Every year, thousands of children go into care. Many of them have been living their lives without basic care and a lot face abuse. Foster care is at times the only chance they get to live a life without uncertainty and fear, with the basics that every child deserves. Foster care networks are made of thousands of volunteering families across the country. Consider this important role and learn more about the being foster parents.
Skills Needed for Fostering
There are some skills that you will need to have or develop when you the take the mantle of a foster caregiver. You will need to balance the responsibility of raising another child with the duties you have towards your family and occupation. This would translate to lesser time in your schedule, but with all the resources and rewards involved in this noble cause, many foster parents eventually achieve the right balance.
Your communication skills will come to the reckoning on all fronts. You will be interacting with people from different backgrounds – social workers, the child’s family members, educational representatives, therapists, and most importantly – the child. Teamwork is another important aspect of being a foster caregiver. You will have to organize your thoughts and approaches by taking feedback from other stakeholders. You will also need to communicate openly with them.
There are other skills involved in being a foster caregiver – some are related to dealing with behavior or personality traits you may have not encountered before. Of course, there is a proper traininghttp://www.momdoesreviews.com/2018/09/09/is-fostering-right-for-your-family/ and mentor ship process when you are applying to be a foster caregiver. These interactions with experts will address child-related issues and help you familiarize with fostering.
Finances for Foster Caregivers
Before people want to jump into the fostering network, they have a lot of questions. Some are addressed in this link – https://www.momdoesreviews.com/2018/09/09/is-fostering-right-for-your-family/.
There are incentives for those who decide to open their homes for children and provide them with a secure and comfortable environment to live in. In the USA, like in most countries with a fostering network, foster caregivers get income and funds from the state to be able to conduct their duties. The rates vary from state to state. The basic maintenance rate is expected to cover the essentials for the child such as food, personal expenses, clothing, and logistics. The child is also part of a state-provided insurance scheme.
Some children have special needs and the expenses incurred for them are higher. Based on the scenario, foster caregivers are given larger monthly funds. There are also some tax benefits that foster parents can avail.
Emotional Rewards of Fostering
Imagine being the beacon in someone’s life, a parent-like figure for a scared child who blooms into a confident individual. There is no denying that this role will have its challenges. However, that satisfaction and goodwill earned cannot be described in numbers; it can only be understood when experienced.
Many foster parents look back at their experiences and fondly remember welcoming a new member to the family and tearfully saying goodbye. The relationship you will build with the child is something that is unique and will last forever. Foster care giving is a perfect example of how total strangers can come together to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable.
As a foster parent, you will also experience a lot of personal growth. In this journey of providing care for a child, you will learn a lot of things along the way. You will also be interacting with social workers and experts on child behavior, enriching yourself with the expertise to take on more fostering responsibilities.
Requirements for Fostering
Potential foster parents need to be earning a certain level of income that allows them to take care of their family. This is an indicator that they can accommodate another person (with the extra funds for fostering).
Adoptive parents must be adults (above 21 years of age), and there are criminal background checks involved before one can take in a foster child. The process also includes home visits by representatives of the state’s foster care network and a training session.
Make a Difference as a Foster Parent
Along with the patience and skills you show when nurturing a foster child, comes the great feeling that you are a positive influence in his or her life. Foster parents can be the catalyst in the making of a successful young adult – a beautiful relationship that will last a lifetime. Consider joining the countrywide network of foster parents. Play this important role and help save a future.
