Foster Care

On any given night in Florida, more than 20,000 children are sleeping somewhere other than their own homes. They are waiting — not for a perfect family, not for a family with a large house or a high income — but for a family that will show up consistently, love unconditionally, and refuse to give up when things get hard.

Residing Hope has provided fully accredited foster care services since 2002, serving children and families across Volusia, Flagler, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The program is built on a foundational conviction that shapes every policy, every training, and every interaction with foster families: foster parents should never feel alone. The weight of caring for a child who has experienced trauma, loss, and instability is real — and it requires a level of support that goes far beyond what a monthly check-in can provide. Residing Hope's foster care team is embedded in the communities it serves, available by phone around the clock, and committed to walking alongside every foster family through every challenge.

The licensing process begins with a conversation, not a form. When a prospective foster parent contacts Residing Hope, they are connected with a foster care recruiter who answers questions honestly, explains the process in detail, and helps them assess whether foster care is the right fit for their family at this time. Orientation is followed by PRIDE training — Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education — approximately 30 hours of instruction covering the developmental needs of children in foster care, the impact of trauma and separation, the role of the foster family in the child welfare system, and the skills needed to provide effective therapeutic care. All PRIDE training is provided by Residing Hope at no cost, offered in evening and weekend sessions to accommodate working families. The home study, conducted by a licensed social worker, is thorough but not adversarial — its purpose is to help prospective foster parents present themselves accurately and to identify any areas where additional preparation might be helpful before the first placement.

Residing Hope's foster care program holds accreditations from the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Council on Accreditation, and is a member of the Teaching Family Association. The program maintains active partnerships with DCF, community-based care lead agencies, and local courts across all four service counties. Foster care staff includes licensed social workers, dedicated case managers, and a campus chaplain who provides spiritual support to foster families navigating the unique emotional and relational demands of this calling. Monthly foster family events — gatherings that combine practical training with community and encouragement — are a consistent feature of the program's support structure.

Respite care — temporary relief care provided by another licensed foster family — is available on both a planned and emergency basis and is actively encouraged as a tool for sustainability. The families who have walked this road with Residing Hope for years consistently describe the experience as one of the most meaningful of their lives. The team is here to make sure that every foster family has what they need to keep going — not just through the first placement, but through the tenth. Contact the Volusia/Flagler office at 386-738-3663 or the Broward/Palm Beach office at 954-514-7000 to begin the conversation.