How can I prepare myself to become a foster parent? (External Things)
Welcome to Foster Parenting 101! In this series, we answer your biggest questions around foster parenting. Have a question you want us to answer? Submit it here or email emmy@justasspecial.com.
So, you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent? Excellent! This is an exciting time for you and those who support you. It can be overwhelming too, but don’t worry - there are lots of resources to support you, including this blog.
Becoming a foster parent involves a lot of preparation - both within our homes and within ourselves. In this article, we focus on what’s required to set up the external things in our lives - home, job, support network - as you prepare to begin your journey as a foster parent.
Attending training and setting up your home (and completing related paperwork)
First things first, preparing to become a foster parent will take time. In fact, this process will likely take longer than you may first expect. And for good reason! From expressing interest to getting your first placement, the timeline may take six months to a year (or longer, in some cases).
After attending an info session at a county or external placement agency (read this article for more information on the info session!), you will likely be given the opportunity to attend a foster parent training class. This class is required of all foster parents and lasts around thirty hours. With private agencies, this class takes place over several weeks; with the state, this class can take place over several months. While the format and length will vary depending on the licensing organization you choose, this class contains important information about the foster care system such as the process of accepting and ending a placement, foster parent requirements, how to parent kids with trauma, and more.
After the class is done, and if you pass and decide to move forward with the process, you will be prompted to complete a ton of paperwork. This includes providing things like:
Drivers license, vehicle registration, and car insurance documentation
Rabies vaccination records for pets, if you have them
Financial documents
Background check forms including information such as former addresses and your Social Security number)
Documentation of a physical examination from a doctor
CPR and first aid certifications
Reference contact information
A ton of other paperwork and questionnaires that your licensing organization will provide you with
Reference contact information
If you need time to organize yourself, that’s totally okay! The process can, to a large degree, move at the pace that best suits you.
After your paperwork is received and processed, you and those living in your household (even kids in the house at a lesser and age-appropriate level) will complete a home study. This involves multiple visits to your home by a representative of your chosen agency or a licensed home study provider. This is a pretty invasive process - you will be asked about your childhood, your sexual history and current sexuality, your marriage/partnership if partnered, your current relationship with your family, and much more.
While this can seem daunting at first, it’s an important step in the process to alleviate concerns of any potential child abuse Your home will also be inspected to ensure it meets foster care requirements. And, don’t worry - while you are required to answer all of the questions, you can stop the process at any time if you feel that you no longer wish to become a foster parent.
After the home study, you either pass, are told what you need to change or provide in order to pass, or you fail. If you pass, you receive a license and are placed on a list to be called about potential placements.
You decide beforehand what placements you are willing to accept. This includes details such as age range of the child; “foster only” or “foster to adopt”; short term/respite placements (lasting a week or less) and/or long term placements; and whether you are willing to accept emergency placements (these involved little to no notice; you can get called for one of these in the middle of the night).
Professional and community support networks
It’s likely clear by now that the process of preparing to become a foster parent involves “setting up” quite a few things - your home, your foster parent training schedule, your related paperwork, and other things.
It’s also important to set things up in your professional life. Working a full-time job as a foster parent can be challenging. Being there for the kid you are caring for is incredibly important and that can cut into work time. You may qualify for FMLA leave, although this varies by employer. Even if you work part-time or your work schedule is flexible, be prepared for disruptions such as being called by the school to pick up your child early as a result of big behaviors. Becoming okay with those disruptions is a part of what’s required of a foster parent.
Becoming a foster parent can also affect your community - your family, friends, and support networks. Becoming a foster parent is a big life change and big life changes can often change the dynamics of our relationships. As a foster parent, having a support network is also incredibly important. So, talk to your support network and community - ask for help if you need it and discuss what level of support your network is comfortable providing.
One last thing to keep in mind
Preparing to become a foster parent can be a challenge, both before and after placement. Remember to make space - physical, mental, and emotional - for both yourself and the kid you are caring for. And remember - not everything needs to happen or be done immediately. Being a foster parent is a journey that can be completed one little patient step at a time.
What happens now?
Well, that was certainly a lot of information. Regardless of what it looks like for you, this journey is sure to make a difference in the life of the child(ren) who comes into your home as well as in your own life.
Starting to think about how to become a foster parent can be overwhelming. But you’re not alone! Helpful resources are available, such as our foster care resource database for the state of Colorado that was created in partnership with Cobbled Streets.
These resources address the challenges and triumphs foster families face every day while honoring diversity. Know a resource that should be included? Let us know!
Want to help out but becoming a foster parent isn’t the right decision for you right now? Consider donating or becoming a virtual volunteer with Just As Special! We’re always looking for help from people who want to support kids in care and foster families.
Did you know that Just As Special also has a podcast? Listening is a great way to learn about foster care from diverse perspectives and become more trauma-informed. Our most popular episode is “Sassy as Hell & Haunted by a Microwave” and features an interview with a former kid in foster care who describes her journey to finding family as a teenager. Share your favorite episode with your community!