Resources for Current Foster Families

For foster parents and caregivers currently caring for a child or young person: help with everyday needs, caregiver support and practical guidance.

This starter collection includes free online guidance and programs with their own service areas and referral rules. Supplies and respite are not guaranteed; check availability directly. No account is needed to browse.

Hoping to foster, volunteer or learn how to get involved instead? Find Ways to Help

Illustration of a caregiver and two children laughing while making pancakes — Illustration, not real people.

Foster Closets & Placement Essentials

Sleep in Heavenly Peace
VERIFIED
Free Twin Beds for Children
Apply for a twin bed for a child who needs a suitable bed. This program is open to eligible families, not only foster families; an application does not guarantee a bed.
Where:
Only ZIP codes served by participating local chapters; not nationwide delivery.
Who:
Children aged 3–17. Your house or apartment must be accessible and have enough room for a bed.
Cost:
Free twin bed for accepted applicants.
How to Access:
Apply on the official page and check your ZIP. Some chapters are not accepting applications. Applicants must be reachable by phone, text or email; accepted applicants sign a release before delivery.
Check Bed Availability
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Michigan Foster Care Closet
VERIFIED
Free Clothing and Supplies
Clothing, shoes, hygiene products and other supplies for children currently in Michigan foster care. Eligible children may shop up to four times a year.
Where:
Michigan foster children; in-person shopping by appointment in Ann Arbor.
Who:
Any child currently in Michigan foster care may shop up to four times a year. Families with children adopted from care may shop up to 12 months after adoption finalization. Paperwork for each child is required at every visit.
Cost:
Clothing and supplies are free of charge.
How to Access:
Book an appointment. Bring documentation for each child every visit, such as a dated caseworker referral, emergency medical card or placement papers. A referral is one acceptable document, not the only route.
Book a Closet Appointment
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
The Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Clothing and Essential Care Items
Appointment-based clothing and essential care items for foster families and relative placements. The provider also serves adoptive families.
Where:
Greater Lafayette, Indiana; local visits only.
Who:
Foster families, relative placements and adoptive families in the Greater Lafayette area.
Cost:
Clothing and essential care items are free; items may not be sold.
How to Access:
Submit the visit form and wait for confirmation before coming. The form requests contact and child details, foster-license and placement-letter uploads. Bring proof of custody for the first visit and each new placement; ask the provider about documentation for your placement type.
Request a Closet Visit
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster Care Support Foundation
VERIFIED
Free Clothing and Basic Care Items
Free clothing, shoes, toys, books, school supplies and infant care equipment for children in foster, kinship and relative care across Georgia.
Where:
Statewide Georgia service from headquarters in Roswell; in-person visits mainly within about an hour of metro Atlanta, with limited mail and pickup for families farther away.
Who:
Displaced children in Georgia who receive zero to base per diem financial support or comparable SSI. Sibling subsidies and diaper allowances are excluded; the child's caregiver must be a U.S. citizen.
Cost:
Clothing and basic care items are free of charge for eligible children.
How to Access:
Submit the appointment request on the official Services page; staff call after review and prioritize the least-supported children. Phone 770-317-3749 or email appt@fostercares.org.
See Services and Eligibility
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster Care Closet of Nebraska
VERIFIED
Free New Wardrobes for Youth in Care
Youth in Nebraska foster care choose brand-new outfits, shoes, coats and comfort items at no cost, at entry and every season while they remain in care.
Where:
Permanent Lincoln location plus a statewide Mobile Closet serving Nebraska communities.
Who:
Youth placed under Nebraska wards and eligible court-ordered placements; check the official shopping page for the full list.
Cost:
All wardrobe items are brand-new and free of charge.
How to Access:
Check the official shopping page for shopping steps and appointment details. Youth select up to 5 new outfits each season plus socks, underwear, shoes, a coat, full-sized toiletries and a choice of blanket, backpack and toy subject to availability.
See How to Shop
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster Heart + Hope
VERIFIED
Free Clothing Shopping Days for Children in Care
Boutique-style Shopping Days where children in foster, kinship or guardianship care pick out their own clothing and essential items at no cost, run by Foster Heart + Hope at Trey's Boutique in Omaha.
Where:
Omaha, Nebraska; the organization publishes one Omaha address and describes its work as serving local families.
Who:
Families in active foster, kinship or guardianship care. Up to six Shopping Days a year, and from September 2026 visits must fall in non-consecutive months. Families who adopted through foster care may keep using the service for one year after the adoption.
Cost:
Clothing and essential items are free of charge.
How to Access:
Registration opens on the 1st of each month and fills first-come, first-served. Walk-ins are not accepted. Bring placement paperwork on your first visit. Shopping Days run the 2nd Friday (11:00 am-1:00 pm), 3rd Saturday (9:00 am-12:00 pm) and 4th Thursday (3:00-6:00 pm); children are welcome to shop with you.
See Shopping Day Details
Official source reviewed 2026-11-04.
1HOPE for Kids — New Braunfels Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Diapers, Cribs and Car Seats
Shop free clothing, diapers, formula, cribs, car seats, books, toys and other essentials for a child in your care.
Where:
In-person closet at 1265 Industrial Dr., Suite E, New Braunfels, Texas. The official page states it serves all families from all agencies in Texas; it does not promise delivery.
Who:
Foster families, birth families, kinship placements, case workers, case managers and anyone else in a foster family support network. Bring a copy of your placement paperwork or department credentials.
Cost:
Items are free.
How to Access:
Call (830) 203-6490, email AliciaB@1hopeforkids.org, or message the organization on Facebook to confirm hours or make an appointment. The page's FAQ says no appointment is required.
Call or Email the Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Chosen Ones
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Food and Necessities
Shop free clothing, food and necessities for foster, adoptive and kinship children, expectant moms, dads and toddlers under 36 months.
Where:
Local Fort Worth resource at 7600 Sand St., Building 14, Fort Worth, TX 76118. The page does not publish a county-by-county residency boundary.
Who:
Local foster, adoptive and kinship children, expectant moms, dads and toddlers under 36 months in need. Placement, custody or guardianship papers (if applicable) are required to shop.
Cost:
Free of charge.
How to Access:
Appointments are required to shop; call or text the scheduler at 469-265-5936 or email chosenonesschedule@gmail.com. If no appointments are open, the page invites you to join a waitlist.
Book a Shopping Appointment
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Hope's Promise Foster Care Lending Closet
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Shoes, Coats and Bedding
Ask for the clothing sizes you need and the closet arranges a shopping visit with a volunteer or prepares a package for pickup — usually 7–10 days' worth of clothing per request.
Where:
Colorado's Front Range. The official page names that region, not all of Colorado.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship families in Colorado's Front Range.
Cost:
Essential items are free of charge.
How to Access:
Email the closet with the specific sizes and gender of clothing you need, then arrange an appointment to shop or a prepared pickup package. Items depend on current inventory.
Request Clothing
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Helen's Hope Chest
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Shoes, Hygiene Items and School Supplies
Shop free clothing, shoes, hygiene items, toys, books and school supplies for children from newborn to 18 in a boutique-style closet.
Where:
In-person shopping at 126 East University Drive, Mesa, Arizona. The page does not establish statewide shipping.
Who:
Children with a Department of Child Safety case placed in a licensed foster home or group home; the caregiver brings Notice to Provider paperwork to each appointment. Unlicensed kinship caregivers need a Kinship Number from a partnering kinship program, and families with court-issued guardianship are also served.
Cost:
All items are given to the children for free.
How to Access:
Call 480-969-5411 to schedule an appointment. The closet is open Monday–Friday 9am–4pm.
Call to Schedule a Visit
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fostering Hope
VERIFIED
Foster-Share Closet
Free clothing, gear, toiletries, toys, furniture, childcare items and books, plus Bags of Hope for emergency placements.
Where:
12 listed chapter groups across 11 Pennsylvania counties: Berks, Upper and Lower Bucks, Cambria–Somerset, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia Northeast and Northwest, and York. Families may use the closest chapter regardless of home county; no extra county or branch is inferred.
Who:
Foster parents, kinship families and biological families with an open county case or safety plan.
Cost:
All items are free of charge.
How to Access:
Choose a chapter and register; staff contact you to schedule. Not walk-in. Registration asks for caregiver name, email, town, agency contact, children's first names or initials, ages and sizes, and proof of placement such as a placement letter. Visits must be approved by your caseworker; proof may be requested.
Find a Chapter
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Alicia's Closet
VERIFIED
Free Store for Foster and Kinship Families
Free clothing, shoes, coats, diapers, wipes and baby essentials from infant to young adult sizes.
Where:
Columbus (Franklin County) and Fremont (Sandusky County), Ohio, and surrounding areas; no fixed county list is published.
Who:
Foster and kinship families; reunified families within ten years; former foster youth within ten years of leaving care.
Cost:
Items are provided at no cost to families.
How to Access:
Email to request items or book shopping: Columbus info@aliciascloset.org, Fremont emily@aliciascloset.org. Say how you are connected to foster or kinship care.
Request Items
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Oak Forest Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Essentials for Placed Children
Walk-in shopping for essential items for children already placed in foster, adoptive or kinship homes.
Where:
Houston, Texas location (1216 Bethlehem Street, 77018); no county limit is published.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship families with children already placed.
Cost:
Essential items at no cost.
How to Access:
Walk in Wed/Thu 9:30-11:30am or Sat 11am-1pm, generally once a month (exceptions for new placements). Bring a placement letter, adoption paperwork, kinship authorization or court order. Second floor by outdoor stairs. Phone 713-553-3545.
See Closet Hours
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Bloom
VERIFIED
Bloom Closet
Free clothing, books, toys and school supplies for children in foster care, by appointment in Fayetteville or Rome, a mobile closet, or shipping.
Where:
Georgia; shopping locations in Fayetteville and Rome.
Who:
Foster families. Kinship eligibility and required paperwork are not stated; ask when you call.
Cost:
Free clothing, books, toys and school supplies.
How to Access:
Call to book a quarterly shopping appointment: Fayetteville 770-461-7020, Rome 706-465-5558 ext. 535.
See Bloom Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Spreading Threads
VERIFIED
Free Clothing Bank for Foster Families
Free clothing, shoes, socks, underwear, books, toys and school supplies at monthly shopping events, plus emergency clothing pulls.
Where:
Tucson (Pima County) and Southern Arizona.
Who:
Foster, kinship, adoptive, guardianship and tribal placements, group homes, and some independent-living teens with caseworker authorization.
Cost:
Foster children and families are never charged.
How to Access:
Attend a monthly shopping event, or submit the emergency request form for an appointment. Bring placement paperwork such as a Notice to Provider or court order. 2945 N. Flowing Wells, Tucson; 520-971-3237.
Request Clothing
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
James Storehouse
VERIFIED
Free Resource Center Appointments (Caseworker Referral)
Free clothing, shoes, toiletries, home furnishings and groceries for youth in care, chosen at the resource center or packed ahead.
Where:
Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California; center in Newbury Park.
Who:
Referral only: a caseworker refers youth ages 0-26. Families cannot sign up directly.
Cost:
Completely free resourcing.
How to Access:
Ask your caseworker to email info@jamesstorehouse.org for the referral form. 3543 Old Conejo Road #105, Newbury Park; 805-499-7161. Published hours conflict; confirm when booking.
See How Referrals Work
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
SMILE Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Baby Gear and Beds for Northeast Tennessee
At least a week of outfits, shoes, outerwear, hygiene items, baby equipment and beds when available.
Where:
Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties, Tennessee.
Who:
Children entering state care in those eight counties, including kinship placements; some DCS-involved families.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Complete the SMILE request form on the official site. Help Foster Youth collects no details.
See SMILE Request Steps
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK FosterLove)
VERIFIED
Beds, Safety Items and Urgent Needs (Agency Request Only)
Fills urgent needs such as beds and smoke detectors for children in foster care.
Where:
Tennessee; service area depends on partner agencies.
Who:
Families caring for children in foster care in Tennessee.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Caregivers cannot apply directly: a vetted agency contact or caseworker must submit the request.
Ask Your Caseworker About TAK
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Fosters Closet (San Diego)
VERIFIED
Free Emergency Placement Kits and Baby Gear
Emergency placement kits, a clothing closet and baby equipment such as car seats, cribs and strollers.
Where:
San Diego County and nearby Southern California communities.
Who:
Foster families and kinship caregivers with children entering care.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Book a closet appointment or request online; social workers and agencies can also refer.
See Fosters Closet Services
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Live 2 Give Hope (Fostering Hope Closet)
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Beds, Diapers and Car Seats
Shop free for clothing, shoes, beds, bedding, diapers, hygiene items and infant gear.
Where:
Based in Laclede County, Missouri; has served families across the Missouri Ozarks. Confirm your county.
Who:
Foster, kinship, guardianship, adoptive and crisis families, or caseworkers for a placement.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Fill out the client form on the official page. Help Foster Youth collects no details.
See the Closet Form
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Friends of Foster Children (Palm Beach)
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Emergency Supplies and Holiday Help
Clothing closet, emergency supplies, birthday gifts, back-to-school and holiday support.
Where:
Palm Beach County, Florida.
Who:
Every foster family and kinship caregiver in Palm Beach County.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Visit the official Family Assistance page for steps.
See Family Assistance
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Harvest City Church Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Foster Closet Shopping Days in Wylie
Clothing, shoes, baby items and essentials on shopping days.
Where:
Collin County, Texas (Wylie location).
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship families in Collin County.
Cost:
No charge stated; confirm with the closet.
How to Access:
Shop 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., at Harvest City Church in Wylie.
See Shopping Days
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Oklahoma Human Services (Oklahoma Fosters)
VERIFIED
Oklahoma Foster Parent Benefits and Discounts
Search benefits and discounts by county for certified Oklahoma foster parents.
Where:
Oklahoma only; offers vary by location.
Who:
Certified, current Oklahoma foster parents. Redeem with the foster parent membership card mailed at certification; it cannot be shared.
Cost:
Varies by offer.
How to Access:
Browse the official benefits page by county or category, then show your card. Some offers are discounts, not free.
See Oklahoma Benefits
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Massachusetts Department of Children & Families
VERIFIED
Massachusetts Foster Parent Payments and Benefits
Official payment rates, quarterly clothing allowances, child health/nutrition coverage, respite and caregiver help contacts. Existing benefit listing, updated rather than duplicated.
Where:
Massachusetts children in DCF foster care; benefit-specific eligibility and your worker's confirmation apply.
Who:
Effective July 1, 2026: ages 0–5: $35.11/day and $348.69 quarterly clothing; ages 6–12: $39.79/day and $359.65 quarterly clothing; ages 13+: $41.57/day and $432.67 quarterly clothing. Birthday allowance $100; holiday allowance $200. Every foster parent is entitled to 10 respite days yearly. WIC for foster children under five and school lunch are income-independent; child care up to age 13 may be available, not guaranteed.
Cost:
Public information is free. Payments and allowances are state benefits, not promised individual awards; rates may change after the stated effective date.
How to Access:
Read the public official page without an account. Ask your DCF Foster Family/Kinship Social Worker about benefits and arranging respite. Complete a W-9 with DCF for payments; payments are sent twice monthly and usually start 2–4 weeks after submitting it. Payment help: 800-632-8218. Kids Net caregiver helpline: 800-486-3730. DCF Ombudsman: 617-748-2444, weekdays 9 am–5 pm. Do not send child records, tax forms or banking information to Help Foster Youth; no FosterMA Connect login or membership is needed to read this guidance.
See Massachusetts Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
FosterAdopt Connect
VERIFIED
Sammy's Window Clothing Closets and Pantries
