Foster Parenting

@sharon_ (1169)
United States
April 28, 2008 2:59am CST
Could you do it? Have you ever thought about being one. Maybe you're a foster parent right now or have been in the past. What was it like? Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in "parent(s)" cares for minor children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority. Responsibility for the young person is assumed by the relevant governmental authority and a placement with another family found. There can be voluntary placements by a parent of a child into foster care. Foster placements are monitored until the birth family can provide appropriate care or the rights of the birth parents are terminated and the child is adopted. A third option, guardianship, is sometimes utilized in certain cases where a child cannot be reunified with their birth family and adoption is not right for them. This generally includes some older foster children who may be strongly bonded to their family of origin and unwilling to pursue adoption. It also may include cases where children are placed with grandparents or other relatives, where the placement is likely to be permanent but those relatives don't want to fight the birth parents in court. Voluntary foster care may be utilized in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child. For instance, a child may have behavioral problems requiring specialized treatment or the parent might have a problem which results in a temporary or permanent inability to care for the child(ren). Involuntary foster care may be implemented when a child is removed from their caregiver because it is believed such removal is necessary for his/her own safety. A foster parent receives monetary reimbursement from the placement agency for each child while the child is in his/her home to help cover the cost of meeting the child's needs. The amount of financial assistance typically varies from state to state and even city to city... If I had a bigger place I would see about being a foster parent.
1 response
• United States
30 Apr 08
My aunt was a foster parent for several years. I was with her a lot when she had the children and I can remember being a kid and wondering why on earth parents would treat their children the way they did. My aunt cared for babies and teens. Some of them ended up getting put back with their parents and then my aunt would get them back eventually because the living conditions just weren't as good as they should have been. It was a terrible cycle.
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I appreciate your input on this subject. Seems as if you have quiet a bit of personal experience,as does your aunt. Bless her heart. I don't see how she did it.She must have had a heart of gold...