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Children's Foster Care

Information and resources on becoming a foster care provider for children with developmental disabilities

Upcoming Resource Fair hosted by Washington County Developmental Disabilities

The Washington County Developmental Disabilities Division is hosting our annual Resource Fair on October 12th, 2024. Please see below for the details and the participating vendors. We hope to see you there!

When: October 12th, 2024

Time: 9am-1pm

Where: Hidden Creek Community Center, 5100 NE Hidden Creek Dr., Hillsboro, OR 97124

Participating Vendors:

  • Access Community Care
  • Albertina Kerr
  • Alliance Services
  • Among Friends
  • Autism Society of Oregon
  • Better Together Supports
  • Care Oregon
  • City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation
  • Community Access Services
  • DPI Staffing
  • Edwards Center
  • Employers Overload Supported Employment
  • Essential Services
  • Every Body Athletics
  • Evolved Behavior Resources
  • FACT Oregon
  • Griffin’s Place
  • HDE Home Care
  • Health Share of Orgon
  • Housing Independence
  • Linea de Esperanza-Oregon Warmline
  • Meadowlark
  • Northwest Regional Educational Service District
  • Oregon Family Support Network
  • PDX Connects
  • Peruvian Cultural Organization
  • Positive Behavior Supports, Corp.
  • Quiet Waters Outreach
  • Residential Facilities Ombudsman Program
  • Saturn Supports
  • Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation
  • WakeUp Beaverton!
  • Washington County Sheriff’s Office (Help Me Home Program)

What is foster care for children with disabilities?

  • Children in the home have a disability and have special needs for daily care.
  • The special needs of the children can vary and the care a child needs is based on an individual plan specific to that child.
  • The age range is 0-18 years, but most of our referrals are for children between 12-17 years old.
  • A foster care home is a setting that is safe and secure.

What are the goals of foster care for children with disabilities?

  • Provide necessary care in a nurturing environment that supports and promotes mental, physical and emotional needs.
  • Provide a home environment to the child.
  • Help the child build positive relationships.
  • Help the child build safety skills.
  • Teach the child to become more independent in their activities of daily living (hygiene, taking care of themselves).
  • Follow plans to help reduce difficult behaviors, if needed.
  • Work with a cooperative team including parents, family members, teachers, medical providers and state guardian (if applicable).

What are the requirements to become a certified child foster home for Washington County Developmental Disabilities?

  • Be a responsible, stable, emotionally mature adult aged 21 or older who exercises sound judgment.
  • Pass an abuse and criminal background check.
  • Live in a home that meets structural and safety requirements of the Child Foster Home Oregon Administrative Rules (CFH-OAR).

  • Have the financial resources required to open and operate the foster home.
  • Not be related to the children by birth, marriage or adoption.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and understating of positive discipline, and build healthy personal relationships, self-control and self-esteem.
  • Be mentally and physically capable of providing care.
  • Successfully complete a minimum of 15 hours of pre-service training.
  • Have the interest, motivation and ability to nurture children with developmental disabilities.

Further requirements are needed to be certified for children with significant medical needs. Contact [email protected] at 503-846-3646 for more information.

What are the steps to becoming a certified child foster provider for Washington County Developmental Disabilities?

  • Contact Washington County Child Foster Care certifier Leslie Alfaro at: [email protected] or 503-846-3646.
  • Work with the certifier to complete documents used for certification.
  • Complete inspection of the home with the certifier and make corrections as required on initial inspection.
  • Submit completed application materials to your certifier, who will submit for approval to Oregon Developmental Disability Services.

New Children's Foster Care Information Sessions

Information sessions are held from 10-11am at the Developmental Disabilities office located at 5240 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 150, Hillsboro, OR, 97124, in Conference Room #40. This location is accessible by public transportation and is one block from the Hawthorn Farm MAX stop.


October 21, 2024

January 6, 2025
April 28, 2025
July 21, 2025

No registration is required.

Contact Leslie Alfaro at 503-846-3646 or: [email protected] for more information.