There are so many myths about becoming a foster parent. Some of the most common tend to be about where you live, what your marital status is, and how old you are. Further, let’s BUST these myths because you just might be the perfect person to foster a child!
You Don’t Have to Own Your Home
Yes, that’s right! Indeed, you can be a renter. So many prospective foster parents automatically rule themselves out just because they don’t pay a mortgage. There are also no hard and fast rules about the type of home deemed acceptable. Most any permanent dwelling including mobile homes, apartments, townhomes, and, of course, single-family homes will be considered.
You Don’t Have to Be Married
Day in the life of a family.
Whether you are married or not is really none of our concern. While we do need to understand the dynamics of your current relationship, being single, legally separated, divorced, or in a domestic partnership are all acceptable. We also don’t discriminate based upon sexual preference or gender identification.
You Have to Be 21 or Older
Think you’re too young or too old to become a foster parent? Think again! Our only stipulation is that you are 21 years or older and are at least 5 years older than the eldest child placed in your home. We are more concerned you are in good physical and mental health.
There are Some Requirements
Speaking of…as one would expect, there are a variety of requirements every foster parent must meet. For example:
- You will undergo health and background checks.
- You will need to attend a thorough training for 30 hours to prepare you for the placement of a child.
- Your home will be assessed to ensure there are appropriate accommodations for the child and it is safe inside and out.
Learn More Debunked Fostering Myths
You can get more information and see answers to commonly asked questions on the “Become a foster parent” page of our website.
It’s important to remember the children we work with are not “one size fits all”. They each come with their own unique set of needs. In fact, we seek families just as varied as the children. It is vital to our matching process. We take much care in placing each and every child in a home with a family best suited to fulfill these needs. Placement stability and the child’s health and well-being depend on it.
DON’T WAIT! Get started today! You can connect with us through our “Contact us” page. TFI provides services in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Contact information for all states is on this page.