Most people are unaware that May is National Foster Care month. So there is no time like the present to make a difference! If you have the room in your house, there is nothing more rewarding than being a foster parent. Don't get me wrong, being a foster parent is not an easy task. But trust me when I say that it will change your life for the better. It will also change the life of that child who needs support in this tough time in their life. Although there are many many reasons why I think you should become a foster parent, here are the top three reasons.
1. You ensure that a child has a safe, stable environment to live in temporarily.
Children are the most vulnerable and dependent members of our society. When they have no where else to go they could be placed in a foster home that does not necessarily meet their needs. Or they could be placed in a group home where they might not get the one on one home environment that they need and deserve. If you have a safe and stable home and a big heart, you could provide a child safety in their most vulnerable time.
2. There is a lack of foster care families in New Hampshire and it isn't extremely hard to become a foster parent.
The need for foster care parents in our state is real. There are children in need of homes and if you have a home you might be able to help. You must be 21 years or older to apply to be a foster parent. You can be single or a couple, as long as you go through the application process. After you fill out the application you must have a home visit and home study done. You must also complete a mandatory training session that will prepare you to be the best possible foster parent that you can be. This training will also inform you about what you should expect from this experience. There is a small stipend given to parents for the foster child but it is very small and it is not the sole reason that parents choose to foster. You can find more information here: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/adoption/fosterparent....
3. You can prevent children from being furthered abused or neglected while waiting to be reunified with their parents or adopted.
If you love children and you care about keeping them safe then being a foster parent is the "job" for you. It takes a special type of person to commit to caring for another person's child temporarily. If the child is in your care you can prevent them from not having a real home during this time. You can make a positive difference in this kiddo's life. You might even be able to turn their whole life around. Children just want to have a family and be loved. If you have the space and the resources to support another child, please please do.
Foster parents are courageous and strong. They offer their home to children and take care of them as if they were their own. I admire all foster parents for their generosity and patience that they give. Foster parents work with the child, social worker, and often the birth parents. Reunifying the child with their birth parents is always the main goal and the foster parents play a key role in this process.
Thank you to all foster parents. You do not get enough credit for what you do. Please consider becoming a foster parent in the future. You can make such a huge difference in a child's life. I promise that it will be challenging but even more rewarding. You will grow as a parent and a person and learn more about the world than you ever knew.