Free clothing, shoes, hygiene items, diapers, formula, school supplies and, at some sites, food, at 13 Missouri and Kansas sites plus mobile units.
Where:
Missouri sites: Independence, Springfield, Branson, Cape Girardeau, Chillicothe, Hannibal, Joplin, Kirksville, Macon, Mountain Grove, Poplar Bluff. Kansas sites: Pittsburg, Wichita. Items vary by site.
Who:
Families caring for children in foster care or adopted from care; some sites also mention relatives. Ask the site about paperwork.
Cost:
Free items.
How to Access:
Use the order or contact form on the official page, or call your nearest site; many sites are by appointment. Check each site's page for current hours.
Find a Sammy's Window Site
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
The Foster Alliance
VERIFIED
Free Essentials for Arizona Foster and Kinship Families
New beds, cribs, bedding, clothing, shoes, diapers, personal care items and backpacks that children pick out themselves.
Where:
Statewide Arizona; locations in Phoenix and Flagstaff.
Who:
Foster and kinship families caring for children currently in foster care.
Cost:
Items are free.
How to Access:
No appointment needed. Bring photo ID and a Notice to Provider (or other approved document) for each child. Phoenix: 3110 E Thunderbird Rd. Flagstaff: 5200 E Cortland Blvd, Suite B5. Phone 480-889-0604. Clothing and diapers once every 60 days.
See Essential Services
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Comfort Cases
VERIFIED
First-Night Backpacks Through Your Agency
Backpacks with new pajamas, socks, a blanket, a stuffed animal and hygiene items for a child's first night in care, plus duffel bags so a child never carries belongings in a trash bag. Agencies order them; foster parents cannot order directly.
Where:
Ships to child welfare agencies across the U.S.; not a family self-order service.
Who:
Ordered by child welfare agencies (up to 50 cases a month; local agencies up to 100).
Cost:
Agency order form lists no charge; ask your agency.
How to Access:
Ask your caseworker or agency whether they keep Comfort Cases on hand or will order them. There is no foster-parent request form.
See Agency Ordering
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
iFoster
VERIFIED
Free Caregiver Account With Discounts and Free Clothing Kits
A free account on iFoster's own website unlocks daily living expense support, discounts and coupons, education and employment aids, life skills training, and free clothing kits for children and caregivers through ReMade in America. iFoster also offers a free caregiver training series with AARP covering licensing, kinship caregiving and the child welfare system. HelpFosterYouth.org does not collect any sign-up details; the account is created on iFoster's site.
Where:
Nationwide; the account, offers and training are managed entirely by iFoster.
Who:
Caregivers of children and youth in foster care and kinship care; check iFoster's own sign-up for current eligibility.
Cost:
Free account; ReMade in America clothing kits are free.
How to Access:
Create the free account yourself on iFoster's website — HelpFosterYouth.org collects no sign-up details. The training modules and clothing marketplace are inside the account.
See iFoster's Caregiver Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
House of Hope Foster Closet (Always Endure)
VERIFIED
Free Wish-List Supplies and Backpack of Hope
Foster and kinship families request needed items for the children and teens in their care through a wish-list form. Every request receives a Backpack of Hope with basic toiletries and some school supplies; requested items are brand new.
Where:
Lincoln, Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Marshall and Moore counties in Tennessee, and Madison, Jackson and Limestone counties in Alabama only.
Who:
Foster and kinship families living in the listed Tennessee and Alabama counties.
Cost:
Free; fulfillment of the full wish list is not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Complete the wish-list form on the official page; it asks for caregiver contact details, social worker contact and the child's sizes and needs. This is a wish list — the provider does its best but cannot guarantee every requested item. Questions go to the provider's listed email.
See the Wish List Form
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
The CALL in Arkansas
VERIFIED
Free Foster Care Closet in Benton
A physical foster care closet in Benton offering clothing, shoes, baby and toddler supplies and other items for children in foster care.
Where:
Physical closet at 2010 Military Road, Benton, Arkansas (Saline County); do not assume statewide access.
Who:
Children in foster care; appointments available for children in foster care outside open hours.
Cost:
Free for children in foster care.
How to Access:
Visit during open hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, Saturdays 9:00–10:00 AM) or make an appointment for children in foster care. Call or text 501-574-2364 for information.
See Closet Hours and Location
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Hope's Closet Kentucky
VERIFIED
Free Clothing Closet for Foster and Kinship Children
A free clothing closet in Louisville for children in Kentucky foster care, children adopted from foster care, kinship placements, former foster youth and at-risk families. New placements receive up to 20 articles of clothing plus shoes and other supplies based on availability.
Where:
Louisville, Kentucky storefront at 3936 Taylorsville Road; serves Kentucky foster, kinship and adoptive families who can shop in person.
Who:
Kentucky foster children, children adopted from foster care, kinship placements (relative and fictive), former foster youth, families DCBS has labeled at-risk, and privately adopted children. Proof listing the caregiver and child is required to shop (foster parent form 111A, subsidy reimbursement, court custody papers, adoption decree or similar).
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Call (502) 299-2397 one hour before the shop opens to make an appointment; walk-ins are not allowed. Bring your paperwork. Current hours are Saturdays 9 AM–1 PM and Sundays 12–3 PM; emergency placement shopping times are accommodated.
Read the Shopping FAQ
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Foster Families Assistance Network (FFAN)
VERIFIED
Free Resource Center for Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Families
A resource center where foster, kinship and adoptive families select clothing, personal care items, undergarments, toys and other essentials at no cost. FFAN also networks urgent placement needs through social media to gather items quickly.
Where:
Resource center at 13 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 100, Hendersonville, Tennessee (Sumner County); wider coverage beyond Sumner County is not confirmed.
Who:
Foster, kinship and adoptive families.
Cost:
Items are provided at no cost to families.
How to Access:
Visit the Hendersonville resource center or contact FFAN through its website, Facebook page or ffanunited@gmail.com with the need.
See FFAN's Resource Center
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Shepherd's Closet at LifePoint Church
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Hygiene Items and School Supplies
New or gently used age-appropriate clothing, new personal hygiene items and school supplies for children in the foster care system, at no cost.
Where:
Rutherford County, Tennessee (Murfreesboro); the closet operates on Thursdays.
Who:
Children in the foster care system in Rutherford County.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Contact Ruth Meyer at 615-418-2088 or ruthammeyer@gmail.com for information or to arrange help.
See Shepherd's Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Redwood Empire Foster Parent Association
VERIFIED
Blue Bag Program for Children Entering Foster Care
Each child entering foster care receives a new duffel bag filled with new season- and size-appropriate clothes and a few toys, which becomes the child's own property.
Where:
Sonoma County, California foster care community.
Who:
Children entering foster care in Sonoma County.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Contact REFPA through its official site; the association works with the Sonoma County foster care community.
See the Blue Bag Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Foster Love LA
VERIFIED
Emergency Placement Essentials Delivered
For relative families facing an emergency placement, Foster Love LA hand-delivers essentials and keeps goods on hand including clothing in sizes 0–5T, requestable through the form on its website. It also hosts quarterly events for foster moms and helps link families to resources.
Where:
Los Angeles County, California.
Who:
Relative and foster families in Los Angeles County, especially emergency placements.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Request items through the request form on the official website.
Request Essentials
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Hope's Closet (Ohio)
VERIFIED
Free Boutique for Children in Foster Care
A boutique stocking new and gently used essentials where children in foster care choose their own clothes, shoes and personal items — typically 10–14 days of clothes per child, 2–3 pairs of shoes and seasonal items. Foster parents can also stock up on baby gear, and foster parent support, training and community events are offered.
Where:
West Chester Township, Ohio (Butler County); serves the surrounding foster care community.
Who:
Foster children with open case plans and their foster parents.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Call (513) 860-4673 or email info@hopesclosetohio.org for a shopping appointment; families are guided by Shopping Assistants. Open Monday–Thursday 9–4, Friday 9–12.
See the Boutique
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Jack's Closet (Clough United Methodist Church)
VERIFIED
Free Clothing and Essentials for Foster and Kinship Families
Children in foster and kinship care receive clothing, underwear, shoes and more; every first-time child gets a "Jack's Sack" backpack with age-appropriate personal items and a toy, game or craft. Families can return when seasons change or sizes change.
Where:
Anderson Township, Cincinnati, Ohio (Hamilton County), at 2010 Wolfangel Road.
Who:
Children in foster and kinship care and their families.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Visit during open hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays) or contact jackscloset@cloughchurch.org / (513) 607-0514.
See Jack's Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Joy Closet
VERIFIED
Free Tangible Items for Foster, Kinship and Crisis Children
Tangible items for foster children, kinship children and children in crisis, plus support activities for foster, kinship and birth parents and help with items needed for reunification.
Where:
Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and Trigg counties, Kentucky; mailing address 814 Belmont St, Hopkinsville.
Who:
Foster, kinship and kids-in-crisis families in the nine served counties.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Shop during open hours (Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM); check the provider's social media for closures and changes.
See Joy Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
The CALL in Northwest Arkansas
VERIFIED
Resource Closets, Mental Health Support and Visitation Spaces
Two resource closets with free diapers, wipes, clothing, toys, freezer meals, bedding, shoes and beds for foster families; therapist-led support groups and free counseling sessions for foster and adoptive families; and two homelike family visitation spaces.
Where:
Northwest Arkansas (Washington and Benton county area locations).
Who:
Families engaged in foster care in Northwest Arkansas; counseling also open to adoptive families.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Contact The CALL in NWA through its official site to access a closet, join a support group or arrange counseling.
See The CALL in NWA
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
The Life House
VERIFIED
Tangible Goods for Foster and Adoptive Families
A DeSoto County initiative providing essential tangible goods to foster and adoptive families so they can focus on the child instead of chasing down necessities.
Where:
DeSoto County, Mississippi.
Who:
Foster and adoptive families in DeSoto County.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Contact The Life House through its official website.
See The Life House
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Mission West Virginia
VERIFIED
Foster Closet Locations Across West Virginia
A maintained list of church and community foster closets across West Virginia — including Beckley/Mt. Hope, Bridgeport, Buckhannon, Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling and more — offering free car seats, diapers, clothes, shoes and hygiene items when children are placed in care. Individual closet hours and eligibility vary by location and are set by each local provider.
Where:
West Virginia; closets are run locally by churches and organizations in the listed communities.
Who:
Caregivers of children in foster care; each closet sets its own visit rules.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Use the official list to find the closet nearest you and contact that location directly using the phone, email or link shown.
Find a WV Foster Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
VERIFIED
Idaho Clothing, Supplies and Local Help for Resource Families
The state's resource-family page names local programs: The Essentials Project care packages, Parker's Closet, The Closet (Ada County teens), The Wardrobe (Meridian pickup), The Village closet for 16 southeastern counties, Clothes Helpers in Twin Falls, plus a free Idaho State Parks pass for resource families. Each program sets its own area and rules.
Where:
Statewide Idaho list; each listed program serves only its own area (for example, The Village serves 16 southeastern counties and The Closet serves Ada County teens).
Who:
Idaho resource (foster) families; some programs also serve kinship families. Check each program's rules.
Cost:
Listed items are free.
How to Access:
Contact each program using the details on the official page; ask your Resource Family Specialist about the State Parks pass.
See Idaho Local Help
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
CarePortal
Placement Essentials Through an Agency Referral
AGENCY REFERRAL — LOCAL AVAILABILITY VARIES
CarePortal connects approved child welfare agencies with local churches and community partners to help meet needs such as beds, clothing, and other essentials. If your family needs assistance, ask your caseworker or participating agency whether CarePortal is available in your area. To help meet needs, visit CarePortal to explore opportunities.
Where:
Agency referral network; availability varies by local implementing partner and active county. Not a local closet, universal county coverage or guaranteed assistance.
Who:
Families with needs identified by an approved participating agency, including foster and kinship placements and family preservation or reunification. Agency approval and local responders are required; not an open application.
Cost:
Information is free to browse; supplies, funding and fulfillment are not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Only approved agencies and caseworkers submit vetted needs. Foster parents, kinship caregivers and youth cannot submit their own private requests. Ask your caseworker or participating agency about local availability. Do not send private case details to Help Foster Youth.
Explore CarePortal
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fostering Family Hope, Inc.
VERIFIED
Free Foster Closet and New-Placement Care Bags
Free clothing, shoes and basic essentials in preemie through teen sizes. Care bags for children entering care include clothing, hygiene supplies and comfort items.
Where:
Connecticut only for care-bag requests; closet shopping by appointment in Wallingford. No out-of-state service is promised.
Who:
Closet: children in care, foster and reunited families. Care bags: children entering care, requested by caseworkers, foster or relative/kinship families; other needs require a shopping appointment.
Cost:
Clothing, shoes and basic essentials are free of charge; availability depends on donated inventory.
How to Access:
Email fosteringfamilyhope@gmail.com to arrange a visit, or request a care bag on the official page. The provider requests caregiver contact and child age/size details; Help Foster Youth does not collect them. The current page lists 31 Hall Ave, Wallingford, CT 06492. A 2026 relocation announcement has not been confirmed; verify the address before traveling.
Ask About Closet or Care Bags
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
The Village Foster Family & Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Foster Closet Shopping
Clothing, shoes, toys, hygiene products and baby equipment for children in foster care, at no cost to their foster families.
Where:
Children in foster care throughout New Jersey are welcome. Primary closet pickup is in Point Pleasant; this does not promise statewide delivery or other branches.
Who:
New Jersey foster families caring for children in foster care. The source does not establish eligibility for all adoptive or informal kinship households.
Cost:
All resources are provided at no cost to foster families; items depend on available inventory.
How to Access:
Email thevillagefostercloset@gmail.com or call 732-451-4452 to request a shopping appointment. Current contact page: 2431 Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant, NJ; Wednesday 9–11 and by appointment. Confirm shopping time and inventory before traveling.
Arrange Foster Closet Shopping
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fostering Connections — North Alabama Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Free Essentials at North Alabama Foster Closet
Free clothing, shoes, toiletries, linens and baby equipment for foster, adoptive and kinship families.
Where:
Huntsville and surrounding areas, with appointment pickup in Harvest. The provider welcomes families willing to drive; no county boundary, delivery service or travel-time eligibility cutoff is claimed.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship caregivers. Documentation is required; ask which placement or caregiver records to bring.
Cost:
All items are free; confirm supplies and sizes with the provider.
How to Access:
Request items using the provider's form, or call 256-836-4714 / email info@fostering-connections.org. Appointments are necessary. Visit 5510 Highway 53, Harvest, AL 35749 only after arranging pickup; posted donation drop-off hours are not shopping hours. The provider handles any request details, not Help Foster Youth.
Request a Closet Appointment
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Birth Brite Company Inc.
VERIFIED
Free Essentials at Birth Brite Foster Closet
Free new and gently used clothing, shoes, baby gear, books, toys, diapers and wipes for children in foster care or residing outside their parental home.
Where:
Michigan foster-care resource based in Jackson; closet visits by appointment. Pickup or delivery must be arranged directly; no statewide delivery or county eligibility boundary is promised.
