Foster Care Services

Purpose / Overview

The Warren County Department of Social Services recruits families to be licensed as foster parents. Assessments and training are provided at no cost to applicant families. Warren County has licensed foster homes providing care for children in the custody of the agency. There is a need for more foster homes for children of all ages. Many foster parents adopt children in their care if adoption becomes the plan approved by the court for the child. There is also a need for specialized foster homes to provide care for delinquent and undisciplined youth.

Become a Foster Parent

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please contact the agency at 252-257-5850 and information will be mailed to you.

Services / Plan of Action

Foster Care Services are provided to ensure the safety of children in an alternative care arrangement when their safety cannot be maintained in their own home. Foster care is a temporary plan of care until the child can be safely returned to their home, be placed in the custody or guardianship of another approved caretaker or adopted.

Temporary Care

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for abused, neglected, and dependent children who need a safe place to live when their parents or another relative cannot take care of them. Often their families face issues such as illness, alcohol or drug addiction, or homelessness.

Foster Applicants / Adoptive Parents

When the Warren County Department of Social Services (DSS) believes a child is not safe, and a judge agrees, DSS takes custody of that child and finds a foster home for him or her. Length of stay in foster care varies from a few days to much longer. Foster families are recruited, trainee and licensed to care for abused and neglected children temporarily, while their parents work with social work professionals to resolve their family issues. Relatives may be licensed as foster parents. The foster family, DSS and the birth family work together to return children to their own homes as quickly as possible. In cases where the child becomes free for adoption, foster parents may be considered as adoptive parents.

Child Placement Services for Children

We believe our foster children deserve safe, permanent, nurturing homes within one year of initial placement. To achieve this it is vital for every foster child in Warren County to have one single, stable foster care placement within his own community. These services include:

  • Providing temporary homes for children in DSS custody
  • Supervising children in foster care
  • Providing ongoing counseling and support services to help families and children reunite and stay together
  • Providing extra counseling and support for families and foster parents of children who are ill, disabled or delinquent
  • Petitioning the court for legal termination of parental rights
  • Making recommendations for adoption for children unable to return home
  • Recruiting, screening, training potential foster parents, performing home studies, performing local criminal background checks to ensure the safety of potential foster children placed in the home, and recommending licensure of the home.

To find out how to become a licensed foster parent you can visit our Licensing page, call NC KIDS at 1-877-NCKIDS (877-625-4371) or contact the Warren County Department of Social Services at 252-257-5000. Your local County Department of Social Services can offer information that will help you decide if foster parenting is right for you.

For more information, visit Foster Care Services.