Qualifications to be a Foster Parent

As a foster parent, you will be helping sometimes abused or neglected child/ren heal from physical or emotional wounds. The process may be challenging at times, but it is also a very rewarding experience.

Specific policy requirements and guidelines vary from country to country or state to state, often depending on who is managing the public child welfare system in your area, but there are general rules that apply to all regions.

Qualifications to Be a Foster Parent include:

1. Age:

Each foster parent must be over the age of 21 and show family stability.

2. Health:

Each person in your home must be in good mental and physical health and free from communicable diseases. However, physical illnesses or handicaps are taken into consideration and your ability to provide adequate care is assessed.

3. Motivation and Ability:

* Know why you want to become a foster parent.

* Understand your role as a foster parent.

* Can you provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment?

* Have you talked with each person in your home to see how they feel about having other children sharing accommodations?

* Are you aware of the impact that foster care responsibilities will have on your family life, relationships, and current lifestyle?

* Many children in foster care have physical and/or emotional needs. Are you prepared to assume responsibility for these children?

* Have you taken a self-assessment of your capacity to provide a child with a stable and meaningful relationship?

* Will you provide the appropriate guidance, discipline, positive experiences and be a good example for others?

4. Employment:

As a foster parent you may continue (depending on the agency, this may not be allowed), to work outside the home as long as there are suitable plans for the care and supervision of the foster child at all times. Any such plans will need to receive prior agency approval.

5. Marital Status:

Marital status may be a factor in determining whether or not approval will be granted only as it affects the ability to provide adequate care to foster children.

Any future changes in marital status must be reported. You need to understand that these children are often coming from dysfunctional families to begin with.

6. Provide Basic Needs:

* You will be given an allowance which will cover the child's day-to-day costs such as, food, clothing, personal care items, general household costs, spending allowance, gifts, recreation and basic school expenses.
* arrange for the child’s regular special medical and dental care

* you will help the child cope with the separation from his or her home
* you will need to cooperate with your caseworker and the child’s parents where necessary
* you will understand the need for family visits
* you will keep the child’s caseworker informed of any special educational needs and participate in teacher conferences
* you will need to create a Life Book with the child
* it will be necessary for you to inform the caseworker of any problems promptly

8. Support Reunification

The majority of children in foster care are safely returned to their birth families after they rehabilitate and receive services through the government agency.

It is a foster parent's job to respect and support that process, and provide support to the child so they are prepared to go home. This often means facilitating visits with parents, siblings or family members while the family rehabilitates.

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