Who:
Children placed in foster care and children residing outside their parental home, with their caregivers. Ask the provider about your placement and any required paperwork; the site does not state universal adoptive-family eligibility.
Cost:
Items are entirely free, with no exchange required; items are yours to keep, not loans.
How to Access:
Call 517-769-0996 or email contactus@birthbrite.org to arrange access. Physical closet: 1410 W Ganson St, Jackson, MI 49202; hours by appointment. The 1737 Spring Arbor Road mailing address is not the closet. Confirm inventory and any delivery limits before traveling.
Arrange Birth Brite Assistance
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster Together (formerly South County Foster Closet)
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Welcome Kits, Car Seats and Beds
Free clothing and essentials, new-placement Welcome Kits, and conditional Safe Seats and Safe Slumber assistance from one Arnold-based organization.
Where:
St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County for Welcome Kit delivery, car seats and beds. Other eligible families may arrange Arnold or South County pickup; no wider delivery is promised.
Who:
Foster and kinship families; adoptive and guardianship families in their first year of permanency; crisis and reunifying families through their caseworker. Placement paperwork is required every time. Welcome Kits: placement within 14 days; car-seat/bed requests: within 5 days, with program-specific approval and availability.
Cost:
Clothing, kits and eligible car seats/beds are free; assistance is not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Call or text 314-789-3340 or email info@foster-together.org. Boutique: 35 Fox Valley Center, Arnold, MO 63010. Walk-in and appointment options are published; confirm hours before traveling because Wednesday closing times differ on the page. Refresher Kits are available twice yearly per child for placements over 14 days and require pickup. Safe Seats: primary caregiver, one request per child per six months; Safe Slumber: one bed per child, including prior caregivers' requests. Items belong to the child and normally transfer with them. Funding and inventory may prevent fulfillment.
See Caregiver Access Options
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Quest for Grace Foundation
VERIFIED
Free Seasonal Clothing With Caseworker Verification
Free clothes, toys and infant equipment for eligible Upstate New York foster children; each child may receive six outfits and other essentials, subject to inventory.
Where:
All counties in Upstate New York, as stated by the provider; appointment pickup at 802 Union Street, Schenectady. No county-by-county boundary, statewide admission or shipping is inferred.
Who:
Children in an Upstate New York foster home with a foster-parent license in good standing, after the 72-hour hearing confirms they remain in care. Also eligible: caregivers age 65 or older granted custody of grandchildren through DSS, and relatives caring for children in DSS custody in approved-relative foster homes. A child is excluded when biological parents' rights have been terminated and the same foster parents are adopting the child.
Cost:
Clothes, toys and eligible infant equipment are free, subject to availability and eligibility.
How to Access:
Call 518-301-5662 for an appointment, then ask the caseworker to call or email michele@questforgrace.org to verify the child's status. Provide the caseworker's name, county and DSS papers. Two visits a year: summer March–September and winter September–March. Infants may receive clothing as they grow through size 12 months, then twice yearly. Confirm current appointment availability and eligible items before traveling.
Read Eligibility and Arrange a Visit
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Joy Meadows
VERIFIED
Free Clothing Closet at Joy Meadows
Free clothing, shoes, coats and seasonal essentials for children in foster, adoptive, kinship and biological families impacted by foster care.
Where:
Kansas City area; current campus in Linwood, Kansas. Exact county eligibility is not published, so no statewide or county ZIP coverage is added. The Kansas City, Kansas campus is coming soon, not an active second closet.
Who:
Families impacted by foster care, regardless of finances. Guidelines allow one visit per child monthly and new socks/underwear quarterly unless exceptions are approved. Reintegrating biological families provide a foster-placement name or caseworker contact; support lasts through agency after-care or one year after reintegration, whichever is longer. Caregiver name and child age/gender are requested by the provider; placement papers may be requested for repeated visits.
Cost:
Clothing is free. No claim of free therapy or other Joy Meadows programs.
How to Access:
Call 913-347-2476 or email clothing@joymeadows.org to arrange shopping at 12400 170th Street, Linwood, KS 66052. Business-hours shopping, monthly Second Saturday events May–December, and requested pickup bags are offered. The website says weekdays 9–4 while September 28, 2026 guidelines say 9–5; confirm hours directly. No mandatory membership is stated. Help Foster Youth does not collect request information.
See Clothing Closet Access
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster the Love Louisiana
VERIFIED
Free Clothing at Foster Community Closets
Free new and gently used clothing for foster children at the Broussard headquarters and three appointment-based pop-up closets; seasonal coats and uniforms are also described.
Where:
Acadiana: Lafayette, Iberia, St. Mary, St. Martin, St. Landry, Evangeline, Acadia and Vermilion parishes. This is the organization's stated service area, not all South Louisiana or guaranteed delivery.
Who:
Certified foster homes, kinship placements and birth parents in the family services program in the eight stated parishes. Confirm eligibility and any documents directly; the page does not list a universal adoption or informal-kinship rule.
Cost:
Closet clothing is free. Bags, mattresses and other assistance require separate confirmation.
How to Access:
Broussard: 113 Jared Drive, LA 70518; call 337-205-2155 or email connect@fosterthelovela.org for current hours or appointments. Linked pop-ups: Crowley/First Baptist Church, 337-304-9894, acadia@fosterthelovela.org; Berwick/First Baptist Church, 985-221-3490, stmary@fosterthelovela.org; Opelousas/CASA St Landry-Evangeline, 337-948-3550, casastlandryevangelineinc@gmail.com. Pop-up visits require appointments; no unverified street addresses or independent provider copies are added. First Night Bags and Firm Foundations beds are separate programs on the same source page; their cost and approval rules are not promised by this free-clothing listing.
See Closet Locations and Contacts
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Foster the Village
VERIFIED
Free Foster Placement Essentials in Brown County
Free clothing, shoes, diapers and care items for children birth–18 placed in foster care in Brown County.
Where:
Brown County, Wisconsin only. This Green Bay organization is not Foster Village Austin, Charlotte or the Texas organizations.
Who:
Children birth–18 in Brown County who have been placed in foster care. The provider does not separately establish informal kinship or adoption eligibility; ask about your placement and required paperwork.
Cost:
Clothing, shoes, diapers and other care items are explicitly free; inventory is not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Call 920-600-6670 to confirm access and stock. 1440 Division Street, Green Bay, WI 54303, Door #1. Published hours Monday–Thursday and Saturday 9–11:30 am, or by appointment. No account requirement is stated, but complete intake details are not published; confirm before traveling.
Contact the Brown County Closet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Chosen — The Family Closet, Waukesha
VERIFIED
No-Cost Shopping at The Family Closet
Clothing, shoes, baby essentials, toys and adaptive equipment for eligible foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship families.
Where:
Southeastern Wisconsin, with appointment shopping in Waukesha. No county list or statewide admission is inferred; a future mobile closet is not listed as an active branch.
Who:
Families with current foster placements; adoptive, kinship and guardianship families facing financial challenges due to their placements. Confirm program-specific eligibility and stock directly.
Cost:
Eligible families shop at no cost; items depend on availability.
How to Access:
New families or case managers complete the provider's intake request and are contacted to schedule the first appointment. This is service intake, not a stated membership requirement. All shopping is by appointment at 400 Travis Lane #30, Waukesha, WI 53189. Emergency placements/needs: amalie@choseninlove.org or 262-724-6736. Send intake information only to Chosen, never to Help Foster Youth.
See Family Closet Access
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fairfax County Foster Care & Adoption Association — The Closet
VERIFIED
Fairfax Foster Closet — Confirm Placement Access
County-documented free new and gently used gear, clothing and toys for foster parents and kinship-relative families receiving a placement.
Where:
Fairfax County placement support; not Herndon's similarly named thrift store or a Formed Families Forward service.
Who:
Foster parents and kinship-relative families when they receive a placement. Other kinship arrangements or out-of-county admissions are not established. County source updated December 2023; confirm present inventory and eligibility before relying on it.
Cost:
The county describes eligible placement goods at no charge; availability and access must be confirmed.
How to Access:
Ask your child's Fairfax foster care specialist about current closet access, or use the association's linked contact form. No pickup address, walk-in hours or closet-specific phone is verified, so none is assigned and no ZIP availability is promised. The county page says car seats are not available; an older association donation wish list mentions new car seats but does not establish that they can currently be received.
Read County Closet Information
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Traders Point Christian Church
VERIFIED
Free Placement Essentials at Traders Point
Diapers, wipes, car seats, beds and baby gear at no cost for foster, adoptive and kinship families, and child welfare workers.
Where:
Pickup at the Northwest campus in Whitestown, Indiana, near Zionsville. The provider does not publish county admission boundaries or statewide delivery; this is a pickup resource, not a Boone County eligibility claim.
Who:
Foster parents, adoptive parents and kinship placements. The official resource page also names child welfare workers. Availability and any additional requirements are confirmed by the provider.
Cost:
Requested essentials are provided at no cost, subject to availability; no immediate pickup or delivery is guaranteed.
How to Access:
Use the provider's Resource Center Request or email outreach@tpcc.org. Allow 3–5 business days for processing and assembly; pickup instructions follow when ready. Pickup address: 6590 South Indianapolis Road, Whitestown, IN 46075. The request page asks for caregiver contact details but shows no required account. Enter request information only with the provider; Help Foster Youth does not collect it. A form protection check may need to be completed in your browser.
See Resource Center Request Options
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Cape Cod Foster Closet — Nurturing Foster Families, Inc.
VERIFIED
Free Essentials at Orleans and East Falmouth Closets
Free clothing, shoes, toiletries and baby gear for children ages 0–19, with two actual stores under one organization. East Falmouth has less infant/toddler furniture than Orleans.
Where:
Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts, as stated by the organization. No county boundary or statewide eligibility is inferred from either store address; confirm your locality directly.
Who:
Foster, pre-adoptive and kinship caregivers; also guardianship, temporary guardianship, informal or other custody of non-biological children, including families without agency involvement. Ask about current inventory and any documents before traveling.
Cost:
All material goods described by the closet are free; no required membership is stated for ordinary shopping.
How to Access:
Call/text 508-514-7125 or email info@capecodfostercloset.org. Orleans: 195 Route 6A, Unit 3, MA 02653; Monday/Wednesday 2–4 pm, Tuesday 9 am–2 pm, first Saturday 10 am–noon. East Falmouth: UU Fellowship of Falmouth, 840 Sandwich Road, MA 02536, rear entrance; Thursday 10 am–noon. Homepage also lists second Monday 3:30–6 pm and fourth Saturday 12:30–3 pm there; confirm those extra sessions directly. Visit during open hours or arrange an appointment. Optional packing requests use a separate form per child; event preregistration is not required for ordinary store visits. Supplies are not guaranteed.
See Closet Locations and Access
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
The Pass Along Project
VERIFIED
Free Clothing Kits for New NH Placements
Free clothing kits for children newly placed with a foster family, relative/kinship provider or residential group home in New Hampshire.
Where:
Children placed in New Hampshire only. Most eastern NH areas have volunteer delivery; other NH areas use USPS or UPS. A mailing address is not a walk-in closet.
Who:
New placements within the last 14 days. Ongoing clothing needs and specific-item requests are directed to a separate thrift program; its price and eligibility are not certified by this free-kit listing.
Cost:
The new-placement clothing kit is free; availability and arrival time are not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Read the official request page or call 603-817-9011; email Info@ThePassAlongProject.com. Submit one provider form per delivery address, not per child. Requests are answered within 24 hours; that is not a guaranteed delivery time. Shipped packages usually arrive in 1–2 business days. The provider asks for delivery contact and clothing sizes; no account is shown. Submit those details only to the provider. Help Foster Youth collects none. PO Box 178, Effingham, NH 03882 is mailing only.
Read New-Placement Kit Request Rules
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
USDA — WIC
VERIFIED
WIC Food and Nutrition Help for Children Under 5
Healthy foods, nutrition education and referrals for eligible infants and children. Caregivers can apply for a child; local WIC staff confirm eligibility and complete a nutrition assessment before enrollment.
Where:
National program administered through state, territorial and tribal WIC agencies. The agency finder is not proof of an available local appointment or approved benefits.
Who:
Children younger than 5. The federal eligibility tool treats each foster child as a separate household/economic unit, apart from the caregiver household; check each child separately. Informal kinship arrangements must be assessed under the applicable WIC rules. Foster placement alone is not completed enrollment.
Cost:
Free assessment and WIC benefits for approved participants; benefits are not guaranteed before assessment.
How to Access:
Choose a state, territory or tribal agency in the official Find WIC Near You list and ask for your local clinic's enrollment steps and required documents. WIC staff provide the required free health/nutrition assessment. The federal eligibility tool is a preliminary check, not an application approval; the model online application is guidance for agencies, not where families enroll. Submit any child details only to the WIC agency, never Help Foster Youth.
Find My WIC Agency Read WIC Eligibility
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
USDA School Meal Programs — USAGov Guidance
VERIFIED
Free School Meals for Children in Foster Care
Children in foster care under a foster agency's or court's legal responsibility qualify for free meals through participating school meal programs. Contact the school nutrition office to arrange certification.
Where:
National school meal programs, administered by participating schools and districts. This guide is not a meal provider or a list of verified local schools.
Who:
Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court. This does not automatically qualify informal kinship placements or other children in the household; they may qualify through other meal-program rules.
Cost:
Free eligible school meals once the school confirms or certifies eligibility.
How to Access:
Ask the child's school or district nutrition office whether foster status is already directly certified. If not, ask for the meal application and the court/agency documentation it needs. Apply at the beginning of the year or whenever circumstances change. Give placement documents only to the school, not this site.
Read School Meal Eligibility
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
P48
VERIFIED
Essential Bags — Agency Referral
New clothing, shoes, hygiene and personal-care essentials for youth entering foster care. P48 aims to distribute bags quickly, often within 48 hours, depending on availability—not a guaranteed deadline.
Where:
Partner-based distribution described across the Portland Metro area and Pacific Northwest. Exact eligible counties and delivery boundaries are not published; ask your caseworker to confirm participation before requesting. Not nationwide or all-county coverage.
Who:
Youth ages 7–23 entering foster care. Requests are only through caseworkers, DHS staff or approved partner organizations; caregivers do not order directly.
Cost:
No cost to youth or caregivers.
How to Access:
Ask your caseworker or participating agency to confirm delivery eligibility and use P48's official order form. Partners having access trouble should contact P48. Share child or delivery details only with the agency/provider, never Help Foster Youth.
Read Agency Request Rules
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Fostering Hope for Children Inc.
VERIFIED
Free Clothing, Blankets and School Supplies
Free clothing and new blankets for children entering care; school backpacks and supplies while available. December gifts and teen gift cards depend on donations. Caregiver gift cards are described at monthly foster-parent association meetings, not unrestricted cash assistance.
Where:
Northeast Indiana: Allen, Adams, Wells, Huntington, Whitley, Noble, DeKalb, LaGrange and Steuben counties, explicitly named on the organization's About Us page. Not Indiana-wide.
Who:
Children in foster care, kinship care and children in need. A program age cutoff is not stated; clothing donation sizes are not an eligibility limit.
Cost:
The clothing, blanket and school-supply programs are explicitly free. Supplies and gift cards depend on inventory and donations.
How to Access:
Contact 260-249-5292 or fhforc@gmail.com to confirm current stock, any documents and how to receive items. Pickup, delivery and agency requirements are not published; arrange access before traveling. PO Box 15091, Fort Wayne, IN 46885 is mailing only. Help Foster Youth collects no child details.
Check Free Supplies and Access
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.

