When foster parents take children into their homes, the children don’t come with instruction manuals, but a foster care handbook from the agency is the next best thing. Most handbooks include explanations of the foster care system and the legal system as it relates to foster care, agency rules, what to expect from the children, whom to contact in various situations, what to do in case of emergency, and how to deal with birth family issues. Below are some public agency handbooks that are available on-line.

Agency Handbooks

• Alabama
  The Foster Parent Handbook - A Guide for Alabama's Foster Parents
  
  (June 2001)
  
  

  Alaska

  • Resource Family Handbook
    

  • Understanding the Regulations: What Foster Parents Need to Know
    This series of fact sheets are designed to help foster parents understand foster care regulations in Alaska.

  Arkansas
  Family Foster Parent Handbook
  

  
  

  California
  Caregivers and the Courts: A Primer on Juvenile Dependency Proceedings for California Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers
  Available in both English and Spanish.

  • San Mateo County
    Foster Care Handbook

  Iowa
  Foster Parent Handbook
  (June 2002)

  Florida

  • Hillsborough County
    Foster Parent Handbook

  Georgia
  Foster Parent Manual

  Kansas
  Foster Parent Handbook
  

  Illinois
  Foster Family Handbook
  (December 2003)

  Kentucky
  Resource Parent Handbook

  Louisiana
  The Foster Parent Handbook for Foster and Adoptive Families of Louisiana (very large file)

  Massachusetts
  Guide for Foster and Pre-Adoptive Parents
  A Spanish version is also available. (June 2003)

  Missouri
  Resource Parent Handbook
  

  Nebraska: Guide for Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers: Understanding the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process
  

  New Mexico

  • Going to Court: When and How a Foster Parent Can Help
    A guide for foster parents and other caregivers about participating in court hearings.

  • Understanding the Child Abuse and Neglect Legal System
    This resource for school staff, service providers, law enforcement, foster parents, advocates and others who work with children and families provides an overview of the court system.

  New York
  Foster Parent Handbook
  Also available in Spanish.

  North Dakota
  Foster Parent Handbook
  

  Rhode Island
  Foster Parent Handbook

  Tennessee:

  • Resource Parent Handbook (2010)
  • SelectKids Resource Parent Guide (Health Care Benefits)
• Vermont
  A Foster Parent's Guide to Investigations
  
  
• Wyoming
  Foster Parents Handbook
  

Handbooks from Canada

• British Columbia Foster Family Handbook
  (January 2001)