As of September 2024*
Sunbeam Foster Parents Build Brighter Futures
When you’re a Sunbeam foster parent, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our foster care experts walk beside you from the beginning application and remain a constant advocate and reliable source of support to you for every child placed in your home. The support we offer is one of the many reasons why we were voted as Metro Family Magazine Family Favorite Foster Care Agency in 2024.
Sunbeam foster parents provide children with a safe, loving environment where they feel secure and supported. By offering a loving and consistent presence, you create a space where they grow, feel valued, and have brighter futures.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please complete the Information Request Form, email fostercare@sunbeamfamilyservices.org or call (405) 609-8931
Ready to Foster with Sunbeam?
Please fill out the Information Request Form and a Sunbeam Foster Care expert will contact you within 2 business days.
What's Sunbeam's Foster Care Program?
Sunbeam is one of 16 privately contracted foster care agencies in Oklahoma responsible for recruiting, certifying, and supporting foster families within the child welfare system. Sunbeam focuses our support to families in central Oklahoma.
Foster Care families provide a temporary living situation for children placed in state custody while their biological parents take steps to reconnect and restore their family through reunification. The purpose of foster care is to provide children with a stable and loving family environment while addressing the challenges that led to their initial placement in foster care to determine permanency for the child. Permanency in foster care is about establishing a stable, loving home where children can feel safe and secure, whether through reunification with their biological family, adoption, or guardianship. The primary goal of Sunbeam’s Foster Care program is to help children return to their biological families as long as it is safe to do so. Our foster families play a key role in providing a bridge of support to families involved in the child welfare system and helping children achieve stability.
Sunbeam families are encouraged to help maintain a child’s connections to their kin, culture, and community while providing temporary care, love, and support. As part of a professional team, foster families work together to serve the best interests of the child and their biological family, supporting relationships and efforts toward reunification. Children come from diverse backgrounds and have varying experiences. Some may have faced significant challenges, so it is important for foster families to approach them with love, patience, and kindness, recognizing the importance of understanding and respecting their individual needs and histories. Sunbeam recognizes that all children and families come from diverse backgrounds and have varying experiences throughout their journey. Children in foster care have been removed from their biological families because they were deemed unsafe, abused, or neglected and their parents unable to care for them. This is why it is important for foster families to embody love, patience, and kindness, recognizing the importance of understanding and respecting each child and family’s individual needs and histories.
Why Foster with Sunbeam?
At Sunbeam, we recognize the importance of representing and supporting the variety of backgrounds and cultures of children in the foster care system. We strive to have families who reflect the diverse backgrounds and cultures of children in care, ensuring that each child and family feels understood, valued and supported. We welcome foster parent applications from individuals and families regardless of marital status, sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, religion, or race.
Foster Care Experts Since the 1930s
Founded in 1907, Sunbeam has a proven track record of supporting children and families in Oklahoma. Our foster care experts provide guidance and connection to valuable resources and support at court, family team meetings, and more.
24/7 Support from Sunbeam Foster Care Experts
You’re not alone in your fostering journey. Our Foster Care Experts are here 24/7 to assist you with urgent needs or questions.
Priority Placement in Sunbeam’s Free Head Start and Early Head Start
Sunbeam offers high-quality, early childhood education services at our center-based locations. Services include individualized wraparound support for your family, free diapers and wipes, health screenings, and other resources and referrals that may benefit you and your family.
Priority Placement with Sunbeam’s Trauma-Certified Therapists
Sunbeam foster parents have priority access to therapy services for children in care with Sunbeam therapists, who understand the challenges children in foster care may face, and access for their immediate family.
Mental Health Consultation Support
Mental health consultation, including expertise in Infant and Early Childhood consultation, is available from Sunbeam’s highly trained clinical staff for one-on-one support and direction to foster parents around children’s behaviors, discipline, transitions, and more. Click to watch a video about Mental Health consultation.
Connection to Respite Support
Thanks to trained foster parents, respite is available to your family. Respite is temporary, short-term care provided to foster children by another certified foster family or caregiver, allowing you a break when you need it while ensuring that the child continues to receive quality care in a safe and nurturing environment.
What it Takes to Foster
- Must be 21 years of age or older
- You can be single, married, divorced or widowed and already have children in your home
- Must own or rent a house/apartment
- Complete free pre-service training provided by Sunbeam
- Have a working vehicle and cell phone
- Are able to manage personal and household financial needs without relying on foster care reimbursement
- Be in good physical, emotional, and mental health
- Willingness to comply will all OKDHS policies
Sunbeam's Foster Care Process
Sunbeam’s Foster Care Process generally takes about 3 months to complete, though the timeframe can vary based on individual circumstances. This includes:
- Get connected with a Sunbeam Foster Care Expert within 2 business days to learn more about fostering
- Complete the application packet and send it to the Sunbeam Certification Specialist
- Background check is run
- All adult household members (18+) are fingerprinted
- Complete Guiding Principles, a 27-hour online self-paced training
- A Foster Care Expert visits your home for a House Assessment to get to know you and your family
- Your family completes a Home Study, which is an in-depth assessment of who you are, why you are who you are, and why you want to become a Sunbeam foster parent
- Attend Sunbeam’s Foster Care Orientation (Scheduled upon availability)
- Using the provided checklist, ensure all paperwork is turned in, all training is completed, and sign contracts for the certification of your home
- Congratulations, you’re a certified foster home!
- Welcome the placement of a child into your home and your heart .
