The WHOLE Foster Procedure?

imask8r

Hi: I was a foster mom for 15 years. To become a foster parent a social worker came to my house and gave me and my husband forms to fill out, and a questionaaire, and then we took classes in foster parenting. To me the most important thing was realizing the children I was going to take care of wanted to go home, not live with me forever. All but one of my kids did go back to their parents, and he went to live with his grandfather. So I can't tell you about the adoption part...but I can tell you it's not easy. The kids are upset a lot of the time, then they see their parents on weekends, and get even more upset. It's really hard on the children.

Mom to Foster Children

We did reunification fostering, but I will answer anyway. We tried to mentor parents to get their **** together so that they could raise their children themselves - but were also an adoptive home in case this wasn't the case. We have had our son in our home for 2 1/2 years and he has been in foster care since Nov of 03 - trying to reunify with his parents. Alas this didn't happen - so in his case it took 5 years from the time he was placed into care till the time he is adopted. While you have children in foster care who live with you it's kind of like having your own children live with you. They aren't exempt from school or homework - they do act up - get in trouble - color lots of lots of pictures. There are a multitude of visits from GAL's, caseworkers...etc. If the child parents still have rights you will need to schedule in times that the child can go and visit their parents and be prepared to answer questions on how come I didn't have a visit / how come I can't live with (?) / why do I have to live here / why did I have to move again????? There is so much involved I will stop here as there isn't enough time in the day / week to write everything we have been through. Just know that being a foster parent is a full time job just like being a parent except with all the extra stuff.

Rosanna O

i cant tell u the entire procedure, but i can tell u some of it (it probably varies by states too).

first off though not ALL foster parents adopt, i know a foster parent couple that have adopted several of their foster kids, and another one that has never adopted and dont want to.

you do have to take parenting classes (child protection services will probably tell u exactly which ones u need) and where i am their usually done at a community college. your home will need to be inspected and approved by CPS, u will most likely have a battery of tests done on you and your spouse (drug screens, physcological, mental emotional, intelligence probably, criminal background).

thats probably just the beginning of it but i can tell u once ur a foster parent and have kids in your home CPS will be doing routine visits.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: