Sunbeam Foster Care services includes Emergency Foster Care, Therapeutic Foster Care, Transitional Foster Care and Contracted Foster Care


Children in foster care are our community's most vulnerable and valuable assets. Because many of them suffer from emotional and/or physical problems as a result of the abuse they have endured, they need a stable home with loving people who accept them as they are and are committed to helping them achieve all they can achieve.

Each year Sunbeam finds caring foster homes for more than 500 Oklahoma children. Our mission is to provide quality, individualized care and services to these vulnerable children and the foster families who care for them.

Change a Life - Become a Foster Parent

Oklahoma has an overwhelming number of children in DHS custody who need a place to call home, even if only temporarily. Please consider becoming a foster parent and creating a stable, loving home for a child in need.

Sunbeam provides all necessary training and certification to become a transitional, emergency or therapeutic foster parent.

Sunbeam's foster families receive unmatched assistance, pre-service training, on-going education and 24/7 support through:

  • Resource Room access to clothing, diapers, formula and school supplies
  • Psychiatric Consultations
  • Daily reimbursement to offset additional expenses
  • In-home support provided by licensed therapists
  • Biological family therapy in preparation for reunification
  • Medication clinic visits
  • Advocacy for the child at all meetings and court dates

Requirements to Become a Foster Parent
  • Single or married
  • 21 years of age or older
  • Must live within 40 miles of Oklahoma City
  • Must complete 37-42 hours of pre-service training- includes first aid and CPR
  • Must provide references and submit to fingerprint and background checks
  • Able to manage their income to meet their own financial needs
  • Sufficient and appropriate beds or bedrooms for an additional child or children
  • In suitably good physical and mental health to provide for a child placed in the home
  • Ability to understand, love, care for and accept a child to whom they did not give birth
  • No prior conviction or charge of any sexual offense or criminal history
  • No history of alleged or confirmed child abuse or neglect or sexual abuse


Don't let financial considerations stop you from being a foster parent. Sunbeam provides financial help to families to offset the additional expense of a foster child. For more information about becoming a foster parent, please call (405) 528-7721.

Emergency Foster Care

Sunbeam Emergency Foster Care (EFC) provides short-term placement for children, ages 0-5 years, removed from their homes by the Department of Human Services due to allegations of abuse or neglect. Our purpose is to prevent children from having to spend the night in an emergency shelter as well as to provide a caring interim home until more permanent arrangements can be made for the child. EFC placement is generally less than 30 days and, following emergency placement, children typically move into traditional foster care or are placed into the care of a family member. Sunbeam is the only agency in Oklahoma County with Emergency Foster Care. Emergency Foster Care parents receive 42 hours of training in preparation for their role as substitute caregivers.

Emergency Foster Care parents undergo 42 hours of training as preparation and may be called upon 24/7 for a placement. Emergency Foster Care parents must be able to stay at home full-time with the child in order to be an Emergency Foster Care parent.

Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic Foster Care parents are the foundation in the treatment of abused, neglected and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.

The Sunbeam Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) program provides community-based, family treatment services to help children (3 1/2 to 18 years of age) who have been abused or neglected. Therapeutic Foster Care parents and Sunbeam staff work together to prevent placement disruptions, create a sense of permanency and to prevent the need for institutionalization. TFC is a higher level of care than traditional foster care and is crucial in giving abused children the support and encouragement they need to regain trust, grow and heal.

Sunbeam TFC families receive extensive pre-service training, ongoing education and support and round-the-clock clinical intervention services from therapists.

Each month, each TFC child receives:

  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Group Rehabilitation
  • Substance Abuse Education


Comprehensive Transitional Services

Comprehensive Transitional Services (CTS) is a planned extensive family based service designed to assist teens and young adults for a successful transition from foster care to independent living. Many foster youth are not equipped to assume the pressures, burdens and responsibilities of adulthood.

CTS assists in:
  • Obtaining and Maintaining Employment
  • Higher Education and Vocational Training
  • Safe Affordable Housing
  • Learning and Practicing Independent Life Skills

Contracted Foster Care

Contracted Foster Care provides long term foster care services to children under the age of six who are ready for discharge from a hospital setting, the OKDHS shelter or an Emergency Foster Care home in Oklahoma County. Preference is given to children 0-12 months needing placement.


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