At KVC, we want every child and adult to be safe & connected to a strong family and a healthy community. We’re proud to be a leader in innovative, effective and compassionate care. See our services and programs overview.
Emergency Foster Care
Give a Youth a Safe, Loving Home Today
Every day, children and teens in Missouri face unexpected challenges that leave them without a safe place to stay. Emergency foster care provides a temporary, loving home for youth in crisis while their families work toward stability or other long-term solutions.
At KVC Missouri, we focus on quick placements and personalized support so that every youth experience safety, structure and care during these critical moments. Emergency foster parenting isn’t just about providing a home, it’s about offering guidance, reassurance and a steady presence when youth need it most.
Why Emergency Foster Families Are Needed
Every day, youth in crisis require temporary foster care placements. Emergency foster parents provide critical support for children and teens who:
- Have been removed from unsafe situations
- Are awaiting long-term foster placements
- Need a loving, stable environment during emergencies
By opening your home, you provide youth with a stable place to heal, adjust and feel secure while longer-term solutions are explored, such as placement with relatives, permanent foster care or reunification with their family. Your support during these early moments can make a lasting difference in a youth’s life. Emergency placements can last anywhere from a single night to several weeks, depending on the youth’s needs and circumstances.
Who Can Be an Emergency Foster Parent
We believe any adult with compassion and stability can make a difference. KVC Missouri welcomes caregivers from all walks of life.
We are looking for individuals and families who meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Any relationship status, whether single, married or cohabitating
- U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization, or provide lawful immigration status
- Financially stable
- Good physical, mental and emotional health
- A safe home environment with available space to accommodate a child
- Successful completion of all training requirements. See the Foster Parent Training/Licensing page for details
- Participate in the home assessment/evaluation process to become a licensed foster home
- Be willing to partner with the child’s biological family to support them in working toward reunification
Prior experience isn’t required. Training and ongoing guidance are provided every step of the way.
How Emergency Foster Care Works
- Get Started: Fill out our online foster care form
- Training: Attend training sessions to prepare for emergency placements
- Home Review: Complete background checks and a home evaluation
- Placement: Youth in need are placed in your home as emergencies arise
- Support: Access 24/7 guidance, resources and ongoing support from KVC Missouri team members
Take the First Step Today
It’s easier than you think to make a life-changing impact. By opening your home and heart, you can provide stability, comfort and hope to youth in Missouri during their most urgent moments.
Have questions? Contact a foster parent recruiter, or call us at 844-424-3577.