Resource 1 of 61

Respite and Caregiver Support

AdoptUSKids
VERIFIED
Foster-Parent Support and Respite Guidance
Read guidance on preventing burnout, seeking support, accessing training and understanding your rights. Use it to discuss respite and support with your placing agency.
Where:
Online guidance for U.S. foster parents; not a local respite provider or funding program.
Who:
Current foster parents seeking practical support information.
Cost:
No-cost online reading. Local respite care costs are not confirmed or promised free.
How to Access:
Read the public guidance without an account. Ask your agency about approved respite options, eligibility and availability; this link does not book a caregiver.
Read Foster-Parent Support
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
ARCH National Respite Network & Resource Center
VERIFIED
Find Respite Care Near You
Search the National Respite Locator Service by state, with an optional ZIP and distance, to find respite providers and state respite programs. ARCH does not check providers' backgrounds or references, and the list is not complete.
Where:
Nationwide search tool; ARCH does not provide respite care itself.
Who:
Family caregivers seeking short-term relief, including foster parents.
Cost:
Free to search. Provider costs vary and are not promised free.
How to Access:
Search the locator without an account. Contact providers directly or through your State Respite Coalition, and arrange respite through your placing agency when required. Provider costs and rules vary and are not promised free.
Search the Respite Locator
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Parent & Youth Helpline
VERIFIED
Free 24/7 Support Line for Caregivers
Call or text 855-427-2736 or use live chat for free, confidential emotional support and guidance from trained specialists, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Where:
Nationwide phone, text and live chat line.
Who:
Parents, caregivers and others seeking support, including foster caregivers.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Operated by Parents Anonymous. Always free. This is support and guidance, not a substitute for emergency services; for immediate danger use the crisis resources on the Crisis Help page.
Visit the Helpline
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
OhioKAN
VERIFIED
Free Kinship and Adoption Navigator Line
Talk with a Navigator one on one about benefits, childcare, education, financial assistance and legal aid for the child you are raising in Ohio.
Where:
Ohio kinship and adoptive families; the service is reached by phone across the state.
Who:
Kinship and adoptive families in Ohio. The official page describes the service for these families and does not list a foster-license requirement.
Cost:
The official page states OhioKAN is a 100% free service.
How to Access:
Call (844) OHIOKAN / (844) 644-6526, Monday–Friday 8:30am–6:30pm. No account is needed to call.
Call the Navigator Line
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
PSS Circle of Care
VERIFIED
Free Kinship Caregiver Hotline and Support
Call or text a caregiver hotline for free help with adoption and guardianship options, support groups and caregiver workshops.
Where:
Bronx, Manhattan and Queens in New York City. The official page names these three boroughs only, not the other boroughs or the rest of New York State.
Who:
A grandparent or other family member (not the parent) raising a child 18 and under, or a child under 18 being raised by a grandparent or other relative.
Cost:
The official page states support is provided at no cost.
How to Access:
Call or text the toll-free caregiver hotline (866) 665-1713. Temporary time off and some other services are listed as available only where available.
Call or Text the Hotline
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Epworth Children's Home
VERIFIED
Free Kinship Navigator Help and Resource Closet
A kinship advocate can help you apply for financial assistance such as TANF, work through guardianship steps and access items from a no-cost resource closet.
Where:
The Midlands and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina, with resource centers in Columbia and Hartsville.
Who:
Grandparents, relatives or close family friends caring for someone else's child in those regions.
Cost:
The official page states the support is free and closet items are no-cost.
How to Access:
Call the kinship helpline 1-888-561-2932, Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. The page then directs families to visit an Epworth Kinship Resource Center.
Call the Kinship Helpline
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
VERIFIED
Free Kinship Support Specialists
Connect one on one with a Kinship Family Support Specialist about any concern placing stress on your family, with staff who have raised kinship children themselves.
Where:
Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Tompkins counties in New York.
Who:
Relative kinship caregivers with formal or informal custody or guardianship of children in those eight counties.
Cost:
The official page states the program's services are provided free of charge.
How to Access:
Use the public self-referral form on the official page — you do not need an account to ask for help. The coalition also runs a free 24/7 New York State helpline, 1-888-804-3575.
Ask for Support
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
New York State Kinship Navigator
VERIFIED
Free Statewide Kinship Navigator Line
Get information on financial assistance, legal information and referrals, plus county-by-county resources, when you are raising a child who is not your own.
Where:
All 62 counties of New York State, with county resource pages on the official site.
Who:
Non-parent caregivers raising a child in New York State.
Cost:
The organization's own publication states the navigator's help is free.
How to Access:
Call 877-454-6463, Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, or use the county pages on the official site. TTY: New York Relay 711 or 1-800-421-1220. This is information and referral help, not a promise of cash benefits or a lawyer.
Call the Navigator
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
California Family Urgent Response System (FURS)
VERIFIED
Free 24/7 Help Line for Caregivers
Call, text or use the live chat any time for immediate, private help — whether you need someone to listen, are working through a difficult situation, or need help finding resources.
Where:
Statewide California; local teams provide in-person support in each county.
Who:
Current and former foster youth and their caregivers in California.
Cost:
Free to use.
How to Access:
Call or text 833-939-3877 or use the live online chat; no registration is needed. Help is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Call or Text FURS
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
California Department of Social Services with Think of Us
VERIFIED
California Kinship Navigator
Free help by phone, text or email finding services, plus an online resource finder by ZIP, in English and Spanish.
Where:
Statewide California.
Who:
Kinship caregivers (relatives and close family friends raising a child) and current and former foster youth. Not a general service for non-relative foster parents.
Cost:
The navigator service is free; services it refers you to may have their own costs.
How to Access:
Call 619-505-3950 or use the request form or resource finder on the official site. No account needed to browse the finder.
Get Kinship Help
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
FPAWS
VERIFIED
Foster Parent Association of Washington State
Statewide support line, education and advocacy for foster, adoptive and kinship families.
Where:
Statewide Washington.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship families in Washington.
Cost:
Membership is free; some conferences or events may differ.
How to Access:
Call 800-391-2273 or visit the official site. No referral needed.
Contact FPAWS
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
California CDSS kinship resources
VERIFIED
Kinship Support Services Program (Some Counties)
Free county-run support for kinship families; available only in participating counties.
Where:
Some California counties only; varies by county.
Who:
Kinship caregivers in a participating county.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Check the CDSS kinship resources page and contact your county.
See California Kinship Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
The Alliance with Washington DCYF
VERIFIED
Free Caregiver Training and Peer Mentors (Alliance CaRES)
Free training for foster parents and kinship caregivers, plus CaRES peer mentors, online and local support groups and events.
Where:
Statewide Washington.
Who:
Current foster parents and kinship caregivers in Washington; training is also open to future caregivers.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
CaRES mentors reach out at key points or when you contact them. Class registration uses a free account on the Alliance website; Help Foster Youth collects no sign-up details.
See Training and CaRES
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center
VERIFIED
Free Post-Adoption and Guardianship Support (ORPARC)
Free, confidential support for adoptive and guardianship families, including family support specialists and parent support groups.
Where:
Statewide Oregon; some groups meet virtually.
Who:
Adoptive families of any kind parenting Oregon children, and assisted guardianship families; some groups have their own rules.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Call 800-764-8367 or visit the official groups page. No referral needed.
See ORPARC Support Groups
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
The Arc of Washington
VERIFIED
Parent to Parent Support for Children With Special Needs
Connects parents and caregivers of children with special health or developmental needs with trained support parents and local coordinators.
Where:
Statewide Washington, through local coordinators.
Who:
Parents and caregivers of children with special health or developmental concerns. Open to all families, not only foster families.
Cost:
There is no cost for this service.
How to Access:
Contact the program manager at 509-907-0873 or parent2parentwa@arcwa.org, or find your local coordinator on the official page.
Find a Local Coordinator
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Washington State Parks
VERIFIED
Free Foster Family Pass for State Parks
Free camping (one site per night) and free day-use parking at Washington state parks when you visit with the child in your care.
Where:
Washington state parks only; Washington residents.
Who:
Washington residents who are foster parents, caregivers or kinship families. Proof of residency and caregiver status is required.
Cost:
Free to apply; free camping and day-use parking.
How to Access:
Apply by email, mail or fax using the official page; questions 360-902-8844. Caregiver and child must visit together. Cabins, yurts and extra vehicles are not covered; replacement passes cost $15.
See How to Apply
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
California State Foster Parent Association
VERIFIED
Find a Local Foster Parent Association Chapter
Search for the nearest local chapter by city or ZIP for peer support and advocacy.
Where:
California only.
Who:
Foster parents in California.
Cost:
The chapter finder is free to use; membership costs are not confirmed.
How to Access:
Use the chapter finder on the official page, then contact the chapter. Membership dues were not confirmed; ask the chapter.
Find a Chapter
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Indiana Department of Child Services
VERIFIED
Indiana Kinship Financial Help
Clothing allotments, personal and special-occasion allowances, and travel and child care reimbursement for relative caregivers.
Where:
Indiana only.
Who:
Unlicensed relative placements caring for children under DCS care and supervision.
Cost:
State financial help; amounts set by DCS policy.
How to Access:
Contact your family case manager or relative support specialist; submit the direct-deposit form, W-9 and receipts for reimbursement.
See Indiana Kinship Help
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
County of San Diego Child and Family Well-Being
VERIFIED
Approved Respite Care (34 Hours a Month)
County-approved respite of up to 34 hours a month for appointments, trainings, support groups or self-care.
Where:
San Diego County, California.
Who:
Foster parents and kinship caregivers with at least one San Diego County dependent child ages 0-17 placed with them. Care must come from a county-certified respite provider.
Cost:
Not stated on the county page; ask when you request.
How to Access:
Email CFWBRespite.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov or call Kidsline 1-877-792-5437.
See Respite Rules
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Washington DCYF
VERIFIED
Respite Care for Foster and Kinship Caregivers
DCYF-arranged respite so caregivers can take a break, including certified kinship respite.
Where:
Washington; children in DCYF or Tribal custody.
Who:
Licensed foster parents and unlicensed relatives caring for children in DCYF or Tribal custody. Providers must be DCYF-licensed, certified or approved by the caseworker; a general respite listing is not enough.
Cost:
Arranged and paid through DCYF when approved; exchange respite between caregivers is unpaid.
How to Access:
Email the child's caseworker and regional placement desk, ideally 14 days ahead. People who live in your home cannot be paid as respite providers.
See How to Request
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Lasagna Love
VERIFIED
Free Home-Cooked Meal From a Volunteer
Request one home-cooked lasagna or main dish delivered by a local volunteer. Open to any family in need, not only foster families — helpful during a new placement.
Where:
Volunteers cook in all 50 states; delivery depends on a local volunteer being available.
Who:
Anyone in need; one request per address.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Request on Lasagna Love's site, which asks for your name and address so a volunteer can deliver. Wait times vary; the volunteer texts you to arrange delivery.
Request a Meal
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.)
VERIFIED
Free Online Kinship Caregiver Support Group
Monthly Zoom group for people raising relatives or close family friends, led by child welfare professionals with lived experience as foster, adoptive and kinship parents.
Where:
Online; open from any state.
Who:
Kinship caregivers raising relatives or fictive kin.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Register for the group on C.A.S.E.'s site; it meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:00–8:30 p.m. Eastern, starting November 11, 2026.
See Group Details
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
DC Kinship Navigator (DC Child and Family Services Agency)
VERIFIED
Kinship Navigator Subsidies and Emergency Assistance
Two monthly caregiver subsidy programs — the Grandparent Caregiver Program and the Close Relative Caregiver Program — plus one-time emergency financial assistance for food, clothing, housing, utilities, furniture, household items or transportation.
Where:
District of Columbia residents only.
Who:
The Grandparent Caregiver Program serves low-income DC residents raising grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-nieces or great-nephews; the Close Relative Caregiver Program serves low-income DC residents raising siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins. Emergency assistance is short-term, one-time help, not ongoing support. Each program has its own requirements on the official site.
Cost:
Free to apply; subsidy amounts and approval depend on program requirements.
How to Access:
Apply online through the program's application portal or contact the Kinship team directly for help applying. The portal is run by the provider; Help Foster Youth collects no application details.
See the Kinship Programs
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Massachusetts Department of Children & Families
VERIFIED
Statewide Kinship Navigator
A state program helping all kinship caregivers — grandparents and other relatives, whether involved with DCF, Probate and Family Court, or informal arrangements — find and access services. Staff help navigate DTA, WIC and DCF, and connect caregivers to family resource centers, support groups, mental health and counseling, food and nutrition assistance, legal services and childcare.
Where:
Statewide across Massachusetts; help available online, by phone and live on Zoom weekdays 9 AM–12 PM.
Who:
All kinship caregivers in Massachusetts, including kinship foster parents, caregivers involved with Probate and Family Court, and families with informal caregiving arrangements.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Call 1-844-924-4546 (1-844-924-4KIN), ask the Kinship Navigator team a question through the online form, or join the live Zoom hours listed on the official page.
Contact the Kinship Navigator
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Foster Kinship
VERIFIED
Kinship Navigator Program With Helpline and Resource Centers
Free support for anyone raising a relative's or close family friend's child: a kinship helpline, an online resource locator, help applying for child-only TANF, SNAP and Medicaid, guardianship paperwork help, emergency items like clothing, diapers and food, and caregiver emotional support. Limited financial support is case-dependent, not guaranteed.
Where:
Statewide in Nevada, in English and Spanish; in-person resource centers are in Southern Nevada, while the helpline and online tools serve all Nevada ZIP codes.
Who:
Any Nevada caregiver raising a relative's or friend's child full-time — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, adult siblings, other relatives and fictive kin — whether or not the family is involved with the foster care system, including families who have adopted or have legal guardianship.
Cost:
All services are free; any financial support is limited and case-dependent.
How to Access:
Start with the Kinship Helpline (Tuesday–Thursday 9 AM–7 PM, Friday–Saturday 8 AM–4 PM; not a crisis line) or the free online Resource Locator tool on the official site.
See the Navigator Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Los Angeles County DCFS
