1) Families who are interested in adoption through the foster care system are required to take training per their home state’s expectations and requirements. For example, in the State of Missouri, a prospective foster/adoptive family must take the state STARS training. This class is typically a 9-week course. Although this can be burdensome in terms of the time spent in training, it is a benefit to families as they learn about abuse, neglect, working as a member of a professional team, attachment issues, and the expectations of foster families.

2) Since the number one goal per foster care is reunification of children with their parents, foster families who are interested in adoption must understand that there can never be a guarantee that any child they bring into their home will be legally theirs through adoption. If the goal changes to adoption, the foster parent can be formally selected as the adoptive family and proceed with adoption of the child.

3) In many instances, domestic adoption is more common for newborns and infants whose biological parents have planned for placing their child for adoption. With foster care, children are taken into protective custody due to abuse, neglect or a high risk of either one. Their biological parents are offered treatment services to rectify the situation that brought their child into care. Someone who desires to adopt a child from the foster care system needs to understand that getting a newborn who is already legally available for adoption is extremely rare.

4) Children and youth who are available for adoption in the foster care system have been abused or neglected- often both. Families hoping to adopt out of the system need to be aware and understanding of this. These children and youth will have connections to their biological family members and former foster parents. It will take time for a child to attach to a prospective foster family. It is vital that interested families attend ongoing and specific training to best meet the needs of the child they are interested in adopting.

5) Most children adopted out of foster care are eligible for a federal program (in the US) called adoption subsidy. If deemed to have a special need, the adoptive parents can get a monthly payment until the child is eighteen. Some other services provided through adoption subsidy are health care insurance and child care payment. This may vary from state-to-state. Foster care adoptions may also be eligible for the adoption tax refund based on the special needs of a child.

Adopting from foster care can be a challenging experience but it is so very rewarding. In the United States there are approximately 107,000 children and youth available for adoption. These kids need the permanency that an adoptive family can bring. If you are interested in learning more about foster care adoption, contact your local child welfare agency.

The post How Is Foster Adoption Different From Regular Adoption? appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

The most important thing a foster parent can do is listen. Hear what your children are saying and also see what they are trying to communicate through their behaviors. Encourage them and give them hope. Don’t be afraid to talk about what happened and try not to react to their stories. Help them to process their past and integrate it into the present.

Be consistent and do not take their behavior personally. It isn’t about you. Stability is mandatory and they need to feel the safety of structure. Give choices to create some sense of control. Learn to respond to a behavior instead of reacting, remain calm and interpret through a lens of understanding. Have them perform a “re-do” instead of yelling. Recognize some behaviors, like lying, are born from fear; their brain is telling them this is a life-threatening situation. Instead of scolding a fearful child, soothe them until they have calmed and can process what has transpired. “When a child is in a state of stress or fear, that child cannot develop attachment.”

Bonding and attachment are critical, even if the child is only in the home for a short time. A chemical in the brain called oxytocin, the love hormone, must be stimulated. Create oxytocin by making eye contact, hugging/touching on the shoulder, eating meals together, quality time one-on-one, reading together, playing games, etc. Watch for triggers of their trauma, usually caused by some reminder of an event. Triggers can be as minute such as sounds, smells, feelings, places, postures, tone of voice, or even emotions. They will cause the child to lose regulation, which often presents as avoidance or hyper-reactivity. Help them learn to recognize when they are triggered so they can actively work on self-soothing or ask for assistance or sustenance such as food, a hug, or a ball to kick.

Chill out corners are a place the child can go when they’re feeling dysregulated. They are invaluable. Have fabric with different textures, kinetic sand, puzzles, books about emotions, squeeze balls, pillows to punch or scream into, whatever works best. This is their safe place until they are under control.

Finally, look at yourself. Everyone has had some form of trauma in their life and adults have triggers too. Actively work on processing your own history so you can help them with theirs. Self-understanding is critical; dealing with your own experiences will increase sensitivity and awareness when the reactions are coming from a place other than the relationship with the child.

Be patient, be firm, and have clear boundaries and structure. Give the child as much oxytocin as possible, showing them love and kindness. Help them grieve and hear their story. Teach them how to control their emotions and their bodies and watch for triggers. Don’t forget to process the trauma of your own life so you can help them through theirs. Keep planting seeds in these children’s lives, the fruit will grow and they will be better for it.

