Encouraging Words For Prospective Foster Parents

Did you happen to see the recent movie, Instant Family, starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne? Based on a true story, the plot centers around a couple who decide to foster a teenager and her two younger siblings. This heartwarming film helped to shed light on the fostering process and corrected some common misconceptions. It also helped to inspire others to consider becoming foster parents. Maybe you were one of them. If you long to welcome a foster child into your home and family, but are nervous or hesitant to take that first step, we want to help offer further inspiration and ease your worries. Here are some encouraging words for prospective foster parents.

The fostering process is pretty straightforward.

There are a lot of things to consider and accomplish before becoming a foster parent to youth in foster care, but the process, as shown in Instant Family, is not as complicated as you may think. If you are over the age of 21, healthy, and have a steady income and a suitable residence, you’re halfway there. After participating in a home assessment to ensure that the environment is safe for a child to live in, and showing proof of financial stability, there will be a criminal background check and health screenings for all household members. The next step in becoming a licensed foster parent is completing training. From there, you will be matched with a child, teenager, or siblings in need of a home.

By fostering, you are creating ripples that can change the world.

When you foster, you will make a positive difference in the life of a child (or children), and you may even change the world. If you don’t believe us, take a look at these heartbreaking statistics that will make you want to be a foster parent. Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” There is a great need for foster parents in the United States, and all you need to do is take that first step to start a ripple. You may even inspire others to consider becoming foster parents, as well.

There’s no better gift you can give to a child or teenager than a loving family and a stable home. For more information on how to become a foster parent in the state of Illinois, contact Camelot Care Centers today.

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