5 Reasons to Become a Foster Parent

Maybe you or someone you know have been considering becoming a foster parent, but just haven’t taken the steps to do so. When we meet with potential foster parents at Family Care for Children and Youth, we provide them with ample information about what foster care is, who the children are, what the requirements are for foster care, and how to initiate the process. But it is also extremely important to answer the question, “Why do I want to become a foster parent?”

While the answer to that question is different from person to person, we have found in our 20+ years of experience that successful foster parents often bring up these five common reasons for wanting to become a foster parent.

1. They care about children and want to help them.

Many children within the foster care system have been neglected, abused, and even abandoned. They have faced tremendous obstacles in their lives, and foster parenting is a powerful way to lift up those children and show them that there is hope for a better, loving future.

2. They didn’t have children and want to share their home/give their time and attention to a worthwhile cause

Being open to learning successful parenting skills with the support and guidance of experienced caseworkers gives a person the proper tools to be a quality and effective foster parent.

3. They want to have a positive impact on a child and the community.

Becoming a foster parent goes way beyond helping the individual child — foster care helps fight the problems our communities face with homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, poverty, domestic abuse, and so on. Oftentimes while caring for a foster child, foster parents are giving the child’s birth parents a chance to receive the necessary support and help they need to overcome problems that may have been the cause of removal of the child from the home. In turn, the foster parent can actually become a role model to birth parents on better ways of parenting their children.

4. They think that they did a good job with parenting and want to use their skills to help other children.

Having prior experience with parenting is helpful with foster parenting, and may provide a foundation in parenting a doctor child who has experienced trauma in their lives.

5. They don’t feel done parenting yet.

Children are such a joy in so many people’s lives, and their energy, excitement, and joy can be incredibly contagious. As an adult, having a child can bring so much happiness, allowing for fun days spent outdoors at the park, laughing together while playing board games, or reading a book together.

If you have felt these feelings at all and have considered becoming a foster parent, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today! We would be more than happy to answer any questions and assist you throughout the process.