The post Ways to Help Your Foster Child Through Trauma appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the average cost of adopting through foster care is anywhere from $0 to $2,500. Parents receive a monthly stipend to help them care for the foster child, and in some states a home study is free. Children adopted through foster care also receive health coverage under Medicaid until they are 18, and may be eligible for free college tuition. In some states, legal fees for adoption may be covered, and the parents may also be able to take advantage of an adoption stipend.

While there are many financial benefits to choosing foster care over private adoption, some risks are involved, such as the birth parent choosing not to place his or her child up for adoption. Once rights are terminated, however, the adoption is final, and the adoptive parents are legal guardians. Many states have fos-to-adopt programs where foster parents are made aware of children who will likely become available for adoption in the near future. In addition, many children, such as those on state heart galleries, are already free to be adopted. 

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, contact your state agency for more information and find out where you can attend an orientation. You will be asked to complete a home study, undergo a medical and background check, and fulfill training both before and during the fostering of your child. You will be matched with a child, and if the placement is a good fit, you will be the first person to be given an opportunity to adopt them if and when the child becomes available.

Foster parents need to be at least twenty-one years old and should demonstrate the patience, teachability, and sound judgment necessary to be a parent. It also helps to have a flexible schedule and the willingness to try new parenting styles that are successful with children who have been abused or neglected in the past. You do not have to be married. As with all adoptions, if you feel called to care for a particular child or children, your love, patience, and commitment will lead to blessing as you make an undeniable difference in the direction of a life.

The post Is Foster Adoption Cheaper Than Regular Adoption? appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

Arizona Association for Foster and Adopt Parents (Arizona)

AZAFAP, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a statewide organization that supports resource parents. For a small annual fee, they provide training, activities, parties, discounts to local venues, and free tickets to sporting events for foster/adopt families. More recently, they were able to invite 2,000 foster kids to a free concert with Taylor Swift. AZAFAP also coordinates summer camps for foster children and winter camps for foster families.

Project 1.27 (Colorado)

Project 1.27 is a faith-based ministry located in Colorado. Their mission is to support local churches who, in turn, support foster and adoptive families within their congregation. Project 1.27 assists in recruitment efforts, free events, training, and support for resource families. Project 1.27 is perhaps best known two things: basic training and Wrap Around Teams. Basic Training is a faith-based training used as a supplement to the state approved, pre-service training. They are also known for their Wrap Around Teams, which provide basic needs for foster/adopt parents such as meals, respite, social support.  They are also located in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Washington DC. 

The Children’s Bureau (California)

This agency is located in throughout California, seeks to protect children through prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Perhaps their most effective support group is Dads Matter. This a gathering of fathers that provides training, support, mentoring and stability for fathers and father figures.

Foster and Adopt Family Services (New Jersey)

FAFS, based in Princeton, New Jersey, is a group that seeks to support foster and adoptive families. They offer training, support, activities and a blog for foster families. Their services are free. They’ve shared their mission on their Facebook page saying, “The heart of our mission is to provide advocacy and enriching programs and services to empower families and youth to thrive.”

You Gotta Believe! (New York)

Located in Brooklyn, New York, this agency caters to the 25,000 foster children located in New York. They provide training, support, and advocacy for children and youth. They assist teens ready to age out of the system and have monthly support group meetings.

Find a foster/adopt support group in your area that is sensitive to your needs and the needs of your child. Find a community of like minds where everyone shares the burden. With the proliferation of information on the Internet, online support groups have now become all the rage. Podcasts, radio programs, books, and magazines that focus on adoption are also becoming more abundant. Find a support group that works best for you and your family today.

The post 5 Support Groups For Foster Parents appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

1. Road Trips

Now, I know as foster parents, you must get permission before you take your placements anywhere. So, be sure to ask before leaving town with the children who are placed in your homes. That being said, pack your foster children up and visit other states! Some have never been outside of their own neighborhood block. If possible, book a semi-luxury hotel and order them room service, it will make them feel special, speaking from experience of course.

