Learn more about the Kids
Online Professional Parent Application
There are over 4,000 children and youth in foster care in Utah each year. There are far fewer families helping them. These are a diverse group of everyday kids, with varying interests and experiences and challenges. They all have two things in common—they are unable to live with their family due to circumstances beyond their control, and they need someone like you to believe in them and to give them a safe, stable, nurturing home.
Most kids come into care due to abuse or neglect. These kids are the same as the kids in your neighborhood, and as diverse as our community at large. Many of them have had a rough road and experienced far more than what a kid should ever have to experience. But they are just kids who need a chance. They love to play video games, or sports, or go camping, or go to the movies, or listen to music, or hang out with friends, or watch videos as a family with a bowl of popcorn and candy. They want to do well in school, and have dreams, and want to have friends. They want to make others happy. Naturally many of them battle emotional and behavioral challenges from their abuse and other losses in their lives. Some of them face learning disabilities or other developmental challenges. Like all kids, there are times they are better and times they are worse. But most of all they just need someone to understand and stand by them.
Although some placements are short-term, generally kids in professional parenting are in need of longer placements that reduce disruption in their lives. In some cases placements are indefinite.
CTA provides lifelong services to people. While we are mostly in need of homes for kids, we also sometimes need professional parent or "host" homes for adults with disabilities. This can be an equally rewarding opportunity for families who want to help someone in need. See Other Ways to Help for more information about this option.
Please also note that the kids CTA serves are not kids who have come into care because of illegal behavior.
Families are often unsure—sometimes even frightened about whether or not they can do this. But it is our experience that you can. These are just kids. Give one a chance. Change a life. We will be here to help. We do not expect you to be perfect, and neither do these kids.
If you are interested in changing a life, or just want more information, please submit an application here, or contact us at 801-268-4887, toll free at 1-888-268-4887, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .