Pretty ProgressiveThousands of children around the country need a loving home. Yet, most people have apprehensions about the foster care system, so they don’t become foster parents. Here’s everything you need to know about foster care if you’re on the fence about this life-changing decision.
Foster Care Is Temporary
The primary goal of foster care is reunification. Hopefully, after spending some time with you, they can reunite with their parents. Some people are nervous about becoming foster parents because they think it’s permanent—this isn’t always the case. While some individuals decide to adopt their foster children after some time, this doesn’t happen for everyone.
More Foster Parents Are Needed
There are over 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States. There are not nearly enough foster parents to keep up with the demand. For this reason, you should attend meetings and talk to other foster parents about their experiences. The system will guide you and not leave you out there to dry.
Challenges Leaving Foster Care
Youth face challenges when aging out of foster care. Essentially, the system takes care of them their entire lives. Then, when they turn 18, they’re expected to go out on their own. Luckily, there are some government programs in place to make the transition easier. However, foster parents should still prepare their foster kids as much as possible before they turn 18.
This guide on everything you need to know about foster care will help you decide if you want to become a foster parent. Yes, taking on the responsibility of a child is a lot of work. However, there are thousands of children in the system that need your help. So, don’t dismiss the idea right away. Talk to people that have gone through it so you can hear firsthand how it changed their lives.