2. Baking

What child doesn’t love sweets? Teach your foster children how to make delicious treats. Cakes and cookies to start then get more advanced as they show interest.

3. Build an Indoor Fort

Show your foster child your inner child. Build a fort in their bedroom or the living room. This is a great way to help them use their imagination (and it’s free).

4. Go Sledding

Do you have a lot of snow in your area? Get your foster child outside and go sledding.

5. Laser Tag 

There is nothing like a good work out. Spend some time running off all that extra energy.

6. Indoor Nerf Gun Battle

This is one of my family’s favorites. Gather all the nerf guns and bullets and scream and run all over the house.

7. Game Night

Have a set night every week that your foster child can look forward to. Play video games, board games, or outdoor games.

8. Visit New Restaurants

Children in care need to be exposed to different foods. Introduce them to healthy entrees from different cultures rather than from a drive-thru or fast food line. Take them to places where they can practice using their etiquette and manners sitting down in a restaurant and ordering from a menu.

9. A Night At The Theatre

Take your foster child to see a play at the theatre. Exposure to the arts may spark their interest in pursuing it themselves

10. Go Fishing

Take time to enjoy nature. Fishing is a time for you to have open and enlightening conversations with your child. You never know, you may even learn a thing or two.

The post Fun Things To Do With Your Foster Children appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

Foster care adoption is not for the faint of heart, I would soon learn. Our license was for foster care but we were also licensed to adopt should the children in our care become available to be adopted. That was in no way a promise that we would be able to ever adopt the kids that came into our home. We entered in fully expecting to, at some point, need to say goodbye to the kids we were meeting. That was the deal, we would care for them as if they were ours until either they went back to their families or became a part of ours.

The children were emaciated. Every rib prominent, faces gaunt and haunted. The first few months were a blur of doctors appointments, counselor appointments, court dates, and visitation for the kids with their parents. I sincerely cannot imagine how we would have survived without the help we received from our friends. A newborn and two children who had barely been outside their own house, never mind in a school setting, were a startling and sudden induction into parenting.  Our oldest son would, on occasion, scream for hours at a time because of the fear, rage, frustration, and pain he was feeling. Every time I called my caseworker to ask what to do she would ask, “Do we need to come get them? Is it too much?” “No,” I’d reply, “I just need to know what to do.” It was usually “write down the incident and stay nearby” just in case he wanted to talk to me. I spent more time crying the first year than I had in the past 10 years, and I am a crier, so that tells you a lot.

School was becoming more and more of a struggle. The boys had been illiterate when they came to us, even the alphabet was a bit confusing to them at the start. At 8 and 9 they couldn’t be placed in Pre-K where they needed to be, so the school accommodated them as best they could. Every night after school, the drama of getting homework done escalated into someone (often me) leaving the room in tears.

Things would continue with weekly bio parent visits at McDonald’s where the kids would return with bags of candy and dollar store toys and tales of returning to bio parents “any day now.”  The court would continue to give the parents time to “work their plan” as I grew to love these children as my own and realize the depths of the abuse and neglect they had suffered at the hands of people who were supposed to love them. 

At the one-year mark of the case where things were supposed to wrap up, the case was extended six months. We were, however, asked if we would be willing to adopt the kids should they become available. For the first time, I felt real hope that these little loves would become ours. The teeny baby that had been dropped off was now a chubby, lovable toddler, and the boys were growing by leaps and bounds, every few weeks needing bigger clothes as their bodies adjusted to being in a safe place with enough food. Our boys started being more honest about what their previous living situation had been and admitted to not wanting to eat so much food so their stomachs wouldn’t hurt later when they went back home and wouldn’t have enough.

Finally, the court was held to determine if parental rights would be terminated on the biological parents. The caseworker had brought several witnesses and multiple written testimonies, but they ended up not needing them. The parents ended up relinquishing their rights that day. The judge still took testimonies for the court record and the elation I had felt at being able to eventually adopt those kids turned to horror when I bore witness to exactly what my children were subjected to for the first eight years of their lives.

We told the boys we had a special counseling session so the bio parents could say goodbye. Afterward, we asked them if they understood what was going to happen. When we clarified, they were angry. “I just learned how to spell my last name! How am I going to learn ya’ll’s last name now?!” was my oldest son’s first concern. We bought ice cream to soothe the pain of an ending and celebrate a new beginning.

