This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.
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A foster parent is someone who cares for a child when the state has removed that child from his or her natural family because of safety concerns or because the natural family is unable to care for the child. Being a foster parent can be both challenging and rewarding for the foster family and the child being fostered. You can complete the steps to becoming a foster parent in six to eight months. [1] X Trustworthy Source AdoptUSKids National organization devoted to providing educational resources about adoption and the child welfare system Go to source
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Attend an orientation. You will need to attend a free orientation, at which you will receive information on becoming a foster parent and have an opportunity to ask questions. Ask your community agency for upcoming orientation dates and locations.
Complete 20-30 hours of training. Foster parents must complete training classes, including how to deal with attachment issues affecting foster children, manage a child's behavior, maintain connections with the child's birth family, and understand the impact of fostering on the foster family. Parents also receive training in safety precautions, plus CPR and first aid.
Provide references. Your agency may require that you provide references from employers, friends and family, and your children's school or daycare. The agency may wish to contact them directly, or just have them fill out a questionnaire.
Introduce yourself to the child. Smile, speak in a soft voice, and let your foster child address you with the name that makes him or her comfortable. The child may prefer to call you by your first name instead of "Mom" or "Dad." [5] X Research source
Prepare a space for the child. Whether the child has his or her own bedroom or shares it with another, the room must be 40 square feet per child who sleeps in it. Before your foster child arrives, make sure that you have a bed and enough space to store personal belongings. Consider having a nightlight available as well, and encourage the child to display photographs of his or her birth parents and anyone else important to him or her. [6] X Research source
Communicate. Early on, give your foster child a tour of your home and spend some time explaining the rules of the house. Turn this into a conversation by asking the child about his or her expectations in your home. Keep taking time to talk and ask questions to learn more about your new foster child. [9] X Research source Open communication promotes a stable and healthy relationship.
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Advertisement ReferencesThis article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 65,454 times.
74 votes - 92% Co-authors: 6 Updated: February 6, 2024 Views: 65,454Being a foster parent can be a rewarding way to help a child in need. To become one in Florida, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old, be able to pass a criminal and child abuse background check, and have enough income to support your family without a foster care stipend. If you’re eligible, you can attend a foster care orientation in your area for more information. You’ll likely need to complete 20-30 hours of training, which includes CPR and first aid classes. You’ll also need to pass a background check and provide references that can vouch for you as a safe and responsible parent. Before a child comes to stay with you, a community agent will inspect your home to make sure it passes safety standards. To learn how to make your foster child feel welcome in your home, read on!
Did this summary help you? Yes No Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 65,454 times."I have two grown-ups, 22 and 24, that I have adopted along with my husband when they were babies. My husband has since passed away in 2021. I lost my feet in 2019. I have since recovered and wondering if I would be able to become a foster mother to a child that is in need of being loved. I have the space and I also have someone to help me if I need help with caring for a child. I love children and with my own kids being adults now my house is kind of empty. Thank you for listening." . " more
"I have two grown-ups, 22 and 24, that I have adopted along with my husband when they were babies. My husband has since passed away in 2021. I lost my feet in 2019. I have since recovered and wondering if I would be able to become a foster mother to a child that is in need of being loved. I have the space and I also have someone to help me if I need help with caring for a child. I love children and with my own kids being adults now my house is kind of empty. Thank you for listening." . " more
"I appreciated the basic outline of the steps that need to be taken as well as the list of questions to ask, concerns to address and resources and information available once you have a child in your home. It's a good starting point." . " more
"I am interested in becoming a foster parent. I wondered if I met the requirements. The question that was asked about age by the retired teacher was especially helpful. " . " more
