I am interested in foster parenting.......?

Question

Anyone else out there already a foster parent and maybe offer me some advice?

Answer 1

I am a foster parent. Good luck with that. All you need to do is call you DHR/DHS office and tell them you want to be a foster parent. They will sign you up for classes and explain everything their. But....being a foster parent isn't EASY, and you don't get alot of money for doing it. There will be times when a child will come into your home and all you want to do is make it all better, the nall of a sudden, the state sends them back to the parents. Some children will destroy you things, and the state WILL NOT repair/ fix and or replace them. Its hard, and not everyone can be a foster parent.
One thing you can't do now that we could do 3 years ago,is punish a foster child. I'm NOT talking about spanking them, cause thats not allowed EVER. I mean...putting them in time out, sending them to their rooms, taking things away. Example...no TV, no desert after dinner, no cell phones, no friends over. Things like that. And believe me...some children need that structure. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 2

OK I worked with foster children, I supervised the visits between the children and their bio parents. My suggestion is as follows: be prepared for things to be a little crazy, if they kids are going through reunification then know that you will be dealing with the parents and they will blame you for everything!! Also be careful to not get too attached, you have to know that they will be going back to their families, but I am not saying that you shouldn't treat them as your own, just remember that they aren't your children! If i can do anything else to help, just email me!