Everything You Need To Know About Foster Parenting

Updated November 18, 2024by Regain Editorial Team
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Foster parenting is an inherently complex subject. There are many layers and facets involving the pros and cons of fostering. Individuals who choose to become foster parents do so for various reasons. However, regardless of whether or not an individual or family is looking into fostering, understanding all that it entails can certainly come in handy. Children who are placed in the custody of unsuitable foster parents end up worse off. Fostering impacts many lives, whether the majority of people realize it or not.

Understanding the ins and outs of foster parenting

As affirmed by the National Foster Parenting Association, there are certainly some paramount ins and outs of fostering that interested individuals need to be aware of. Which foster parent or foster family that a child ends up with, even temporarily, can greatly impact their quality of life and worldview. Each foster parent must do their best to their foster children and ensure that they are in it for the right reason.

Ultimately, the only right reason to pursue fostering is to better the child's lives or the children at hand. Many children who end up in the foster care system are there due to losing their parents or being born into unfit families to care for children. These children have also likely experienced things that some individuals cannot begin to imagine. Therefore, foster parents owe it to the children they have voluntarily chosen to care for to ensure that each foster child who comes into their home feels safe, comfortable, and loved.

Even the best of foster parents will encounter some challenges or pushback. Sometimes, foster children can be difficult to handle or deal with. Initially, they may not trust the latest people who are caring for them. This is especially applicable to children who have been entrusted to multiple foster families in relatively short periods of time.

Like any other child, foster children get sick, feel restless or angry, or have the issues they are dealing with. Being a foster parent is a full-time job that requires so much time and energy. This is precisely why every foster parent should have mastered certain skills and strengths before caring for children.

 Critical skills for foster parenting

Official qualifications and requirements for fostering vary from state to state. The parents have to pass a background check, and certain officials will have to inspect and observe the quality and state of the home before allowing the foster parents to acquire custody of the children. However, background checks coupled with the quality of one's home are only the tip of the iceberg regarding the skills and strengths needed to care for foster children.

 Communication skills

According to The Spruce, the ability to communicate with others is one of the most paramount skills for any foster parent to have. Not only will they need to communicate with the children in their care appropriately, but they will also need to effectively communicate with social workers, therapists, judges, and perhaps even the biological family of the foster children. Communication is needed in virtually all aspects of an individual's life, but it is especially critical for foster parents.

 Childcare skills

Next, as previously stated, comes the ability to handle challenging foster children. Many of these young people have been victims of neglect and abuse in one form or another. As unfortunate as this may be, a child's past negative experiences can greatly impact others' views and perceptions. Foster parents may believe they are equipped to handle difficult children, but true mastery of such is a skill in and of itself. There are certain guidelines to be followed and various behaviors that are simply unacceptable.

If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

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Physical punishments are one of the prohibited behaviors. Not only can this trigger past unpleasant experiences for foster children, but it can also worsen already bad behavior. This is not mutually exclusive to spanking, which is a common yet controversial form of punishment.

Under no circumstances should foster parents spank the children they are caring for, nor should they withhold meals, order children to do exercises, or enforce other forms of physically impactful forms of punishment. Caring for foster children is different from caring for children or children who have not been in the foster care system. This is a sad yet very accurate reality that every foster parent needs to be aware of.

 Interpersonal skills

Not only should foster parents pass basic background checks, pass home inspections, handle challenging children, and understand what constitutes appropriate punishments, but foster parents should also know how to work with others. Fostering involves much more than appropriate child care. Individuals who choose to care for foster children will also have to interact with social workers, various professionals, and even the foster children's biological families. These are things that all foster parents should be prepared for at any given time.

 Different types of foster parenting

When most people think of fostering, thoughts of children coming to stay with new people for extended periods of time come to mind. However, as stated by Adopt U.S. Children, there are many existing variations of fostering that everyone should be aware of, especially if they consider or attempt to become foster parents.

 Respite care

Each variation of foster care requires unique training. In most cases, the foster parents do become the temporary or permanent guardians of children. However, this is not always the case. For instance, respite care foster parents care for foster children for short spans of time while the "regular" foster parents can take a break. Fostering can be quite exhausting, and sometimes, people require a recess from it.

 Treatment/therapeutic foster parenting

Next comes treatment/therapeutic foster care parents. These people step in and help care for children who are especially in need of care. Children who suffer from extreme social problems, behavioral problems, or even mental health ailments are most likely to need treatment/therapeutic foster parenting. This form of foster care certainly requires unique training considering the children's nature that this type of foster parents will be dealing with. Treatment/therapeutic fostering is arguably the most challenging and exhausting type of foster care.

 Kinship foster parenting

Kinship foster parenting occurs when biological relatives of the foster children step in and behave as caregivers. This arrangement can occur with or without legalities. Many people may not consider kinship care as a form of fostering, but legally, it does fall into the category of fostering.

 Emergency/urgent foster parenting

Although somewhat similar to kinship foster parenting, emergency/urgent fostering happens in cases of extreme emergencies. Usually, these types of foster children need immediate care, be it overnight or during weekends. More often than not, emergency/urgent care is one of the shortest types of fostering.

 Foster-to-adopt foster parenting

Last but certainly not least on the list of different types of fostering comes foster-to-adopt care. As the name suggests, foster-to-adopt parents foster children with the hopes or intentions of actually adopting them and making them part of the family. Many individuals have made the case that this form of foster care is most beneficial for children for various reasons.

First and foremost, the obvious advantage of children not having to constantly be uprooted and go from one foster home to the next. Foster children who are eventually adopted are also allowed to get to know their new family, bond with them, and enjoy being children. Adopt U.S. Kids furthermore states that more and more American states are promoting this version of foster care.

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Want to talk about foster parenting - or something else

Additional support for becoming foster parents

Many people enter fostering with the best intentions; however, without the proper understanding, skills, and overall knowledge, the results can be disastrous. A firm comprehension of the process, forms, and uncertainties that inherently come with fostering is important.

A pleasant experience with a foster family can make an amazing difference in a child's life, whereas an unpleasant experience can leave scars and wounds that last a lifetime. People need to make sure they are 100% equipped for the ups and downs that come with fostering before seriously pursuing it. Many individuals and families take months or even years to think about whether they are truly ready to become foster parents.

Sometimes sitting down with a licensed professional can be one of the best ways to self-evaluate and determine whether or not fostering is the best decision for you. Despite the unfortunate stigma associated with counseling and therapy, there is nothing wrong with seeking professional assistance.

Takeaway

Here at Regain, we pride ourselves on providing the best quality of professional care and guidance. This can be especially helpful for prospective foster parents and active foster parents who may be going through certain struggles or difficulties. Regardless of whether you are a foster parent or thinking of becoming a foster parent, you need to know that Regain will always be here for you. Ultimately, the decision is yours, but if you ever feel inclined to contact Regain for any reason, you can do so by clicking here.

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