Separated Children Need Foster Parents and Family

Foster family care is a child welfare service which provides substitute family life for a child who must be separated from his legal parents.

The reasons for separation may range from child abuse or neglect to a teenage runaway situation. While a child is staying at a foster home, efforts are made to correct or help these problems.

Foster parents, as substitute parents, must be mature individuals who can provide foster children with love, acceptance and proper discipline, in addition to food and shelter. They must work as partners with the welfare agency.

Each foster home is licensed as to the number of children it can handle and preferences are recorded as to age groups and other conditions that would be compatible with the foster parents. Not every home can qualify for foster care.

Although foster parenting is a rewarding experience in many ways it can also be very demanding - too demanding for those individuals who do not possess the right combinations of experience with an understanding of children in the different ages and stages they go through.

One does not, however, require a degree in child psychology. The fact that a couple have or currently are successfully rearing children of their own and enjoy the experiences of family living may be a very good indication that they could be successful foster parents.

Requirements of foster care include age, health, family stability, finances and the physical aspects of the home. Potential foster parents are asked to fill out an application in regard to these qualifications. Foster parents need to be between the ages of 21 and 60. Generally a parent over 60 years-of age falls more readily into the role of grandparent.

A medical report is required on each member of the household to verify an absence of contagious disease and that the husband and wife are physically able to care for additional youngsters in their home.

Becoming a foster family should be a family decision. Husband and wife must be similarly motivated to take foster children into the home. Both parents must agree that fostering is a worthwhile use of the family resources. The couple must support each other. There must be mutual agreement between mother and father about discipline and guidance of the child.

Children already residing in the home should be prepared by the parents for the kinds of changes foster care creates. Grandparents and other relatives should be agreeable to the situation. No family is without problems so normal ups and downs are reasonably expected.

The financial stability of the home will also be considered. The foster parents will be reimbursed some amount of money daily for the children. The home should be clean and there should be adequate physical space. It is necessary to have a place to sleep and play for the child.

For an older child, it is necessary that he have a reasonable degree of privacy. Emotional room for added children in a home is as important as physical space. This means a willingness to alter family spaces, schedules and planning.