Have you been thinking about becoming a foster parent? How will you know if you will make good foster parents?
Irrespective of whether you have children of your own or not, many couples, and even single parents, consider foster parenting at some point in their lives. Perhaps they can not – or choose not to – have biological children, but would still like to make a difference in someone’s life. Or perhaps they are empty nesters and miss a household with children. Becoming foster parents is a very large responsibility and should not be taken lightly. You will be touching troubled lives and need to be prepared for almost anything. It can be very challenging, but at the same time very rewarding in helping a child who has been in a very bad situation through no fault of their own.
Whatever the case may be, here are some factors you should consider before applying for a home study which is the next step in becoming foster parents.
Do You Have a Stable Household?
This could mean a stable marriage and a generally happy household because it is crucial for foster children not to be caught amidst a conflicting home because many have history of abuse, separation or death of a loved one.
Are You Patient?
Anyone who even remotely considers foster parenting needs to be patient, not just with children, but patient in every way. This is because just the process of becoming a foster parent is long and tedious. Most families have to be fingerprinted and have detailed background checks to make them suitable candidates. The process can be long and grueling.
Are You Financially Stable And Comfortable?
Even though the foster child is the responsibility of the state and Medicaid provides for his or her health care, the allowance each child is given is pretty modest. It varies from state to state and according to the age of the child, but on average, it could run around $350 per month. That means the foster parents may have to pitch in to support the child.
Would YOu Say That Are You Fair?
This may sound like a silly question, but it is an important one. If you have kids of your own at home, do you think you will be biased towards them in any way or will you be as fair as possible? How do you react when your kids have cousins or friends over? Do you choose sides or try for an amicable solution to a problem?
Before you become a foster parent yourself, one of the best things you can do is visit a local foster parent because you can ask them first hand any questions you may have and see exactly what foster parenting entails. If you feel you qualify on the above questions, you should definitely give foster parenting a try because you could be positively influencing a child’s life, and that can be a very rewarding experience.
You do have the option of returning the child to the state in case you have a terrible experience of theft or violence. But if you are lucky to get a child who just needs some love and care, you can open your doors and your heart to an innocent child who has been a victim of circumstances, usually with no fault of his own.
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