Can I become a foster parent if I have HIV?

Yes. Having HIV isn’t a sufficient reason to prevent someone from becoming licensed as a foster parent. However, the ACLU’s “Know Your Rights: HIV Parenting” brochure notes that if your health is compromised to the point that you cannot adequately care for a child, you probably won’t get licensed. (As is the case with adoption, all prospective foster parents have to share their medical history and have a doctor’s go-ahead before they are certified.) As the AIDS Beacon reiterates, agencies are “allowed to reject the applicant if other factors exist that determine the prospective parents are unqualified.” Again, utilize your local AIDS service organization or LGBT center (even if you are in an opposite-sex couple) to find poz-friendly agencies that work with the foster care system. Most major cities have such agencies.