Foster Care

In 2009, the average number of Iowa youth in foster care, shelter care, or a highly structured group care placement in any given month was nearly 3,400 children.

LSI is proud to be a partner agency of Iowa KidsNet. Established in 2007, Iowa KidsNet is a statewide collaboration that recruits, trains, licenses and supports all of Iowa’s foster and foster adoptive families in partnership with Iowa’s Department of Human Services.

Iowa KidsNet also provides matching recommendations to the Department of Human Services so children entering foster care can be placed in a home that best fits their unique needs.

As part of the Iowa KidsNet team, LSI staff serve as licensing specialists, support specialists and recruitment staff, helping to create safe, permanent connections between children and families through foster care, adoption and reunification with birth families.

Iowa is fortunate to have many wonderful foster families, but there remains an ongoing need for more foster parents, particularly for those willing to foster teenagers, sibling groups and children with special needs. There is also an urgent need for more African American, Native American and Latino foster families.

What would be your reason for doing foster care? Call Iowa KidsNet at 1.800.243.0756 or visit the website to learn more.