Red Tape Discourages Foster Families

One well-known barrier to recruiting foster families is the red tape that agencies impose. The District of Columbia demands a notarized signature in blue ink, while New York requires a list of every address where you have lived in the last 28 years. In Kansas, a conviction for walking a dog off-leash ("permitting a dangerous animal to be at large") will disqualify applicants.

While red tape may not be the primary reason for the challenges in finding foster parents, it is undoubtedly a significant factor. The complex and time-consuming application process can deter potential caregivers from stepping forward. Simplifying these procedures, particularly for kinship placements, could be a step in the right direction to address the current foster care crisis.

Kinship placements refer to placing children with relatives or close family friends instead of traditional foster families. Research shows that such placements better for most children, as they provide a familiar environment and maintain important familial connections. They also could also be more cost-effective for states.

However, to streamline kinship placements, states would need to change liability rules. Currently, most of the red tape is designed to protect state agencies from lawsuits or bad press. Until those incentives change, states are motivated to maintain complex procedures. Revising the liability rules would encourage agencies to simplify the application process, making it more accessible for potential foster parents and kinship placements.