How to Become a Foster Parent
Being a foster parent means taking in homeless children with the purpose of giving them a secure and safe environment. Being a foster parent requires patience, time, dedication and yes, resources. If you want to become one, you’ll have to undergo rigorous screening. Read on to learn more about becoming a foster parent.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you are ready to be a parent to a foster child. Other people will review your capabilities later on, but it’s important that you know what you’re getting into.
Foster children come from difficult backgrounds and may not relate to people the same way as children from stable backgrounds do. Can you honestly love and care for these children?
Are you secure in your parenting skills? In yourself? Can you set clear limits and discipline children?
Can you accept assistance from social workers?
Can you keep a positive attitude towards the child’s biological parents?
Will you be willing to let go of your foster child?
Foster Care Agencies
You can look up foster care agencies in the government section of your yellow pages. You can also look up for the foster care agencies in your state by searching for them online.
Requirements
Different states have different requirements when it comes to foster care, but generally you must possess all the following to be considered:
You must be at least 21 years old (other states may cite a different age)
You must prove that you have enough money to support your own family, without needing or depending on foster care reimbursements issued by the state.
Home must meet the minimum safety, fire and sanitary standards. Your home must also have enough room for the foster child to sleep and keep their belongings.
You must be physically and mentally capable of taking care of children.
You must not have drug or alcohol dependency problems.
You must pass the criminal background check.
Pre-Placement Training
Once you pass the requirements, you will then proceed to pre-placement training. Pre-placement training is a mandatory training session that will prepare potential foster parents for issues that come with foster children that may be placed with them.
Pre-placement training will also discuss the stipend issued by the state, the foster children’s medical coverage, their counseling that they may need and foster children’s daycare coverage.
Issues regarding to culture, early abuse, biological family members and such should be discussed with the social worker assigned to you to your satisfaction.
Each state have different requirements on how many hours of in-service training potential foster parents should attend, but 12 hours training annually is the minimum. Check with your local foster care agency or Social Services Department for class listings.