After a few months of some paperwork and nail-biting anxiety that something would go wrong, we eventually got to formally adopt our kids in front of the judge that had walked us through from beginning to end of this case. She came off her bench and held hands with us as we prayed about our future, and gave each of the kids a hug and told them how lucky they were. She was wrong about that last point. They weren’t the lucky ones. It was us. I finally had my children that I had loved for two years with the knowledge they could be taken away at any moment. Adoption day was one of the happiest days of my life.

The post Our Foster to Adoption Story appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

1. Abstract Love vs. True Love

Understand the abstract love you feel for the child before he or she moves in is not true love. The ideas and dreams in your mind are not reality. This child has already developed a personality, a belief system, and a sense of self. Love at first sight is a beautiful ideology, but you will have to fall in love with who that child actually is, which takes time. This does not make you unfit or a bad parent; this makes you human. The love will come, and when it does, it is worth the wait.

2. Regression

Prepare for a regression. While adoption may be fulfilling your hopes and dreams, for them this is traumatic. Even if they have been waiting to be adopted, it is a huge adjustment. There is often a “honeymoon” phase where children will be as perfect as possible to make you happy because they are terrified of rejection. As they begin to care about you and tentatively start to trust, the behaviors will escalate, and they will test your boundaries and limits. The 12-year-old will act 6 and your 7-year-old may well wet the bed and refuse to go to sleep. The “parentified” child will challenge you for control, questioning every single thing. Love is scary for them; what if you don’t love them back? Kids tend to blame themselves and deep down fear they are unlovable. Then, they will set out to verify it. It’s your job to prove them wrong, and it won’t be an easy task.

3. Their Past

Accept their past. These kiddos didn’t come out of nowhere and need to know you love them for who they are. This means you accept the onslaught of stories about their “real” mom and dad, their grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc. They had a life before you that should not be diminished or buried. Creating a family with older children means embracing all of them, not just the parts that fit into your present picture. Every time I open a soda, I am regaled with the tale of how their “real mom” opened a soda once, and it sprayed everywhere. Don’t personalize this. They love and miss their biological family which is normal; it does not mean they don’t love you. Have faith there is enough love for everyone. Consider including some of their traditions into your family. I wouldn’t recommend spilling your soda every day, but a little macaroni and cheese at Thanksgiving won’t kill you. 

4. PTSD

Most children have some form of PTSD, or at least triggers, which will bring up memories. I call these landmines because one has no idea it’s going to happen until they step right in it. Some children shut down, some break down, and some completely dysregulate and rage. They can’t think or process, so just hold them, help them breathe, and get through the event. This can take a while. Once they are calm, try and talk to them, but don’t be surprised if they have no idea what set them off. Avoiding landmines is impossible, but with time, consistency, and love they can learn to control their reactions and work through their emotions.

5. Security and Stability

It’s important to create a sense of security and stability for older children, which unfortunately means schedules and rules. They will of course hate this, but it is essential, especially in the beginning. Make sure the rules and consequences are clear and don’t assume they know the basics. They may need to learn how to bathe correctly, hang up clothes, clear the table, or even make a bed. Manners are a subjective thing and will need to be made clear; mine didn’t know you couldn’t spit in the house. Don’t hesitate to have lots of boundaries. It may seem overwhelming at first, but they will adapt and appreciate the safety they feel, even if they don’t verbalize it.

The benefits of adopting an older child are vast. The gratification and pride felt as they acclimate to their new world and begin to see life’s possibilities, overshadows any doubts once fostered. The bond with your child is made stronger from the tribulations, the love fiercer because of the battle that was waged. I know there is fear, but the rewards are so great. Fight for that child, believe in that child, and ultimately you will both win.

The post 5 Things You Should Know about Older Child Adoption appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

1.     In most states, adopting from foster care is completely free!

In the state of Texas if a child is adopted from the foster care system the state will pay the lawyer fees to adopt. In other states you may be required to pay a fee upfront which the state will then reimburse. The concern about it being “too expensive” can be put to rest with adoption from foster care.

