Any Advice on Being a Foster Parent?

I wish you the best of luck. How was your home study? Any advice or comments? My husband, child and I completed the PRIDE training back in early 2007 and are still waiting for HOME STUDY. Our trainers supervisor said that all paperwork has been forwarded and that they, 'home study' contractors, are a little short handed. The last time I called was back in July. We still would love to become a Foster Family.

N.,

God bless you for your willingness to take in a foster child. There is such a need for that!

We fostered three children. I will tell you it was very stressful, but very worth it. My advice to you would be to be a strong disciplinarian and a show much affection as well. Those two things helped our household run more smoothly. And it made the kids feel more secure.

We ended up adopting our three foster kids and what a blessing they are!

Hope this helps!
A. S.

This is a very heart fullfilling job, but you must want to do this 100% because the state requires so much from you. They never tell you all the things they want you to do until they place the children. Also they never tell you all the emotional problems the kids have until they place them with you. Been there, done that, couldnt do it. Took too much time away from my own children and my job. The only advise I can give you is ask lots and lots of questions because we learned the hard way. I sincerely wish you the best of luck.
PSS: Start out with one, we started out with three toooo overwhelming.....

Hi
I just wanted to say good luck! My husband and I are also about to be foster parents for the first time. We are excited and nervous. (at least i am) lol
We still have a few classes to take and finish up some other stuff, so hopefully by the end of the year, we will have our first child.

Keep all documentation of every conversation/email you have with your caseworker. CPS is notorious for not following through, saying they are going to do something and blaming you later. My husband and I are a kinship foster (to adopt). We love our "son", but hate this whole experience. Every other month we have it out with our caseworker (and we only have 1).

Good luck!

We just became foster parents back in May. The only advice that I have is to make sure you go through a private agency rather than just through CPS. You have a little more support that way is all with an extra case worker. My only other advice is have patience. It's a different way of parenting them than it is your own children if you have them at times. They are so worth it though... And it really hurts to have them leave...but that all comes with fostering. You just have to remind yourself that you're doing this for them...not for us.