VERIFIED
Foster Parent Resources: Funding, Food, Child Care and Respite
The county's official caregiver page covers Resource Family Funding (including pre-approval and relative caregiver funding), CalFresh food assistance, the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for short-term child care with a systems navigator, respite care, education and mental health supports.
Where:
Los Angeles County, California.
Who:
LA County resource families, foster parents and relative caregivers. The Emergency Child Care Bridge voucher covers foster children ages 0–12 and children with exceptional needs up to 21, for six months with a possible six-month extension.
Cost:
County services; no cost to ask.
How to Access:
Funding problems: call the Resource Family Helpline at 800-697-4444 or email FCHL@dcfs.lacounty.gov. To apply for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, contact your social worker.
See LA Caregiver Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Tennessee Department of Children's Services
VERIFIED
Respite Days, Mentorship and Foster Parent Advocates
Tennessee's foster care board rate includes two days of respite each month; foster parents may use friends, family members or other approved foster parents as respite providers. A Mentorship Program pairs seasoned foster parents with new or struggling resource parents, and a Foster Parent Advocacy Program assigns at least one Advocate per region for investigations, Bill of Rights and policy issues.
Where:
Statewide Tennessee, for DCS and private-provider resource parents.
Who:
Approved Tennessee resource parents (traditional and kin/relative).
Cost:
Included in the foster care board rate; no extra cost.
How to Access:
For respite arrangements, contact your Family Partnership Specialist ten business days before the placement is needed. Mentorship and Advocate help go through your DCS or agency worker.
Read the Foster Care FAQ
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Direction Home of Eastern Ohio
VERIFIED
Kinship Support Program for Caregivers 55+
One-time-per-calendar-year help for older kinship caregivers, which may include clothing, health maintenance supplies such as diapers or wipes, a mattress and box spring, resource counseling and other considered items. A free kids summer camp respite opportunity and a virtual Kinship Caregivers Connect support group are also offered.
Where:
Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula and Columbiana counties, Ohio.
Who:
Relatives age 55 or older (not the parents) who are the primary full-time caregiver, formally or informally, of a related child under 18 living in the caregiver's private residence.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Call 330-505-2352 to enroll, or complete the contact form on the official site. Services are available one time per calendar year.
See the Kinship Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
California Department of Social Services with county child welfare departments
VERIFIED
Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children
Time-limited child care vouchers and child care navigator services so children can be placed quickly with caregivers who work or attend school. Navigators help find a provider, secure a subsidized placement and plan long-term care. The program is a bridge, not an entitlement.
Where:
Participating California counties; the official page lists each county's contact agency (for example Bananas in northern Alameda, 4C's of Sonoma County, CocoKids in Contra Costa).
Who:
Approved resource families, emergency or compelling-reason family placements (often relative caregivers), and parents under juvenile court jurisdiction including nonminor dependent parents, in participating counties.
Cost:
Voucher-covered child care for eligible families; time-limited.
How to Access:
Contact your county's listed Bridge Program agency or your social worker; the official page has a county-by-county contact chart.
Find Your County Contact
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Foster Adoptive Parent Association of Northern Kentucky
VERIFIED
Care Closets, Support and Training for Foster and Adoptive Families
Care Closets with essential items, clothing, toys and games, plus support, training, family events, culturally responsive hair care resources and peer connection for foster, adoptive and kinship families, in partnership with KY DCBS.
Where:
Kentucky's Upper Northern Bluegrass Region: Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton counties.
Who:
KY DCBS foster, adoptive and kinship families in the eight served counties.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Contact fapaofnky@gmail.com or call 513-401-5773.
See FAPA of NKY
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Santa Cruz County Human Services (Foster Care and Adoptions)
VERIFIED
Respite Pay, Mentors, Counseling and Hope's Closet
The county lists supports for resource parents: respite money (up to 26 hours a month at $10 an hour), experienced resource-parent mentors, free permanency counseling through Meridian Group, free used clothing, toys and books at Hope's Closet in Santa Cruz, and help connecting to Head Start, WIC and the child care Voucher Project.
Where:
Santa Cruz County, California only.
Who:
Santa Cruz County resource parents caring for children in foster care. Respite is for occasional breaks, not regular child care. The Voucher Project is income-based; Head Start and WIC have their own rules.
Cost:
Respite is paid to the resource parent; Hope's Closet items and Meridian counseling are free.
How to Access:
Respite, mentors and Voucher Project requests: email the county contact listed on the official page. Counseling: call Meridian Group directly, no referral form needed. Hope's Closet: call first before your first visit (weekday hours listed on the page).
See Santa Cruz County Supports
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Communities Connected for Kids
VERIFIED
Caregiver Support, Donation Closets and Child Care Referrals
Florida's lead child welfare agency for four counties lists a Caregiver Support Program, 24/7 case-management lines, a Foster Allegation Support Team, local foster parent associations, mobile crisis help for children, donation closets for clothing, bedding, baby items and furniture, and Early Learning Coalition child care help.
Where:
Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties, Florida.
Who:
Licensed foster parents and relative/non-relative caregivers with children placed through Communities Connected for Kids. The Okeechobee closet (Our Village) is open to Okeechobee residents with ID.
Cost:
Free supports; child care assistance terms set by the Early Learning Coalition.
How to Access:
Call your county case-management line on the official page (after-hours numbers included). Child care help requires a referral from your dependency case manager. Closets: contact details on the official page.
See Caregiver Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Connecticut Alliance of Foster & Adoptive Families (CAFAF)
VERIFIED
24-Hour Caregiver Helpline
Confidential support by phone for caregiver questions, information and someone who understands foster, adoptive and kinship care.
Where:
Connecticut caregivers; phone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship care families in Connecticut.
Cost:
The official page says the call is toll free and confidential.
How to Access:
Call 1-888-223-2780. No account is needed to call or browse. This is caregiver support, not an emergency response line. Other CAFAF programs have their own rules and are not all promised free.
See Caregiver Support
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Delaware DHSS — Division of Social Services
VERIFIED
Kinship Care Transitional Assistance
State assistance with immediate clothing, shelter, health, safety and educational-supply needs when a related child first moves into a caregiver's home.
Where:
Delaware statewide; limited transition assistance, not a continuing foster-parent payment.
Who:
Non-parent relatives through the fifth degree caring for a child under 18. Family income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level; the child's parents cannot live in the home. The child must have moved in within 180 days of application.
Cost:
State-funded assistance, subject to eligibility and available funds; no guaranteed award or amount.
How to Access:
Call 302-255-9040, email DHSS_DSSC@delaware.gov or visit a Delaware State Service Center to discuss eligibility. The official page offers a paper application as well as ASSIST; you do not need an account to read the rules. Assistance is limited to available funds.
Check Delaware Kinship Rules
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
North Dakota Health and Human Services
VERIFIED
Kinship-ND Caregiver Support and Benefit Rules
One-on-one navigation, caregiver resources and limited reimbursement-based financial assistance, including possible help with guardianship attorney costs.
Where:
North Dakota residents; private, state and tribal kinship placements may qualify.
Who:
A child who is not your own must live with you, without the child's parent in the home. You cannot be the child's licensed foster provider. No legal rights, power of attorney, guardianship or tribal custody may qualify; this is not a benefit for every foster parent.
Cost:
Public program information is free to read. Financial assistance is limited and reimbursement-based, not automatic funding.
How to Access:
Read the official resources without an account. Email kinship@nd.gov about an application and intake. Save receipts for reimbursement; an allowance applies only to specified child-welfare cases with a caseworker. Benefits and amounts are not guaranteed.
Check Kinship-ND Eligibility
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Wisconsin Family Connections Center — Coalition for Children, Youth & Families
VERIFIED
Free Wisconsin Caregiver Information and Support
Free personalized information, referrals and support for Wisconsin foster, kinship, adoptive, guardianship and reunified families.
Where:
Wisconsin statewide. Managed statewide by the existing Coalition parent and regionally by Journeys; WiFCC is not a separate closet operator.
Who:
Individuals, families and caregivers with past or present involvement in reunification, kinship, foster care, guardianship and adoption, as confirmed by Wisconsin DCF.
Cost:
DCF confirms free information, referrals, education, support and connections; individual linked services have their own rules.
How to Access:
Call 800-762-8063 or use the public caregiver resource page to find support. Public guides do not require an account. Recorded courses may use a separate training platform; no course-account enrollment is recommended here. The foster-closet list is a separate referral list of independent providers, not proof of free access or coverage for every listed site.
Read Wisconsin Caregiver Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York (AFFCNY)
VERIFIED
Free 24/7 New York Caregiver HelpLine
Live information and problem-solving support for foster, adoptive and relative caregivers, with a free statewide phone option that does not require group membership.
Where:
New York statewide HelpLine. Separate local support groups, kinship case management and therapy have their own geographic and enrollment rules.
Who:
Foster/kinship/adoptive families and others impacted by child welfare. This caregiver listing does not move AFFCNY's other youth or helper services into family results.
Cost:
The statewide HelpLine is free. Group events, therapy and other programs are not certified free by this listing.
How to Access:
Call 888-804-3575 or alternative 888-354-1342, answered 24/7. HelpLine@affcny.org is also available; provider says email response within 36 hours excluding holidays/weekends, not immediate crisis help. No account or support-group registration is required to call. Share information directly with the provider, not with Help Foster Youth; no assurance that the provider stores nothing is made.
See HelpLine Contact Options
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
California Department of Health Care Services
VERIFIED
Medi-Cal Transportation to Covered Care
Transportation for covered medical, dental, mental-health and substance-use appointments, prescriptions and medical supplies. This is a conditional health benefit for eligible members, not foster-specific or unlimited free rides.
Where:
California Medi-Cal rules below apply only in California. Nationwide, Medicaid state plans must assure necessary transportation to covered care, but each state/plan sets its own methods and access process; this is not unlimited free transportation.
Who:
NMT is for members with full-scope Medi-Cal or qualifying pregnancy/postpartum coverage who have no other way to reach covered care. NEMT is for members unable to use ordinary public/private transport because of medical needs; a licensed-provider prescription is required.
Cost:
Covered transportation benefit when eligibility and authorization requirements are met; not a general ride service.
How to Access:
For managed care, call the member-services number for the child's actual plan; ask the caseworker to confirm the plan. For fee-for-service, follow DHCS's request process; for NEMT inform the medical provider, who must prescribe it. NMT uses ordinary public/private vehicles; NEMT can use an ambulance, wheelchair van or litter van. Confirm authorization, scheduling and trip coverage. Never submit health or identity details to Help Foster Youth. Outside California, contact the child's actual Medicaid plan or state Medicaid agency about its transportation broker, any prior authorization, permitted transport types and scheduling rules. California's prescription/process requirements are not assumed in other states.
See Medi-Cal Transportation Rules Medicaid Transportation: All States
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Office of Head Start — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
VERIFIED
Find Head Start or Early Head Start
Free early learning and development services for eligible children. Children in foster care qualify regardless of household income, but local programs still verify age, documents and available places.
Where:
Official national center finder; services and vacancies depend on the individual local program. No county service admission or immediate seat is inferred from the map.
Who:
Early Head Start generally serves children under 3; Head Start preschool generally ages 3–5, subject to local school-entry rules. Foster children are categorically eligible without a household income test. Informal kinship alone does not establish foster eligibility; other qualification routes may apply.
Cost:
Head Start services are free for enrolled eligible children; an immediate place is not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Search the official locator by location and center type, then call the program's listed number. Ask about age rules, foster-placement documentation, selection priorities and enrollment steps. If no space is available, ask about its waiting list. The official finder help line is 1-866-763-6481. No child application details are collected here.
Find My Head Start Program Read Enrollment Steps
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Museums for All — IMLS and Association of Children's Museums
VERIFIED
Museum Admission of $0–$5 With SNAP EBT
Participating museums offer free or reduced general admission of $0–$5 per person for up to four people per SNAP EBT card. This is open to eligible SNAP households, not a foster-only benefit.
Where:
Official participating-museum directory. The program reports more than 1,600 museums in all 50 states, DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only participating venues offer the program; no museum or address is added to ZIP results by this directory link.
Who:
Show a SNAP EBT card and photo ID. Foster placement paperwork alone does not establish eligibility. Museums accept SNAP EBT cards from other states. Some museums accept WIC or other proof at their discretion; WIC is not universally accepted.
Cost:
$0–$5 each for general admission for up to four people per SNAP EBT card; a venue may offer a broader discount. Not all admission is free.
How to Access:
Choose a participating museum in the official directory, then check its own current admission page or call about prices, hours, advance reservations and any WIC policy. No registration is required on Museums for All or Help Foster Youth. The EBT card proves eligibility; pay any admission fee separately, not with SNAP benefits. Special exhibitions or events may have separate charges; confirm with the venue.
Find a Participating Museum Read Museum Admission Rules
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Foundation for Foster Children
VERIFIED
ENRICH Extracurricular and Equipment Support
Explore support for activities such as art, sports and clubs: up to $300 per quarter, plus up to $50 for necessary equipment. The live provider page links first-time enrollment and returning quarterly requests; no remaining budget or guaranteed approval is published.
Where:
Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, Florida only — not statewide. Confirm your child's eligibility directly with FFC.
Who:
Explore lists ages 0–24, CBC-licensed foster families and kinship guardians of a foster child in these three counties. ENRICH's policy requires an open Florida DCF dependency case, or eligibility for up to one year after case closure if previously served by FFC within the preceding five years, regardless of permanency outcome. Confirm how the policy applies to your placement with FFC; informal kinship care alone is not confirmed eligible.
Cost:
Funding support subject to approval; no application fee is stated. Activity costs above an approved award are not promised covered.
How to Access:
A caregiver, foster parent, case manager or youth may use the official enrollment/request form. It asks for activity-provider contact, registration/payment information and placing-agency details; send those only to FFC. Typical processing is 7–10 business days, not a guarantee. Equipment is purchased by FFC; an approved-item gift card may be used if direct ordering is unavailable. Help Foster Youth collects no child details.
Check ENRICH Eligibility
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.

