Foster Child :Fostering is a process where a child is raised by someone who is not his biological parent. In shorter words, it is said to be taking care of a child who is not their own. Fostering can be emotionally, physically and financially draining on you, especially when it is a child that has been abused or neglected, so it has to be something you are prepared to cope with.
In short, foster parenting can be a gratifying experience for families ready and willing to take on the responsibility. Then again, it can be equally draining when children have extreme emotional or behavioural problems. Knowing what to expect before you start would help you decide if fostering is something you feel comfortable pursuing.
Fostering is a gratifying undertaking, and not just for the fostered child. Once you’ve taken that first step, it can be all too easy to become immersed in the demands of parenthood.
Requirements of being a Foster Parent in the USA
If you’re thinking about fostering children, you’re probably familiar with the challenges of raising children, even if they aren’t yours. All parenting challenges are present — from the day-to-day chores to discipline to get through rough patches. Then there’s keeping the kids clothed, fed and rested. However, the requirements of being a foster parent in the USA are as follows:
- The foster parent should be more than 18 years old and can be single or married.
- The parent should have enough resources to provide reasonable physical health and adequate living space.
- They should be financially stable and must be having a regular income.
- To fulfil the requirements, the parent must be clear of all criminal records and other cases.
- The parent must be answerable to all the questions asked in the interviews along with the home assessment.
- A 36 hour training program makes the things easy for parents.
Foster care funding is in high demand, and a state’s ability to fund foster care can mean the difference between a foster child receiving the services they need or being forced to return to an unsafe home. Meeting this need means supporting the nation’s foster children and their families when the number of kids entering foster care increases.
Challenges of being a Foster Parent
The foster carer role represents a significant commitment from the person performing this role. However, not only do you get to witness and take part in helping children who need your love and support, but you also reap many rewards – the satisfaction of ensuring that a child has a happy, stable home is just one example.
As with any rewarding profession, becoming a carer will involve particular challenges. But the satisfaction and rewards of fostering children and providing a loving, secure family environment are priceless.
- The behaviour of the Fostered Child
Foster parents need to realise that when a child comes into your care, they are immediately aware of the difference between their old home and their new home. It may be difficult for them to understand why you, as a foster parent, are treating them entirely differently than those that brought up and cared for them from birth. Moreover, every parent should be patient even after seeing the child’s weird behaviour.
- Educating the Child
To help foster children, we must focus on these aspects of the educational environment and consider their biological families’ well-being. Every child’s well-being is a societal concern, whether adopted or in state care.
- Making a solid bond with them
Foster children who have a supportive family or friends will be able to deal better with their experience and can lead fulfilling lives. In this sense, foster families and friends are equally important for the child’s psychological wellbeing and overall development, which can be measured by a child’s school performance and social skills. Conditionally loving parents or friends can also lead to attachment issues in foster children.
- Letting them Adjust
When you foster a child, it requires an adjustment to your lifestyle, but that’s not to say that your life as you know it is over. The reality is that taking on the role of a carer doesn’t take away from your identity or the things that make you happy. You’re just adding a little something extra. You may find that this takes a little effort and adjustment to meet your carer and social life.
- Taking out time for them
Foster care is not just babysitting. While providing a good home for children whose parents are unable to do so, foster parents also provide them with education and give them what could be the best years of their life. It may be what you want for your foster child, but it can make everything you did before feel like a waste.
Final Words
There is no question that foster children face many difficulties in their lives. Having spent most of their childhood with parents who were unable or unwilling to provide a loving, environment. And this often leaves them feeling angry, sad and mistrustful. There have always been children who need a home. Foster care was originally a way to provide child placements for children who had lost one parent. Or would most likely lose the other if they remained with their birth parents. It seems a daunting task but is rewarding