2.     The state may pay for your child’s health insurance and college tuition from a state school.

See your own state’s guidelines for who may or may not qualify for post adoption benefits. My kids, since they were adopted as a sibling group, were considered a special needs adoption and that qualified them for tuition and health insurance. Their tuition benefit is good for any state school and can be used for up to a Doctoral level degree.

3.     The kids are not “damaged goods.”

Speaking from personal experience here, my kids are all a little strange from time to time, but it has more to do with them being kids than it has to do with them having been in foster care. They are normal kids who, given the correct conditions, are thriving. Yes, children adopted from foster care may have special needs because of the trauma they have been through. That doesn’t mean it is a given that they cannot grow up to be happy, healthy, successful people who love their families and contributing members of society.

4.     You don’t have to own your own home to adopt from foster care.

It is a common but incorrect belief that you must own your own home or be wealthy to foster or adopt. It is just not true. If you have a stable income, can keep your home or apartment clean and livable, and have the adequate square footage, you can foster and adopt.

5.     Not every kid wants to be adopted, but all of them need a family regardless.

Some kids who are being adopted from foster care may not have realized what they were coming out of was as terrible as it was. That doesn’t mean they don’t need a loving, safe home to heal and grow in. It simply means it may take more time for them to feel at home. They may not feel grateful, but it isn’t about that.

6.     You don’t have to be married to adopt from foster care (or foster parent).

There is a pervasive myth in the adoption world that you can’t adopt if you are single. On the contrary, there are some children that would thrive in a single-parent home because they have attachment disorders that make it hard to bond evenly to more than one caregiver. While it can be difficult to go it alone, the key either in single- or two-parent adoptive homes is to build a community and support network for when things get hard.

7.     There are over 3000 waiting children who need a family, right now, in the United States alone.

Some children may be part of harder to place, like sibling groups, or some may have special needs that make it harder to find a caregiver. All of them need and deserve a family that will love them forever. 

8.     Teenagers often both want and need a family to call their own, even if they are about to “age out” of the system.

Plenty of teenagers are waiting to find a family to teach them to drive a car, make a budget, learn how to grocery shop, apply for college, and do their taxes. You can learn more about adopting an older child here.

9.     It isn’t as complicated as you think.

Yes, there is an exorbitant amount of paperwork. There is a background check, fingerprinting, interviews, classes, and a home safety check. However there are people available to step you through each part of the process. By the time you are ready for the “overwhelming” home study process you’ve been dreading for months, you will be friends with the caseworker who is coming to chat with you and look over your house. There are checklists and explanations. The caseworker’s job is to get the children a good home, not to make you feel bad. They want you to succeed.

10.  It is worth any of the difficulties you might face.

Adopting from foster care has been one of the most heartbreaking, yet worthwhile, things I could have done with my life. My kids are, with no input or help from me, some of the best humans I know. There are funny, adjusted, intelligent, insightful people, and I cannot wait to see who they grow up to be.

Let us know in the comments what questions you have about adopting from foster care!

The post 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Adopting From Foster Care appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

1. Licensing

The first step to becoming a foster parent is deciding whether you want to become licensed through the Department of Family and Protective Services or an agency. Both have a number or pros and cons. It is best to do a lot of research and speak to other foster parents before making your decision.

2. Training

The second step once you have decided which agency or department you want to go through for your licensing requirements is to take training. In the state of Texas, where I am from, everyone over the age of 14 living in the home is required to complete the training necessary to become licensed. In Texas, that training is called PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information, Development, and Education). More information can be about this training here. During the second step families will be required to turn in a lot of documentation to become licensed. Documentation that shows income, driver’s license, social security card, and bank statements.

3. Background checks

The third step will be for everyone over the age of 14 to complete an FBI background check and fingerprinting to be a foster family. Your department or agency will let you know of the locations where this can be completed as well as the cost involved for each person.

4. Health and Safety

The fourth step on your journey to being a foster parent is to complete health and safety inspections of your home. Your agency or department will let you know who to contact and if there is any cost involved in these checks as well. A part of this process is also to provide a layout of your home, an emergency evacuation plan, and photos of the inside and outside of the home. If a family has pets, all pets will have to be current on vaccinations as well.

