Any foster parents here?

[Flibertyjibbet]

We're just getting started with looking into this.  Our licensing worker will be over here on Thursday.  I was just wondering what your experiences with foster parenting were, especially from a Christian perspective.  We have so much to think and pray about,

 

Blessings,

Robin

 

[LilyLamb]

Just got into this this year - we were trained in April/May and licensed in June. We are with a private foster care agency - so we have received special training as "theraputic foster parents" for special needs children, which most foster children have special needs (not necessarily physically or mentally handicapped). There's a lot of psychological/emotional issues to deal with.

We attend monthly meetings and have a great support network - if we call - the agency will either be available to talk or call back within 15 mins. They "want" us to call them ...

If you have "biological" children then you need to make sure that their needs are not neglected and watch for signs of abuse against your children. Most agencies will not put an older foster child with young children - but sometimes the younger children can be a threat to your children as well.

We've had positive experiences so far ... we had a nine year old girl for respite care (three days), a teen mom and her 18 month old girl for a weekend of respite care and then we had a six year old boy undergoing chemo treatments for hodgkins lymphoma which we had for two months.

some advice:

be open to making adjustments/changes in your routine/schedules ...
be very, very, very flexible ...
don't take it to heart when these children do not "bond" with you
don't take it personally if they do not like/appreciate what you do for them
be persistent about getting the help they need
LOG EVERYTHING - keep a daily journal of their activities/moods/issues
keep record of their medication and trips to the doctor/therapist
be in close contact with their teacher - do not wait for a crisis to arise
be willing to love and love and love with nothing in return
be firm with your discipline and don't hesitate to get help when you need it

I pray you have every success and the Lord blesses you with many lives to plant seeds and water to His glory.