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The decision to become a foster parent should not be taken lightly. Being a foster parent requires a great amount of time, patience and compassion. The foster care system in the United States is under the direction of the U.S. department of health and human services. As of September 2010 there are over four hundred and twenty thousand children in the foster care system in America.
To be a foster parent there are stringent requirements. You must be at least 21 although some states require you to be 25 at the time of placement. You and other adult members of your family must also pass a criminal background check. You must submit to home visits by a social worker and be able to provide a bed for each child placed in your care. After meeting all the requirements you must go through training and a home study course. This training allows you to become familiar with the foster care system as well as provides you with tools to help you should you have a difficult foster child in your care.
While foster parents are compensated for each child the amount is at times less than adequate. Many foster parents find that they end up spending more on the children than the state provides. This is why anyone who wished to become a foster parent must do so for the right reasons. The prospective foster parent must understand that they are there to care for a child in a time of need. At times the children have been abused either physically or mentally. The child may be depressed, hostile and angry at everyone including the foster parents. Childhood and adolescence are difficult times. Growing up in a foster home does not make the situation easier In fact it may make it harder for the child to find attachment and feel secure in any environment. A foster parent must understand that they are there to care for the child while that child is in their custody. This could be a matter of weeks or it could be a matter of years depending on the case and age of the child.
