Why Choose Encourage?

Encourage Foster Care is a small, private, faith-based foster care agency. Our services and support extend throughout 13+ counties in Northeast & Central Ohio.

Encourage recruits, trains and licenses foster families. Our mission is to connect and retain families who have the heart to foster by providing them with trauma-based training, licensing, resources, and the utmost support. Through faith, hope and prayers, together we can make lasting impacts in the lives of children from hard places.

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OTHER WAYS
YOU CAN HELP

Want to help but don’t think you’re ready to be a full-time foster or foster-to-adopt parent? Great news: There are several ways you can still get involved!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to be married? How long does the home study process take? Don’t foster children have lots of problems? Find the answers to your questions!

Encouragement from our Blog

A New Year Brings Joy and Sorrow

A new year brings joy and sorrow for foster families. Joy in the hope of reunification and in the promise of fresh beginnings, but also sorrow—children missing their families, foster parents witnessing that grief, and everyone living with uncertainty about what comes next.

1/14/26

New Year's Resolutions

Whether we love them or hate them, New Year’s resolutions can be helpful for every family - and they can be especially helpful for foster families & kids!

1/2/26

Fostering in the Holiday Season

Fostering in the Holiday Season: how can we ensure that children in foster care feel loved and comforted during the holidays?

11/18/25

Learn More About Becoming a Foster Parent!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be married? How long does the home study process take? Don’t foster children have lots of problems? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before deciding to be a foster parent. Don't worry. We have the answers.

Become a Foster Parent

Imperfect parents needed! Being a foster parent isn't about having a perfect home. It's about having a welcoming home. Being a foster parent isn't about having a perfect heart. It's about having a heart that's willing to learn. We will walk through the step-by-step process to become a licensed foster or adoptive parent with Encourage!

The Need for Foster Parents

Every month, our agency receives dozens of requests for foster homes for youth and siblings from the counties we serve. We frequently turn away up to 80 children every month due to the lack of suitable foster homes. Simply put, we need more foster homes.

Events & Trainings

The Encourage staff is focused on connecting with and supporting our incredible families with trainings and special events! Whether you are looking for information about becoming a foster parent or are a current foster family looking for training, we have something for you!