5. Home Study

The final step to becoming a licensed foster parent is a home study. The agency or department that you choose will conduct the home study. There are some agencies that do charge for this service, so if that is a concern to your family you’ll need to find out up front if there will be a cost involved. I have been told some agencies charge upwards of $500 to complete them at times. Other agencies and departments may not charge anything at all. The home study takes many hours to complete as each member of the household is questioned in depth on categories such as: family background, community, health, criminal clearances, and financial statements.  For more in-depth information on questions that are asked please click here. 

After all steps have been completed, all documents and recommendations will be forwarded to a supervisor for approval or denial of the licensing of the home. If approved the family will be contacted, a license with the specifics a family is looking for in a child will be mailed to the home.

Once licensed, the family can soon expect calls on children who have come into care and are needing placement. A family can ask as many questions as they would like about the child/children needing placement and can either decide to say yes or no to the placement.

Once licensed, the family will need to keep up with the requirements of their department or agency to remain licensed and maintain the ability to take placements.

The post The 5 Things You Need To Be The Best Foster Parent appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.

1. Licensing

The first aspect I wish I had known was that I had an option of either being licensed through the Department of Family and Protective Services for my state, or that I had the option to research and choose between private agencies. A private agency gives families more support and acts as an advocate for the foster family. The Department of Family and Protective Services is the advocate more for the children and their biological families more than for the family caring for the child. It is important for foster families to feel they have advocates and someone to speak for them as well. Had I known I had the option, I would have started with an agency rather than with the DFPS. I came into some hard situations where I felt cornered and nearly railroaded by DFPS, and felt I wasn’t getting what I needed from them for my foster placements, so I switched to an agency three years after becoming a foster parent.

2. Permanent Managing Conservatorship

The second aspect I wish I had known is that sometimes children remain in foster care under what is known as PMC (Permanent Managing Conservatorship) for many years and never come available for adoption and never return home to biological families.  When my son went into PMC, and the court documents read “To remain in care until his 18th birthday or until returned home to parents”, I was heartbroken and shocked.  I was told by my adoption worker that those words meant he would likely never be adopted and likely never return home. I had been fostering this child for two years at this time, he was four years old, and they were telling me he could stay with me but likely never be adopted by me. This also meant I would have to have permission for anything with him from medical, to travel, to even haircuts until he was 18. I don’t believe anyone who fosters goes into it knowing that they may foster a child for years that may never become legally theirs.

3. Your Rights as Foster Parents (or lack thereof…)

The most important aspect of fostering I wish I had known prior to becoming a foster parent was that we do not have a lot of right to making decisions for the children and what they feel is best for them. The state has primary custody of the children and any medical or therapeutic evaluation or treatment has to be approved by them prior to the foster parent seeking any treatments. If the foster parent sees a medical, behavioral, or developmental concern, but the state doesn’t feel the same way or doesn’t feel it is necessary, it doesn’t matter what the foster parent sees or feels; the state will not allow those evaluations or treatments to be made. 

In 2015-2016, I had two little boys who had some developmental and behavioral issues that I felt would benefit from an evaluation and a treatment plan.  I did what I thought I should as their “mom”, and sought out those evaluations and treatments without prior approval from the state.  I thought I was supposed to treat them as my children in all aspects and if I saw a need, I was to find a resource to help them make improvements.  I was then in trouble with the state and blamed for labeling the children, doing too much research online, self-diagnosing, and seeking therapies that were not needed in the eyes of the state.  All of this is what lead to my switching to an agency after three years under the state.

I have learned a lot in the five years that I have been fostering. Number one: Find an agency that will support me as a foster parent and see me as a parent not just as a full time babysitter. Number two: Understand that some children may remain in your care, but not be eligible for adoption for many years.  Number three: Understand that even though I see myself as the parent, the state doesn’t see me the same way, and I can’t make the same decisions with a child as a biological or adopted mother would make for the child. I feel all this has also taught me to look at fostering more as a job rather than as being a parent to a child in need. Although, with this JOB, it’s not about the pay, but about helping children in need and providing them with a loving safe environment while they are in your care.

Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? Click here to learn more.

The post What I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming A Foster Parent appeared first on Foster Care Adoption | Foster to Adopt & Child Photolisting.