Resource 1 of 41

Training and Practical Guidance

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
VERIFIED
Supporting a Child After Sexual Abuse
Practical caregiver guidance on responding to disclosure, supporting a child after sexual abuse, discussing body safety and coping with the emotional impact of legal involvement.
Where:
Online caregiver reading and a downloadable document; accessible across all states.
Who:
Parents and caregivers supporting a child affected by sexual abuse, including foster caregivers.
Cost:
No-cost document access; no claim of free therapy or workshops.
How to Access:
Read or download the public document without an account. This is practical guidance, not an accredited course, counseling or a facilitated workshop.
Read the Caregiver Guide
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Creating a Family
VERIFIED
Free Education for Foster and Kinship Caregivers
Free evidence-based articles, fact sheets and a weekly podcast covering foster parenting, trauma and kinship care.
Where:
Online education accessible across all states.
Who:
Foster, adoptive and kinship caregivers and the professionals who support them.
Cost:
Free articles, fact sheets and podcast; separate courses may be paid.
How to Access:
Read articles and fact sheets or listen to the podcast on the main website without an account. Some courses on the organization's separate online-learning site are paid; free education lives on the main site.
Read Free Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
VERIFIED
Helping a Child With Traumatic Grief
Learn how children grieve after a death, recognize signs of traumatic grief and find ways to support a child who is struggling.
Where:
Public online caregiver factsheet available across all states.
Who:
Parents and caregivers supporting a grieving child, including foster and kinship caregivers.
Cost:
Free public PDF access; treatment costs are not established by this guide.
How to Access:
Read the official resource page and download its PDF without an account or payment. This is information, not counseling or an accredited training course.
Read the Grief Guide
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
VERIFIED
Understanding Child Traumatic Stress
Understand child traumatic stress, how treatment can help, and ways to support a child at home and at school.
Where:
Public online parent guide available across all states.
Who:
Parents and caregivers of children affected by traumatic stress, including foster and kinship caregivers.
Cost:
Free public PDF access; treatment costs are not established by this guide.
How to Access:
Download the public PDF from the official resource page without an account or payment. Use the guide to discuss concerns with a qualified professional; it does not provide diagnosis, therapy or training credit.
Read the Parent Guide
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
VERIFIED
Complex Trauma: Facts for Caregivers
Read about signs and symptoms of complex trauma and practical recommendations for helping children heal after repeated traumatic experiences.
Where:
Public online caregiver factsheet available across all states.
Who:
Families and caregivers supporting children affected by complex trauma, including foster and kinship caregivers.
Cost:
Free public PDF access; treatment costs are not established by this guide.
How to Access:
Download the public PDF from the official resource page without an account or payment. This is caregiver information, not a diagnosis, counseling service or accredited course.
Read the Trauma Factsheet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Ohio Department of Children and Youth
VERIFIED
Money Help for Ohio Kinship Caregivers
Explains Ohio Works First child-only cash help and the extra Kinship Support Program payment.
Where:
Statewide Ohio.
Who:
Kinship caregivers raising a relative's child; income rules vary by benefit.
Cost:
Free to apply.
How to Access:
Apply on the Ohio Benefits website or at your county JFS office; Kinship Support Program applications go to your local children services office.
See Ohio Kinship Money Help
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
National Indian Child Welfare Association
VERIFIED
ICWA and Native Family Guides
Free downloadable guides on the child welfare system, Indian Child Welfare Act rights, tracing Native ancestry, tribal ICWA contacts and finding free or low-cost legal help.
Where:
Online reading for families anywhere in the U.S.
Who:
Native families, relative caregivers and anyone caring for a Native child.
Cost:
Free to read.
How to Access:
Read or download without an account. NICWA provides information, not individual legal advice or representation.
Read the Family Guides
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services
VERIFIED
WV Kinship Hub: Private Self-Assessment and Resource Connection
A state online tool launched September 2026 that helps kinship and foster families understand their needs across caregiver well-being, child well-being, family and parenting, health, education, finances and social support, then suggests practical next steps and community resources. Users do not provide identifying information and responses are not stored in a way that can be linked back to an individual.
Where:
Statewide West Virginia.
Who:
Kinship and foster families in West Virginia.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Use the Hub directly at kinshiphub.bss.wv.gov — no account or identifying information required.
About the WV Kinship Hub
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Legal Aid of West Virginia
VERIFIED
Kinship Care Legal Help and Healthy Grandfamilies
Free legal services for kinship caregivers — guardianship, adoption, custody agreements, IEP and special education needs, public benefits like SNAP, estate planning and student financial aid — plus the Kinship Connector paperwork tool, a free kinship advocate hotline (Mondays 2–4 PM, 304-414-5449), and the free Healthy Grandfamilies workshop series for grandparents raising grandchildren.
Where:
Statewide West Virginia; Healthy Grandfamilies programs run county by county, usually in spring and fall.
Who:
West Virginia kinship caregivers — grandparents and other relatives caring for a relative's child. Legal Aid eligibility rules apply to legal services.
Cost:
Free.
How to Access:
Apply for legal help through the official site, use the Kinship Connector tool, or call the kinship hotline Mondays 2–4 PM at 304-414-5449.
See Kinship Care Help
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services
VERIFIED
Louisiana Foster Caregiver Benefits and Car Seat Reimbursement
Official caregiver information about conditional car-seat help, child-related expenses and reimbursement steps. Your caseworker confirms what can be approved.
Where:
Louisiana foster caregivers; state policy and case-specific approval apply.
Who:
Current Louisiana foster caregivers. Contact your caseworker before purchasing: the local office may provide a car seat or reimburse an approved purchase, up to $150 for infant/toddler seats or $50 for boosters. These are caps, not automatic payments or a guarantee that every caregiver qualifies.
Cost:
Free official information. Reimbursement may require an approved upfront purchase; do not assume guaranteed payment or free equipment.
How to Access:
Read the public official page without an account. Discuss eligibility and approval with your foster care worker. Submit Expense Reimbursement Form 435 with itemized receipts to that worker and keep copies; contact the worker if reimbursement has not arrived within 30 days. Help Foster Youth does not collect forms or receipts.
Read Official Caregiver Benefits
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Jefferson County Department of Social Services, New York
VERIFIED
Jefferson County Foster Parent Payments and Support
Official information on clothing allowances, child health insurance, room-and-board payments, ongoing training and 24-hour emergency support for county foster parents.
Where:
Jefferson County, New York agency foster placements, not Jefferson County in another state or all NY caregivers.
Who:
Foster parents caring for children through Jefferson County DSS. The public page does not give payment rates or extend these benefits to every informal kinship placement; verify your eligibility with your worker.
Cost:
Public information is free. Clothing allowances and room/board are agency benefits, not guaranteed individual awards; exact rates and approval rules require DSS confirmation.
How to Access:
Contact the foster parent team at 315-785-3240 or JeffHomeFinder@dfa.state.ny.us about allowances, support and current procedures. No account is needed to read this guidance; the separate FACS portal is for licensing new homes and is not required to browse. No pickup address is inferred from the county's general footer or older DSS address.
Read Jefferson County Support
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fairfax County Department of Family Services
VERIFIED
Fairfax Foster Parent Benefits and Support Guide
Official guidance on maintenance payments, clothing, approved child care, respite and after-hours support for caregivers fostering through Fairfax DFS.
Where:
Fairfax County DFS/LDSS foster placements; not statewide Virginia eligibility or an automatic benefit for all kinship households.
Who:
Approved Fairfax foster families. Both foster parents must work or study to qualify for daycare; short-term needs when a parent is home full-time need case-by-case approval. Certified resource families need 10 hours of in-service training yearly. Maintenance rates in the guide are dated July 2025 and may change annually; ask your specialist for current amounts.
Cost:
The public guide is free. Maintenance, clothing and child-care assistance are case-specific agency benefits, not universal free services.
How to Access:
Public guide needs no account. Questions: BeAFosterParent@fairfaxcounty.gov. Request daycare/respite through the foster care/adoption specialist, resource specialist or placement coordinator. After-hours caregiver support: 703-257-3974 for Fairfax foster parents, residential facilities and group homes; this is not a closet pickup number. Benefits and reimbursements require agency approval; no guarantee of immediate care or full costs covered.
Read the Fairfax Caregiver Guide
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Learn To Be
VERIFIED
Free One-to-One Online Tutoring
Volunteer tutoring across K–12 subjects for underserved students, including foster children. Enrollment is open for applications; acceptance and a tutor match are not guaranteed.
Where:
Online program for students across the U.S.; not a county-local tutoring center.
Who:
Primarily underserved K–12 students, including foster and unhoused children. Students behind in school are matched first. College students, GED candidates and single-test-only requests are excluded.
Cost:
Tutoring is completely free.
How to Access:
A caregiver fills out Learn To Be's enrollment form (about 10 minutes, in English or Spanish) and uploads a report card or test scores. If approved, the family gets an email and text with a link to finish a student profile on Learn To Be's site; the matched volunteer tutor then contacts them to schedule two sessions a week. Partner agencies can also share their own enrollment link. Capacity: Learn To Be says it has more students than tutors and matches students who are behind in school first; it publishes no open-seat count. It reports that over 90% of students are matched within 3 days of enrolling. Families waiting a long time can email hello@learntobe.org. Help Foster Youth collects no application or sign-up details.
See Tutoring Enrollment
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Inspiring Together
VERIFIED
Free Online Tutoring and Music Lessons
Free individual Math and English language arts tutoring, with chess, guitar and singing lessons also listed. The academic program runs for ten weeks during the school semester.
Where:
Georgia only: the provider's enrollment page explicitly names all Georgia counties. Virtual delivery does not establish nationwide eligibility.
Who:
Foster children and children in need; Math and English language arts for grades 1–10. Music/chess age limits are not separately stated; confirm with the provider.
Cost:
Tutoring and listed music lessons are free.
How to Access:
Complete the student form on the provider's site; it asks for caregiver and student contacts, grade, availability and CASA/DFCS/sponsor contacts for foster children. The provider follows up about next steps. Computer, speaker, microphone and internet needs are asked about. Current semester openings, capacity and start date are not published; confirm before relying on a place. No child details are collected here.
Check Georgia Enrollment
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Learning Bridge
VERIFIED
Free Tutoring in Seven Central Texas Counties
Individual tutoring with trained volunteers, online or in person. Families commit to at least one hour a week and ongoing communication with the tutor.
Where:
Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Bell, Burnet and Caldwell counties, Texas — not statewide. The current intake page adds Burnet to the older six-county description.
Who:
The specific Who We Serve section requires K–12 students in foster care, kinship placement or the Family Based Safety Program in these seven counties. The page's broader introduction also mentions adopted and unhoused youth; those families should confirm eligibility before applying.
Cost:
Tutoring is free for eligible placements.
How to Access:
Caregivers, CPS workers, school counselors or agency representatives submit the intake form linked on Learning Bridge's website. Staff arrange a meeting with the caregiver and student. Provide a quiet study space, attend scheduled sessions, share grades, take pre/post reading and math tests, complete two surveys and attend two celebration events. A typical one-week match is an estimate, not guaranteed; current places are not published. All student information stays with the provider, not this site.
See Texas Tutoring Intake
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
AT3 Center — Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
VERIFIED
Find Your State Assistive Technology Program
State and territory contacts for trying assistive technology, short-term device loans, reuse programs and financing options. This is a directory, not one national equipment giveaway.
Where:
State and territory program lookup. Each program sets its own services and eligibility; no county-local equipment coverage is claimed.
Who:
People with disabilities and their families, including foster and kinship caregivers; not foster-specific. Confirm device, age and residency rules with the state program.
Cost:
Free directory access. Equipment, fees, financing and availability vary; free permanent equipment is not guaranteed.
How to Access:
Choose your state or territory in the public directory and contact the program. Ask about demonstrations, loan duration, available inventory, reuse and financing. Loans may be temporary and financing may need repayment. No disability or medical details are requested by Help Foster Youth.
Find My State AT Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
U.S. Department of Education
VERIFIED
School Stability Guidance and State Education Contacts
Official guidance and state foster-care education contacts for educational stability and collaboration between education and child welfare agencies. This is information and an office directory, not a tutoring provider.
Where:
National guidance and state educational agency contacts; not direct county services.
Who:
Caregivers and professionals supporting students in foster care. State education contacts oversee school-stability provisions; case-specific arrangements go through school and child welfare staff.
Cost:
Free public guidance and contact list; this page does not award funding or book transportation.
How to Access:
Read the public federal resources and use the State Foster Care Points of Contact roster, now updated October 2026 rather than January. Ask the appropriate school/agency contact about school-of-origin decisions, records and transportation. No account or child details are needed to browse.
Read Official Education Resources Browse Existing State Education Offices
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Legal Center for Foster Care & Education
VERIFIED
Foster-Care Education Rights and Advocacy Guides
Free public guides on school stability and special education, the Blueprint for Change, and tools for students, education advocates and child welfare professionals.
Where:
National online education-rights information; not county-specific help with one student's case.
Who:
Students in foster care and the caregivers, education advocates and professionals who support them.
Cost:
Public guidance is free to read; paid training or legal services are not promised.
How to Access:
Browse the public guides on the official site without sending your own or a child's case details here. These tools are not individual legal advice or representation; use a verified legal-aid provider for case-level help.
Read Education Rights Guides
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
California Department of Education — with CDSS Education Hub Resources
VERIFIED
California County Foster Education Coordinators
Find your county's Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program contact for school-related support. The related CDSS education hub offers information from early childhood through college and careers; neither is a guaranteed tutoring appointment.
Where:
California only. County rows are contact assignments, not proof of local direct tutoring or transportation availability.
Who:
Caregivers and professionals supporting California students in foster care. Ask the coordinator about the student's needs and the county's specific services.
Cost:
Public county contacts and hub information are free to browse; individual services are not guaranteed by the list.
How to Access:
Choose the county in CDE's public Program Coordinators list and contact its office. Use the CDSS Foster Youth Education Resource Hub for education information. Confirm local service eligibility and arrangements with the school and placing agency. No child information is collected on this site.
Find My California Coordinator California Education Resource Hub
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
FosterClub
VERIFIED
“First-Time Fostering”: Reading Check
Free, self-paced reading-check course with six lessons. Includes lived-experience perspectives on initial placements, proactive support and divided loyalties, followed by a reading quiz.
Where:
Online course available through FosterClub's training site; not local supplies, respite or a county service.
Who:
For foster parents, kinship caregivers and adults learning to support children in foster care. The public course page states no geographic or placement-document requirement.
Cost:
Free individual course; no paid subscription is needed for the listed free enrollment.
How to Access:
Open the official course page and choose its free enrollment option. Enrollment is on FosterClub's training site; it may require a provider account. Help Foster Youth collects no sign-up or child details. A certificate or licensing credit is not confirmed for this course; ask your placing or licensing agency before using it for required training.
View Free Course
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
VERIFIED
Protect a Foster Child's Credit and Identity
Free federal guidance on checking whether a child has a credit report, freezing a minor's credit and fixing errors. Federal law requires child welfare agencies to get and review credit reports every year for youth in foster care age 14 and older. Information only—not a grant or credit-repair service.
Where:
Nationwide information. Credit bureau steps differ; follow each bureau's current instructions.
Who:
Parents, legal guardians and child welfare representatives of children under 16 can place a free credit freeze; only an authorized adult can request it. Caregivers without legal authority should ask the child's caseworker.
Cost:
Free guidance; credit freezes for minors are free.
How to Access:
Ask the caseworker whether the annual credit check has been done and how errors are being resolved. Contact the credit bureaus directly. Never share a child's Social Security number or credit details with Help Foster Youth—we never ask for them.
Read Federal Credit Steps
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Sesame Workshop
VERIFIED
Sesame Street Foster Care Resources
Free videos, storybooks, printables and caregiver articles that help young children cope with separation, placement, moves and reunions. Learning materials only—not counseling or therapy.
Where:
Free online nationwide. Spanish materials are available.
Who:
Open to anyone; designed for children about ages 0–6 and the adults caring for them. Not limited to foster families.
Cost:
Free digital resources. Printed copies are not promised here.
How to Access:
Open the materials directly on Sesame Workshop's site; no account needed.
See Sesame Foster Care Tools
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.

