Fostering Hope: Become A Foster Parent To A Child In Need blog

By: Randy Cowen

The statistics are staggering: 

According to childwelfare.gov, each year over 400,000 children need to be placed in temporary or long-term foster care in the United States.  And what a child in this situation needs most is hope—hope for a safe reunification, hope for a foster parent that provides security and unconditional belonging or the hope of finding a forever home. 
You can provide that hope—by becoming a foster parent.

Unique Challenges and Joys

Foster parents face unique challenges. By the time a child enters protective custody, they have already experienced some degree of neglect, abuse or trauma. This can understandably result in emotional or behavioral issues and falling behind in school.

But the rewards of fostering far outweigh the sacrifices made to meet those needs.  You’ll experience pure joy knowing you’ve made a positive impact on their life.  And feel inner peace as you watch a child thrive with affection and approval.  Perhaps you’ll play a crucial role in seeing a family reunified.  Or feel the ultimate happiness on the day the adoption of your foster child is formalized.
Bridgette G., a foster mom in Maine who has adopted four children in foster care, said it best: “I will always cherish the day these beautiful children came home to me.  From broken pieces, I have seen the beauty of love bloom and transform us into a family.”
You too can meet the challenges of fostering. But first, you’ll need to complete the approval process.

The Approval Process

The approval process to become a foster, adoptive, or kinship parent takes time and effort. Each state has specific requirements for certification as a licensed foster care home. You will need to attend and complete training, submit to home studies, interviews, criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, and more.
But you don’t have to face it alone—many states have additional free support services to guide prospective foster parents through the application process and beyond. The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) is an excellent source of education and support; visit their website nfpaonline.org.
To find out more about how to become a foster parent in your state, visit childwelfare.gov.
You can foster hope and become a hero in the life of a deserving child by becoming a foster parent. It may be the best decision you’ll ever make!

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