Foster Parents?

kaitylin · January 2012

I'm interested in learning a little bit more about becoming a foster family. I'm 24 right now so I know I have to wait until I'm 25 which will actually be good as DD is still really young.

My sister has adopted two kids and has two biological and I'm amazed at how much the kids love each other and learn from each other and she has done such an amazing job making them understand that kids may come into families in all different ways but they are all loved equally. I truly admire her mixed family.

I'm not looking to adopt now - I really just want to be a foster home for kids until they can reunite with their parents. I've been feeling a call to do this for a long time and it's weighing heavily on my heart. I would prefer to have only kids under 2 to start (can I make age requests as a foster parent?) I am not looking for foster-adopt situations but I'm ok with long term placements. My main concern is how will this impact DD. I want her to have the chance to be exposed to other children who come from different circumstances but I'm worried she will be very hurt when they leave to return to their families.

We live in Los Angeles and have a two bedroom condo so foster child would have to share with my DD (so preferably another girl).

I guess I just need to know from anyone else who is fostering with their own biological (or already adopted) children how the dynamics work out.

ctbride08 · January 2012

I dont have specific experience (i'm a foster parent, but willing to adopt and no bio kids), but one of my favorite bloggers is doing exactly what you describe (she has 2 young bio children and has taken many foster placements, some long term).

Here's the link to get a feel for how it works for her:

https://the-popps.blogspot.com/

ctbride08 · January 2012

logistically speaking you can certainly put any limits in place that you wish (ie: girl under 2) - it may mean longer time between placements since they will have to wait for a child to fit that narrow range, but you can be as specific as you wish in foster care.

Cristine · January 2012

We're in the process of getting licensed to be foster parents right now. So I can't really talk about the relationship between bio and foster kids just yet. However we did recently have our neice and her son live with us for about 6 months. My kids are 4 and 7 and neice's little boy was 2. They loved him but they weren't upset when they left.

It could possibly be a long time before you have to worry about it. Our coordinator told the class that people only willing to foster young children could have a really long wait (potentially years). The greatest need is for teens. We were able to select the age groups we were willing to foster.

Good Luck!

morgan2B · January 2012

We are a fostert-to-adopt family. We have no biological children, have only done respite thus far, and hope to adopt a local sibling group soon.

For more general info, visit: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Best of luck and trust the calling you hear.

nicwilk83 · January 2012

I became a foster parent at 23 if you go through an agency most don't have an age you have to be. You just have to prove you can provide a home for a child. As for deciding on what age of children and gender you want to take it, that is totally up to you. It is your home and you have to do what feels comfortable with. I would go through an agency and not through your county. It was the best experience of my life, I had a 15 year old foster daugher and at one point had a 6 year old foster son. I am not certified now, but my husband and I have talked about doing it and hopefully someday adopt.

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