You’re a foster parent. You’ve opened up your home and your heart to a child in need. You’ve done it because you believe every child deserves a safe and loving home. But, that doesn’t make it easy. Nope, not even a little bit. Raising any child is full of ups and downs that would make […]
If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you’re serving as a foster parent because you’ve got love and warmth to spare. You have something to give. It’s why you’ve opened your home and your heart to a child not your own—a child who has suffered rejection, fear, and loss; a child who feels helpless and […]
You’ve done everything they’ve asked – you’re up to speed on all the trainings, you’ve filled out all the forms, making sure to dot every last i and cross every last t. You’re prepared to be a foster parent, but what you weren’t prepared for was the wait. Now you’re wondering, “Will I ever get that call?” Or maybe […]
You hear the door bell ring early in the morning. When you open it, the person introduces himself as an Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU) investigator and informs you that you have been accused of the abuse and neglect of your foster child. You are understandably afraid. You have a lot of questions, and you […]
Most children do not have control of their lives. They can’t make big decisions like where to live or what to buy. In many cases, they can’t even make small decisions like deciding what time they’ll go to bed or when they can have dinner. It’s not a punishment; it’s childhood. For foster children, who […]
You’re a pro at foster parenting. You’ve fostered more than 35 children and can give just about any parent starting this journey great advice. One day, you get a call from your caseworker about an opportunity to foster an autistic child – specifically one with Asperger’s Syndrome. Out of all of the children you’ve fostered, […]
Big concepts like love and community are rooted in the idea that we’re willing to help others even when it hurts us. The idea is called altruism, and it’s a big part of what makes a family work. Kinship caregivers, like foster and adoptive parents, are expected to be altruistic. But they face a unique […]
Any form of bullying is enough to have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Cyberbullying takes the days of meeting the aggressor in the playground after school to a whole new level. After enduring abuse or neglect from their biological parents, bullying is adding insult to injury for foster kids. As a foster parent, […]
Since 2008 and the passage of the Fostering Connections to Success Act, a concerted effort has been made nationwide to place siblings in the same foster care, kinship guardianship or adoptive placement. But what happens when siblings can’t be placed together? How do you, as a foster parent, care for a young boy who has […]
There is no knowing how the future will turn out when you decide to become a foster parent. Maybe you’ll foster and fall in love with a child. Maybe you’ll realize that the work you’re doing is truly important and make fostering your life’s work. You might even foster and find out that it’s not […]