North Dakotans who are interested in becoming a licensed foster care provider should contact 833-378-4663
During Children’s Foster Care Month, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is bringing attention to the importance of keeping children safe and families strong, and the services, programs and North Dakotans that support the advancement of strong, stable healthy families and communities.
Today, 1,150 children in North Dakota are under the care of a licensed foster care provider; 14% are licensed placements with a family member. Additionally, another 180 children are receiving temporary care through Kinship ND. These caregivers and providers serve an important role in ensuring the safety and well-being of children until they can be reunited with their family.
Everyone engaged in the child welfare system plays an essential role in ensuring the safety, permanency and physical and mental well-being of children in care. This includes relatives, foster care providers, custodial agencies, juvenile court, child welfare professionals, community service providers and other partners who all work collaboratively as a team to provide services and support to families.
“HHS Children and Family Services is committed to supporting families so they can remain together or be reunited as quickly and safely as possible,” HHS Children and Family Services Director Cory Pedersen said. “Through collaboration, HHS along with human service zones, tribal nations and partnering agencies are continuously exploring new ways to keep families together while ensuring the safety and well-being of children.”
Pedersen explained that the state’s child welfare system has found effective ways to safely keep families together through prevention efforts and active engagement with families.
Prompt casework with families allows an opportunity to address what services and support families need to stay together. An example of this is Title IV-E Prevention Services. Through Title IV-E, children and families can receive services that address mental and behavioral health, substance abuse treatment and recovery support and in-home, skilled-based educational training. These services are available across the state and professionals who work with children, family members and caregivers are encouraged to submit a referral if they know of a child who is facing challenges at home.
When a child cannot safely remain in their parents’ home, child welfare workers actively engage with families to find a relative or someone the child shares a close relationship with (also known as fictive kin) that can provide temporary care. Children placed in the care with someone they know face fewer disruptions as it provides normalcy and stability while maintaining and strengthening family connections.
Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a licensed foster care provider are encouraged to call toll-free (833) FST-HOME or 833-378-4663, 711 (TTY). For information about how a licensed provider can offer respite care or emergency shelter care, contact the Children and Family Services Licensing Unit at 701-328-2322, 711 (TTY) or cfslicensing@nd.gov.