Resource 1 of 22

U.S. Administration for Children and Families

Fostering the Future Accounts

Federally backed savings accounts (Trump Accounts) that your state child welfare agency can open for a child in its custody. The account belongs to the child, and the child takes control of it at age 18.

Who:: Children under 18 in state foster care custody who have a Social Security number and no account yet. States are still setting this up, so not every state offers it yet.
Money:: Contributions are generally limited to $5,000 a year. Children born in 2025 through 2028 may receive up to $1,000 in federal seed money.
Good to know:: No money can be taken out before 18. It is not rent help. If the child is adopted, reunified or goes to guardianship, the new legal guardian takes over managing the account.
How to Access:: Ask your child’s caseworker whether your state has opened an account for the child.

Read the official questions and answers

Official source reviewed 2026-10-30.

Foster Parent Resources: National Directories

Search tools run by other organizations. Each card says how you search it and what it does not cover. Help is not available everywhere; always confirm with the official source.

Financial Help & Essential Supplies

United Way 211
VERIFIED
Find Your Local 211
Nationwide searchable directory
Connects you to your local 211 for help with food, rent, utilities and other everyday needs. You can also call 211.
Search By:
Address, ZIP
Limits:
Sends you to a local 211; services and search tools differ by area. 211 refers you to others and does not give out money itself.
Find My Local 211
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Families Rising (formerly NACAC)
VERIFIED
State Adoption Assistance Profiles
State-by-state list
State-by-state explanations of adoption assistance (subsidy) for children adopted from foster care.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Covers adoption assistance only, not regular foster care payments. Eligibility depends on the child and state; confirm amounts with your state agency.
Choose My State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
ChildCare.gov (U.S. government)
VERIFIED
Child Care Help by State
State-by-state list
Pick your state for child care help, including help paying for child care, plus health and social services.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Links to state programs with their own rules and fees; listing does not make child care free.
Choose My State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP)
VERIFIED
Foster Closet List by State
State-by-state list
A long state-by-state list of local foster closets that give clothing and supplies to foster families.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Submitted by the community. NYAP does not endorse or check these closets. Hours, rules and whether a closet is still open vary; contact each one first.
Browse Closets by State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Ticket to Dream Foundation
VERIFIED
Foster Care Partner Directory
State-by-state list
Find local nonprofits that receive Ticket to Dream support, with the counties they serve and whether they give essential items.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Ticket to Dream does not give supplies to families directly; you contact a local partner. An "Essential Items" tag does not mean a free walk-in closet, and some county details are incomplete.
Find a Local Partner
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Macomb Foster Closet
VERIFIED
Independent Michigan Foster Closets by County
State-by-state list
Browse county and city links to independent Michigan closets, including distinct organizations with similar names.
Search By:
County
Limits:
These are independent nonprofits with different services and rules. County labels identify listed locations, not verified service boundaries. Some links lead to Facebook; contact each provider about current free access. Macomb does not operate every closet.
Browse Independent Michigan Closets
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Wisconsin Family Connections Center — Coalition for Children, Youth & Families
VERIFIED
Wisconsin Independent Foster Closet Referrals
State-by-state list
Browse Wisconsin county, city and region links to independent clothing and supply resources, alongside WiFCC's caregiver information service.
Search By:
County
Limits:
Referral list, not WiFCC-run closets. Location labels do not prove eligibility, current opening hours or free goods; some links are social pages. Verify each provider directly. Public browsing is free, with no account.
Browse Wisconsin Closet Referrals
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.

Resource 1 of 7

Foster Parent Training & Education

National Foster Parent Association
VERIFIED
Foster Parent Resource Library
Nationwide searchable directory
A topic-by-topic library of links for foster, adoptive and kinship parents.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
Browse by topic only; no location search. A few NFPA materials are for members only.
Browse the Library
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Center for Parent Information and Resources
VERIFIED
Find Your Parent Center
State-by-state list
Free parent training and information centers that help families of children and youth with disabilities, birth to 26.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Focused on disability and school help, not general foster parent training. Each center sets its own services.
Find My Parent Center
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Every Child Oregon
VERIFIED
Oregon Foster Parent Forms and Resource Guide
State-by-state list
Free public caregiver guides, commonly used ODHS forms, parenting handouts and links to Oregon caregiver resources.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
Browse by topic, not ZIP or county. Downloads have different dates; confirm current forms and case-specific rules with your certifier. My NeighbOR is a separate needs-matching service, not guaranteed supplies or a provider directory.
Read Oregon Caregiver Guides
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.

