First Step
When you receive your license for fostering you are asked a series of questions regarding which children you are willing to accept. This is the first stage in deciding on the children that will ultimately be in your care.
Second Step
The second stage occurs when your caseworker contacts with a placement. He or she will describe to you the children who currently need a home that also fit your initial assessment. You can say yes or no to the described children. If you say no, the caseworker will look elsewhere for a foster home. If you say yes, those children will be scheduled to arrive at your foster care home soon – within 24 to 48 hours in most cases.
While the best situation is one in where all foster families accept all foster children and can properly care for them, this is not the case. Sometimes it is better to say no because the children in question can go to a better placement home.
Take Time to Consider Everything
Man is assisting a child in playing a keyboard instrument.
Before you accept foster children into your care ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I willing to accept and care for children who are a different race, religion, or ethnicity than me?
- If I do accept children who vary from my own beliefs, am I willing to support their ability to practice their culture or religion?
- Do I have the time or space to foster special needs children?
- Do I have the time or space to foster sibling groups (which is a high priority in the foster care system)?
- Are there any age limits on who I might be able to care for? For example, am I comfortable changing diapers and doing midnight feedings for infants? Can I assist teenagers to cope with high school and offer life skills for adulthood?
Learn More About Questions to Ask Before Fostering
For more information on foster child placements or to learn more about becoming a foster parent yourself, contact us today.