What It Takes to Foster

Children in need of foster parents come in all ages, races and genders, and can stay in a foster home for varying lengths of time – from a few days to several years. It takes a special person to become a foster parent, and if you think you are interested in becoming one, there are several things that should be considered.

• Evaluate what kind of support system you have at home. Being a foster parent can be a stressful, trying thing and having someone that you can talk to when you’re having a hard time is invaluable. If you don’t have a built-in support system, there are also support groups for foster parents that were created specifically for that purpose.
  
  
• Decide if you can be completely selfless when it comes to the amount of time and love you’ll have to invest in this situation. There’s a very real possibility you’ll never get any sort of return on your investment other than the knowledge you’re helping someone in need, and you need to be prepared for that. You also need to be capable of saying goodbye to your foster child when it’s time for him or her to eventually move on. It’s one of the reasons becoming a foster parent is one of the most-rewarding but hardest things someone could do with their life.
  
  
• Remember that the reasons for a child being placed in a foster home may lead to them acting out or exhibiting signs of being anxious, resentful, angry, sad, etc. They may have experienced an abusive situation—physically, mentally, sexually, or emotionally—and while their outward response isn’t your fault, it’s still something you’ll have to deal with. You need to be able to do so without taking it personally.
  
  
• Do you have your own kids? Take them into consideration when you think about becoming a foster parent. A foster child will bring with him or her habits and behaviors that may be picked up by your biological children. Think about how old your kids are and what an ideal age would be for a prospective foster child.