Emergency Shelter Care

Emergency shelter care provides short-term foster care for up to 90 days for children who need immediate placement. These placements typically happen due to a disruption in a previous placement or a removal situation where no relatives or kin are identified at the time of need.

If you are not yet licensed for foster care through EVOLVE, you’ll need to begin the process by completing an EVOLVE Information Session.

If you are a current EVOLVE foster care provider, please contact your assigned Foster Care Family Worker to request the necessary paperwork to become an Emergency Shelter Care program.

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Emergency Shelter Care: What to Know Before You Say Yes

Trauma Experiences Common Among Children Needing Emergency Shelter Care

What to Expect with Emergency Placements

Emergency shelter care provides immediate, short-term placement for children and youth when a safe home is urgently needed. Because placements often happen quickly, families considering this role should be prepared for uncertainty, flexibility, and higher-level needs.

Common Needs and Behaviors

Emergency placements often occur with limited advance notice and limited background information.

  • Not all information about a child’s history or behaviors may be available at the time of placement.

  • Some behaviors may not present immediately and can emerge after placement.

  • School transportation may take time to coordinate. Providers may be responsible for transporting children to and from school until services are in place.

  • In some cases, children may need to be newly enrolled or re-registered for school. This may require a provider to coordinate childcare or remain home until enrollment is complete.

Children who need emergency shelter care have often experienced one or more of the following:

  • Physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect

  • Sudden removal from birth parents

  • Placement disruptions

  • Running away or housing instability (e.g., couch hopping or lack of shelter)

  • Sexual exploitation or trafficking

  • Separation from siblings and family members

Due to their experiences, children in emergency shelter care may have higher or more complex needs, including:

  • Aggression toward adults and/or other children

  • Sexualized behaviors

  • Developmental delays

  • High or complex medical needs

  • Self-harm behaviors and/or suicidal ideation

Providers should also consider:

  • Have you completed training related to emergency shelter care or behavior de-escalation techniques?

  • Are you willing to participate in additional training to support children with higher needs?

You’re Not Doing This Alone

Emergency shelter care can be challenging, but you are not expected to do it without support. Providers receive guidance, resources, and ongoing support to help meet the needs of children during critical moments of transition.

Interested in learning more or taking the next step?