Foster Parent
There are over 400,000 children in the United States in need of a temporary home while issues with their birth parents or household are being resolved. Often this is due to neglect or physical and emotional abuse. A child's parents will be given time and resources for improving their parenting skills or coping with substance abuse or anger. If they are able to get control of their life, then they will be reunited with their child. This happens for about half of all the children in foster care. But, for parents who cannot get themselves together after 15 months, case workers will file for termination of the parents' rights.
Those who do not reunite with their birth family after 15 months either age out of the foster care system or are adopted. The majority of these children are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. About a fourth of all children in the U.S. foster system are waiting for placement into an adoptive home.
To foster a child, then, means step into the parental role for the child without the long-term commitment of adopting him or her. While there's a 25-percent chance the opportunity may come up, case workers will try to find an adoptive home for the foster child outside of the foster home as well.
To become a foster parent, one must fill out an application with a state agency and undergo an acceptance process similar to an adoption home study. Prospective foster parents will need a background check, letters of reference from friends and employers and a medical check-up to ensure the home is a healthy place. The foster home approval process may include additional licensing training, the hours and content of which varies by state.
Some public agencies require prospective adopters of older children foster a child before being placed with him or her. Depending on the state, an adopter may be able to participate in a fost-adopt or legal risk program that pairs children who are likely to have their birth parents' rights terminated by the state and in turn become available for adoption.
The prospect of this not happening, however, can be emotionally difficult for many parents. Therefore, it's important to recognize that fostering isn't a permanent arrangement and requires an ability to let go of a child after he or she has lived in one's home for anything from five months to two years.
Category: Foster
See Also: Foster Parent Association
Articles About "Foster Parent"
"Foster Parent" in the News
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Foster parent info available BLOOMINGTON
Foster parent shares challenges of caring for foster children After a half-brother allegedly hung his half-sister while in a foster home, a foster parent shares what life behind the scenes can be like.
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Sex abuse nets foster parent 25 years A Raceland foster parent was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing three girls younger than 13, authorities said.
May Designated as Foster Parent Appreciation Month The Mesa Counties Commissioner's office has signed a proclamation coining May as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.
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More from the Foster Category
"Foster Parent" in the Adoption Blogs
"Foster Parent" in the Adoption Forums
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Do you feel like a mom? May 12, 2012, 8:17 pm I have been a foster parent for almost two years. After 8 years of trying and six angel babies, we finally decided that God must have another plan for us. So we became foster parents.
We primarily do emergency care and have had 27 placements since we became foster parents. A year ago, an 10...
the list is what SW and the system usesMay 13, 2012, 11:39 am [QUOTE=Dickons]I would guess that everyone on this forum can clearly identify with one or more of the risk factors in Flights post...especially those "[I]single[/I]" parents (or because you put the term adoptive in front means it magically changes?) or those who "[I]live with their paramour[/I]"...
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Must Read Blog... May 11, 2012, 4:29 pm This is a blog post in response to the Time Magazine article...
I know there is already a thread but this is an article that as a Foster Parent you will want to read and I didn't want it buried in the thread. I think you will all really enjoy it. One of my friends posted it on Facebook and it...
Illinois Foster Parent Support Group startingMay 10, 2012, 6:34 pm Are you interesting in becoming a foster parent and want more information?
Are you a foster parent looking for more support?
If you answered yes to either question, come join us. :)
You must be 18 years old or older.
Illinois Foster Parent Support Group needs more volunteers to help...
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Stories About "Foster Parent"
"Foster Parent" on Adoption.com
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