3 Great Blogs For Foster Parents To Follow In The New Year
January 10, 2019
How To Prepare Your Foster Child For Daycare
January 25, 2019
Deciding to foster parent means opening your heart and home to a child in need. Whether you have children of your own, or want to open your home up to the possibility of children living there, preparations need to take place first. Here are a few tips for a successful transition into foster care parenting.
Tip 1: Prepare Your Space
Designate the room where your foster child will stay, and start envisioning it the way you want it to look before the child arrives. While you may want to hold off on detailed decorating until you get to know the child’s personality more, you can concentrate on de-cluttering and leaving a clean, open space where the child can feel safe and at home. Get rid of items you no longer need, and make space in drawers, so that your foster child feels comfortable transitioning into sharing that space.
Tip 2: Find Your Support System Now
Foster parenting is a unique type of parenting that not many others understand. Look for a foster parenting group in your area where you can connect with others going through the same process. If you are on social media, search for groups in your area and see if there are any local events you can attend. Consider the people in your life that you already know will support you throughout this journey, and stay in touch with them during the process. Knowing that you have emotional support when things get rough, or someone to share your joy with, is important.
Tip 3: Prepare For Company
Many foster children come with a variety of people already a part of their lives, such as social workers and therapists. Realize that new people will be in and out of your home on a regular basis; if you want to make things cozier and more inviting, preparing ahead is encouraged. If you aren’t used to regular company, start mentally preparing yourself for the change.
Tip 4: Have A Plan And Prepare For Change
While it’s good to have a plan on hand, remember that things can change in a matter of hours when a foster child enters your life. Prepare to alter your life around court dates and a variety of appointments. Know that while you may plan for a birthday party, something might come up that would make that party impossible. If you are used to set, rigid plans then start mentally preparing yourself to be more flexible and go with the flow.
Tip 5: Practice Self-Care
Start thinking about ways you can practice self-care before your foster child arrives. Who will be available to watch the child so that you can go to the gym or get a haircut in peace? While foster parenting takes a lot of work, it shouldn’t be all consuming. Talk to your partner about ways you can ensure you receive proper self-care, so that you can be your best self for your family.
Remember you are playing an important role in this child’s life by inviting them into your home. Take the time to think scenarios through, so that you can be well prepared before your foster child arrives.
Every child needs and deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. At Camelot Care Centers, we specialize in higher-level foster care for children and adolescents that need extra support. We partner with our foster parents/homes to provide trauma informed care and additional services, including in-home counseling, parent support and training, tele-psychiatry, and therapeutic mentoring, to maintain children at the least restrictive, yet most appropriate level of care. Camelot Care Centers (“Camelot”) is a Child Welfare Agency licensed by the State of Illinois, a member of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
