possible. Sometimes, families are not able to overcome the circumstances that caused their children to be unsafe. In such cases, the goal is to find a permanent home for the child through adoption or guardianship.

Do I have to have contact with the biological parents or family members of my foster child?

Most children have regularly scheduled visits with their biological parents as a part of their reunification plan. Foster parents may have contact through letters, phone calls, or meeting together as appropriate. Foster parents’ addresses and phone numbers are kept confidential by HRT and DCS.

What is an HRT Foster Care Specialist?

An Initial Foster Care Specialist will assist you with the licensing process. Once you are a licensed foster parent you will be assigned an Ongoing Foster Care Specialist. Your Foster Care Specialist is there to provide you with support and advocacy and help you stay in compliance with the rules.

Will my HRT Foster Care Specialist visit my home?

Yes, during the licensing process your Foster Care Specialist will visit your home 3-4 times. Once you are licensed, your HRT Foster Care Specialist will visit your home monthly, at minimum.

What is the difference between my HRT Foster Care Specialist and a DCS Case Manager?

An HRT Foster Care Specialist is there to support you as a foster parent and help you maintain your license. A DCS Case Manager is employed by the Department of Child Safety and is the legal guardian of the children. They also provide case management to the biological family.

What type of ongoing support does HRT provide?

HRT provides ongoing support including:

  • 24 hours on-call support by a Licensing Worker
  • Our attendance at Child-Family Team meeting, court hearing, and Foster Care Review Boards
  • Monthly Advanced Trainings
  • Master’s Level Therapists on staff to support families

How long will a foster child live with me?

Foster care is temporary. The length of time a child stays in foster care depends on how long it takes their family to resolve the issues that caused them to be unsafe. Children may be in your home a few days or several years before they can return home or be adopted.

Do I get to pick the type of child I want to work with?

We will assist you with determining the age range and gender of children your family can best care for during the licensing process.

Is there a need for people to take sibling groups?

Yes, we try to keep sibling groups together as they are an important means of support for each other.

Do foster parents receive financial assistance?

Yes. The State provides foster parents with a monthly reimbursement. 

Does HRT provide ongoing training?

Yes, we offer at least 6 hours of advanced training every month.


What Adoption Services do you provide?

HRT provides Adoption Certification for families wanting to adopt a child through the foster care system in Arizona.

Is there a fee?

HRT does not charge to complete an adoption certification to adopt children from foster care in Arizona.

What are the requirements to be certified to adopt?

To become certified to adopt, you must be at least 18 years old and have sufficient income to support your household expense. Adoptive families and their adult household members must pass a background check and be able to obtain a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card. You must also complete Foster Parent College training as well as complete a variety of documents and interviews for your home study.

What is the difference between foster care and adoption?

Foster care is the temporary placement of a child with a foster family. Children may be in a foster home a few days or several years until permanency can be accomplished. Many foster parents choose to adopt the child or children they are fostering if they are unable to return to their parents. Adoption is the permanent placement of a child with a family after the biological parents’ rights have been severed. The adoptive parents assume all the legal rights and responsibilities of a biological parent.

Can I do both foster care and adoption?

Many foster parents go on to adopt if the child’s case plan changes to adoption. Foster families can adopt without an adoption certification. If you are interested in fostering and having an open adoption certification for other children in Arizona’s foster care system, please contact us to discuss the requirements.

Do I receive reimbursement for adoption?

There is no set monthly reimbursement for adoption although the State does provide Adoption Subsidy to offset the cost of adopting a special needs child. This may be a monthly reimbursement or money for specific needs of the child.

How do I start?

You may call our Foster Care Intake Specialist to learn if you qualify and how to get started in the process. You can reach our Foster Care Intake Specialist at 602-433-1344 or 888-433-1344.


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