St. Johns County Hosts Foster Care Info Session Aug. 25 Amid Need for Families

St. Johns County is inviting residents to learn how they can provide homes for children in the foster-care system at a free information session later this month. The Fostering 101 event, scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the St. Johns County Public Library Main Branch in St. Augustine, will offer an introductory look at the process of becoming a foster or adoptive parent in the county.

The session is designed for individuals and families exploring whether fostering or adoption might be a fit. Attendees will hear from Family Integrity Program staff and experienced foster parents, learn about local support resources, and get details on the required nine-week training course — all in an informal setting where questions are encouraged.

What's happening

The event will take place at the library's main branch at 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine. The St. Johns County Family Integrity Program and St. Johns County Public Library are co-hosting the session, which is free and open to all county residents.

From 5 to 5:30 p.m., a panel discussion will feature Family Integrity Program staff alongside current foster parents sharing their firsthand experiences. The panel will address common questions about what fostering and adoption involve, what the day-to-day realities look like, and what kind of support the county provides.

Following the panel, the event shifts to a casual question-and-answer format. Attendees can ask specific questions, explore printed resources, and learn about the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) — a nine-week course prospective foster and adoptive parents in Florida must complete before they can be certified. The NTDC training covers child development, trauma-informed care, behavior management, the legal framework of foster care, and working with biological families.

The county's Family Integrity Program administers foster care and adoption services locally. Officials have not released current statistics on the number of children in St. Johns County's foster system or how many licensed foster homes the county currently has, but the event signals an ongoing need for families willing to open their homes.

Why St. Johns County needs foster families

Foster care exists to provide temporary, safe homes for children whose families are in crisis — whether due to abuse, neglect, substance abuse, mental-health emergencies, or other circumstances that make it unsafe for a child to remain at home. The goal of the foster system in Florida is reunification with biological parents whenever possible, but that process can take months or years, and some cases end in termination of parental rights, making the child eligible for adoption.

In rapidly growing counties like St. Johns, the demand for foster placements can outpace the supply of local families. When a county lacks enough licensed homes, children may be placed with families in neighboring counties or farther away, disrupting their connections to schools, friends, and familiar surroundings. More local foster families mean children can stay closer to their communities and, often, closer to their biological families during the reunification process.

Foster parents receive a monthly stipend from the state to cover the costs of caring for the child — food, clothing, school supplies, activities — and children in foster care remain on Medicaid for health coverage. The county and partnering agencies provide ongoing training, caseworker support, and respite care to help foster families manage the unique challenges that come with caring for children who have experienced trauma.

The system relies entirely on volunteers. Prospective foster parents must be at least 21 years old, pass background screenings, complete the NTDC training, and undergo a home study. Families of all configurations can foster: married couples, single parents, and LGBTQ individuals and couples are all eligible under Florida law. Homeownership is not required, and foster parents do not need to have biological children or prior parenting experience.

What adoption through foster care looks like

Adoption becomes an option when a court terminates the biological parents' rights and a child is legally freed for adoption. Many of these children are older, part of sibling groups, or have special needs. Adopting through the foster system is nearly cost-free compared to private adoption, and families who adopt children from foster care may qualify for ongoing subsidies and services to support the child's needs.

Families interested in adoption can become licensed foster parents first and potentially adopt a child placed with them, or they can pursue adoption only, though the certification process is largely the same. The Fostering 101 event is intended to help prospective families understand both pathways and decide which fits their circumstances.

St. Johns County has seen sustained population growth over the past decade, adding thousands of new residents each year and ranking among Florida's fastest-growing counties. That growth brings more families, more children, and more need for social services, including foster care. Even as the county attracts affluent retirees and young professionals, it also sees families facing the kinds of crises — addiction, domestic violence, economic instability — that can lead to child-welfare interventions.

How the training and certification process works

The nine-week NTDC course mentioned at the event is the gateway to becoming a licensed foster parent in Florida. The training is offered locally and typically meets one evening per week. It covers the legal and emotional landscape of foster care: understanding trauma and attachment, managing challenging behaviors, navigating the court system, supporting sibling connections, and working collaboratively with case managers and biological parents.

After completing the training, prospective parents undergo a home study conducted by a licensing agent. The home study includes interviews, background checks, reference checks, a review of the physical home environment to ensure it meets safety standards (working smoke detectors, safe sleeping arrangements, secure storage for medications and hazardous materials), and an assessment of the family's readiness and motivations.

Once licensed, families are matched with children based on the family's preferences and capacities — age range, number of children, types of behavioral or medical needs they feel prepared to handle. Some families take emergency placements on short notice; others wait for a match that fits their household.

What happens next

The Fostering 101 event on Aug. 25 requires no advance registration, according to the county's announcement, and residents can simply show up at the library between 4 and 6 p.m. to participate. The informal structure means attendees can arrive at any point during the two-hour window, though those wanting to hear the panel discussion should plan to be there by 5 p.m.

Additional information about the Family Integrity Program and the steps to become a foster parent is available on the St. Johns County website. The county has not announced future dates for similar events, but Fostering 101 sessions are typically held periodically as part of ongoing recruitment efforts.

For residents who attend the event and decide to move forward, the next step would be enrolling in the nine-week NTDC training course. The Family Integrity Program staff at the event will provide details on upcoming training schedules and how to register.

The push to bring more foster families into the system reflects a broader challenge across Northeast Florida. As the region continues to grow and diversify, the social infrastructure that supports vulnerable children and families must grow with it. Events like Fostering 101 are one piece of that effort — connecting people willing to help with children who need stable, caring homes while their families work toward stability or while the path to permanency becomes clear.