Resource 1 of 3

Parent Support & Respite Care

AdoptUSKids
VERIFIED
Support Services by State
State-by-state list
Pick your state or territory to find post-adoption and guardianship support services.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Some states serve all adoptive families; others only families who adopted or took guardianship from foster care.
Choose My State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fostura
VERIFIED
Foster Care Agency Directory
Nationwide searchable directory
Search foster and adoption agencies by state, then county.
Search By:
State, County
Limits:
No ZIP search. The directory is new and incomplete (about 500 agencies; Wyoming not yet included). Agencies, not respite providers.
Search Agencies
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Angels
VERIFIED
National Angels Chapter Map
National group with local chapters only
Local chapters support foster families with mentoring and practical help.
Search By:
Chapter map
Limits:
Only some cities and counties in 13 states (Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington). The map reflects the network through 2025; check with a chapter before counting on help.
See Chapter Map
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Families Rising
VERIFIED
Parent Support Group Directory
Nationwide searchable directory
Support groups for adoptive, foster and kinship parents in the U.S. and Canada; search by state name.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Some groups cover a whole state, others one community. Listings are not checked regularly; contact the group to confirm. Families Rising also keeps a separate state list of adoption support organizations on its site.
Find a Parent Group
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Circle of Parents
VERIFIED
Find Your Circle of Parents
National group with local chapters only
Free weekly parent support groups. Click your state on the map to contact the state organization that runs local groups.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Only about 20 states or regions take part. The map gives a state contact, not a list of local groups; ask about meetings near you.
Find My State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services (C.A.S.E.)
VERIFIED
Adoption-Competent Therapist Directory
Nationwide searchable directory
Find therapists who completed adoption- and foster-care-competency training. Filter by state, license and payment options.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Confirms training only; the center does not vouch for any therapist's skill. Therapy fees depend on the provider. No ZIP search.
Find a Therapist
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
FASD United
VERIFIED
FASD Resource Directory
State-by-state list
National and state-by-state resources for families caring for a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, plus a family navigator.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Disability resources for all families, not only foster families. Costs and availability vary by provider.
Browse by State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
National Family Support Network
VERIFIED
State Family Support Networks
State-by-state list
A state list of family support networks; contact yours to find a family resource center near you.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Not a list of individual centers; there is an extra step. Centers serve all families, not only foster families, and are usually no or low cost.
Find My State Network
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Child Care Aware of America
VERIFIED
Find Your Local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency
Nationwide searchable directory
Enter your ZIP to find the agency that helps families in your area find child care.
Search By:
Address, ZIP
Limits:
Finds a referral agency, not child care itself. Care is not promised free; ask your caseworker about foster child care help.
Search by ZIP
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJ ARCH)
VERIFIED
New Jersey Adoption and Foster Care Resource Finder
State-by-state list
Browse an anonymous keyword search, county map and Advanced Search with resource-type choices for adoption and foster-care-related support in New Jersey.
Search By:
County
Limits:
New Jersey-focused, including some out-of-state organizations serving NJ. No ZIP search; listings are referrals, not verified free appointments, supplies or eligibility. Check each provider directly.
Search New Jersey Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
With Love Oregon
VERIFIED
Oregon Family Resource Guide
State-by-state list
Browse Oregon-focused topic lists for resource and adoptive families, school supplies, cultural care and disability support without an account.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
No location search. With Love does not manage linked sites; costs, eligibility and coverage must be confirmed with each provider. Its own essentials program's ages 0–6 limit does not apply to every referral in this guide.
Browse Oregon Family Resources
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Maryland Department of Human Services
VERIFIED
Maryland Resource Parent Contacts by County
State-by-state list
Official county and Baltimore City DSS phone/email contacts for resource parenting, with a searchable table and 24 entries. Public browsing needs no account.
Search By:
County
Limits:
Maryland only. Choose All or use Search to see contacts beyond the first ten rows. This is a local-agency contact finder, not a promise of supplies, respite or benefit eligibility; ask DSS about your case.
Find My Maryland DSS Contact
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Montana DPHHS
VERIFIED
Montana Child Care Referral Contacts by County
State-by-state list
Official contacts and serving-county lists for Child Care Resources and Family Connections. Agencies offer free child care referrals and support children in foster care.
Search By:
County
Limits:
A referral is free, not the child care itself. Read county lists to choose the agency; public contacts need no account. Scholarship applications use a separate portal with their own eligibility rules; this finder does not approve benefits.
Find My Montana Referral Agency
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Kansas Department for Children and Families
VERIFIED
Kansas DCF Foster Care Provider Locator
State-by-state list
Search by ZIP, county, city or town, or choose an area on the official Kansas map, to find foster care provider contacts.
Search By:
ZIP, County, Address
Limits:
Kansas only. This is a referral locator, not a clothing closet, respite booking or promise of free provider services. Select the matching search mode; confirm caregiver eligibility, costs and available help directly with the provider.
Find My Kansas Foster Care Provider
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Formed Families Forward
VERIFIED
Northern Virginia Family Resource Directory
State-by-state list
Free public topic-based directory with a focus on foster, adoptive and kinship families raising children with disabilities or specialized needs.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
Primarily Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Loudoun, Prince William, Culpeper and Fauquier, with some outside-area listings. FFF does not provide listed external services. No ZIP search or guaranteed free provider eligibility; county filters describe listings, not admission.
Browse Northern Virginia Referrals
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
VERIFIED
Wisconsin County and Tribal Foster Care Contacts
State-by-state list
Official agency dropdown and downloadable contact spreadsheet for Wisconsin county and tribal foster care coordinators.
Search By:
County
Limits:
Select the county where your home is located or your tribe. Licensing and tribal rules differ; the map does not approve benefits or guarantee closet supplies. Public contact browsing needs no account; ask your existing placing agency about your case.
Find My County or Tribal Contact
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Wisconsin DCF — Division of Milwaukee Child Welfare
VERIFIED
Milwaukee Foster and Adoptive Family Resource Guide
State-by-state list
Public Milwaukee-specific links to foster/adoptive family assistance, support groups and licensing information.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
Milwaukee County/DMCW context, not statewide coverage for external providers. DCF expressly does not endorse external-link accuracy. Confirm cost, current access and eligibility with each service; this guide does not issue benefits.
Read Milwaukee Family Referrals
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
InsureKidsNow.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
VERIFIED
Find a Dentist That Takes Medicaid or CHIP
Nationwide searchable directory
Search dentists who see children and accept Medicaid or CHIP. Filter by state, the child's dental plan, distance, new patients, specialty and language.
Search By:
State, ZIP, Address, Distance
Limits:
Open to all families, not foster-specific. A foster child's state Medicaid or managed-care plan decides coverage; ask the caseworker which plan the child has and call the office to confirm it takes new patients and that plan.
Find a Dentist
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Family Voices
VERIFIED
Family-to-Family Health Information Center Finder
State-by-state list
Free family-led peer help for children with special health care needs or disabilities: insurance and benefits navigation, health and school planning. Federally funded centers serve every state, DC, five territories and three tribal communities.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Open to all families, not foster-specific. Ask your agency who decides on the child's medical care. Centers give information and peer support, not medical care.
Find My State's Center
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
VERIFIED
Find a Community Health Center
Nationwide searchable directory
Search more than 16,200 federally funded health center sites by city, state or ZIP. Health centers provide medical care; many also offer dental, mental health and sliding-scale fees.
Search By:
ZIP, Address
Limits:
Open to all families, not foster-specific. Services and fees differ by site; not every site offers every service, and care is not automatically free. Call the site to confirm.
Find a Health Center
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
VERIFIED
Early Intervention Contacts by State (Birth to 3)
State-by-state list
Official list of each state's Part C early intervention program and coordinator for infants and toddlers under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities.
Search By:
State
Limits:
A contact list, not a therapy provider. Open to all families. Each state's program decides eligibility and any fees; ask your caseworker about referral for a child in care.
Find My State's Program
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
For The Children — Royal Family KIDS
VERIFIED
Find a Royal Family KIDS Camp Chapter
National group with local chapters only
Christian faith-based, church-run five-day camps for children in foster care, generally ages 6–12, at no cost to children or caregivers. Some chapters also offer mentoring. The official 2026 announcement describes nearly 200 camp programs across 45 states.
Search By:
Chapter map
Limits:
Caregivers, resource families and caseworkers contact a real local chapter to confirm its ages, service region, placement/referral approvals, dates, transport and current registration. Local rules vary; a map pin is not proof of county eligibility. The 2026 announcement does not establish 2027 openings, and neither camp nor mentoring is guaranteed in every area. No child details are collected here.
Find and Contact a Chapter
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
Afterschool Alliance
VERIFIED
Find Your State Afterschool Network
State-by-state list
State network contacts and public guidance to help families look for afterschool programs. Open to all families, not foster-specific; Afterschool Alliance is not the program provider.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Free to browse. State contacts are a starting point, not verified local program enrollment or a list of available seats. Ask the school or actual provider about ages, fees, placement requirements, transportation and current openings; programs are not all free. The main toolbox is for starting/running programs. No individual site or county coverage has been certified by this review; no child information is collected here.
Find My State Network
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.
MENTOR National
VERIFIED
Find a Mentoring Program
Nationwide searchable directory
Free referral database for adults seeking mentoring programs for a young person or opportunities to volunteer as a mentor. Filters include youth ages and program type. Open to families generally, not foster-specific.
Search By:
ZIP, Distance
Limits:
MENTOR does not assign or guarantee a mentor. Each listed program sets its own eligibility, ages, fees, screening, service area and openings. The external search form asks for name, email and ZIP, and says information is shared with MENTOR, its affiliates and programs you contact. Review its privacy notice before submitting; Help Foster Youth collects none of those details. Virtual listings do not establish nationwide admission or county coverage.
Check Mentoring Referrals
Official source reviewed 2026-10-27.

Resource 1 of 24

Foster Parent Rights & Advocacy

NFPA Council of State Affiliates
VERIFIED
Find Your State Foster Parent Association
State-by-state list
Browse state foster parent associations that support and speak up for foster families.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Not every state has an affiliate listed. Each association sets its own membership terms.
Find My State Association
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.

Resource 1 of 1

Kinship & Relative Caregiver Support

Generations United
VERIFIED
Kinship Navigator Programs by State
State-by-state list
State-by-state list of kinship navigator programs, with service areas, who qualifies and links.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Eligibility and county coverage differ by program; some say services vary by county.
Find a Navigator
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Generations United
VERIFIED
GrandFacts State Fact Sheets
State-by-state list
Fact sheets on benefits, school help, legal options and laws for relatives raising children, for every state, D.C. and several territories and Tribes.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Fact sheets are updated separately; check the date on your state's sheet. They explain options and do not decide eligibility.
Get My State Fact Sheet
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Fostering Families Today
VERIFIED
State-by-State Caregiver Resources
State-by-state list
Browse state headings for kinship navigators and foster and adoptive parent associations.
Search By:
State
Limits:
Links lead to outside groups whose details change. The magazine sells memberships, but this list is free to read.
Browse by State
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.
Grandfamilies.org (Generations United)
VERIFIED
Financial Help Guides for Relative Caregivers
Nationwide searchable directory
Guides explaining money help for relatives raising children, such as TANF child-only grants, with state TANF contacts.
Search By:
Topic only (no location search)
Limits:
Information only; it does not give or approve money. Browse by topic, no location search.
Read the Guides
Official source reviewed 2026-10-26.

Resource 1 of 4

For respite, coordinate with the child's placing agency before making care arrangements. Follow its approval, supervision and safety requirements. Help Foster Youth is a directory, not a provider of supplies, respite or services.

Resources for Current Foster Families

Foster Closets & Placement Essentials

Free Twin Beds for Children

Free Clothing and Supplies

Free Clothing and Essential Care Items

Free Clothing and Basic Care Items

Free New Wardrobes for Youth in Care

Free Clothing Shopping Days for Children in Care

Free Clothing, Diapers, Cribs and Car Seats

Free Clothing, Food and Necessities

Free Clothing, Shoes, Coats and Bedding

Free Clothing, Shoes, Hygiene Items and School Supplies

Foster-Share Closet

Free Store for Foster and Kinship Families

Free Essentials for Placed Children

Bloom Closet

Free Clothing Bank for Foster Families

Free Resource Center Appointments (Caseworker Referral)

Free Clothing, Baby Gear and Beds for Northeast Tennessee

Beds, Safety Items and Urgent Needs (Agency Request Only)

Free Emergency Placement Kits and Baby Gear

Free Clothing, Beds, Diapers and Car Seats

Free Clothing, Emergency Supplies and Holiday Help

Foster Closet Shopping Days in Wylie

Oklahoma Foster Parent Benefits and Discounts

Massachusetts Foster Parent Payments and Benefits

Sammy's Window Clothing Closets and Pantries

Free Essentials for Arizona Foster and Kinship Families

First-Night Backpacks Through Your Agency

Free Caregiver Account With Discounts and Free Clothing Kits

Free Wish-List Supplies and Backpack of Hope

Free Foster Care Closet in Benton

Free Clothing Closet for Foster and Kinship Children

Free Resource Center for Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Families

Free Clothing, Hygiene Items and School Supplies

Blue Bag Program for Children Entering Foster Care

Emergency Placement Essentials Delivered

Free Boutique for Children in Foster Care

Free Clothing and Essentials for Foster and Kinship Families

Free Tangible Items for Foster, Kinship and Crisis Children

Resource Closets, Mental Health Support and Visitation Spaces

Tangible Goods for Foster and Adoptive Families

Foster Closet Locations Across West Virginia

Idaho Clothing, Supplies and Local Help for Resource Families

Placement Essentials Through an Agency Referral

Free Foster Closet and New-Placement Care Bags

Free Foster Closet Shopping

Free Essentials at North Alabama Foster Closet

Free Essentials at Birth Brite Foster Closet

Free Clothing, Welcome Kits, Car Seats and Beds

Free Seasonal Clothing With Caseworker Verification

Free Clothing Closet at Joy Meadows

Free Clothing at Foster Community Closets

Free Foster Placement Essentials in Brown County

No-Cost Shopping at The Family Closet

Fairfax Foster Closet — Confirm Placement Access

Free Placement Essentials at Traders Point

Free Essentials at Orleans and East Falmouth Closets

Free Clothing Kits for New NH Placements

WIC Food and Nutrition Help for Children Under 5

Free School Meals for Children in Foster Care

Essential Bags — Agency Referral

Free Clothing, Blankets and School Supplies

Respite and Caregiver Support

Foster-Parent Support and Respite Guidance

Find Respite Care Near You

Free 24/7 Support Line for Caregivers

Free Kinship and Adoption Navigator Line

Free Kinship Caregiver Hotline and Support

Free Kinship Navigator Help and Resource Closet

Free Kinship Support Specialists

Free Statewide Kinship Navigator Line

Free 24/7 Help Line for Caregivers

California Kinship Navigator

Foster Parent Association of Washington State

Kinship Support Services Program (Some Counties)

Free Caregiver Training and Peer Mentors (Alliance CaRES)

Free Post-Adoption and Guardianship Support (ORPARC)

Parent to Parent Support for Children With Special Needs

Free Foster Family Pass for State Parks