What To Expect With Your First Foster Care Placement

While it helps to read up on foster parenting beforehand, nothing will prepare you like the actual experience. Inviting a foster child into your home is a loving decision, although the results can be unpredictable at times. Here are a few things to expect with your first foster care placement.

Expect the unexpected.

The first thing to do when fostering is to let go of the idea that everything is already set in stone. It is possible to get a phone call that your foster child has been placed and then plans may change at the last minute. The reason for this varies — relatives may have claimed the child or another home may have been chosen as a better fit. It is best to suspend belief that the child is coming to live with you until you are told they are on their way and see them in your driveway. Expect the unexpected so that you understand beforehand the importance of flexibility and patience.

Expect a trip to the store.

While your foster child should arrive with clothing and other personal necessities, it’s possible they are lacking much and need more. You should already have a bedroom and fresh sheets set up before the foster child arrives, but know that they may lack things such as shampoo, a toothbrush, or clean underwear. Stock up on a few extra items your child might need, depending on their age. You should also have a few healthy snacks on hand, so be sure to stock your pantry beforehand, and prepare for another trip to the store once your child settles in and you get to know them better.

Expect a court date… soon.

Depending on where you live, there may be a court date within three days of the child’s removal. A judge will then decide whether or not to send the child back home or to let them continue living in their foster home. You will not have to be there but you should expect a phone call from your caseworker letting you know the decision. Prepare yourself ahead of time mentally to know that it’s possible your foster child will leave your home at this three-day mark.

Expect a change in your everyday life.

Once the foster child is in your care, you should expect your usual routine to change up with visits from your caseworker, appointments with doctors and therapists, and more. Biological parents may also have court-ordered visits. The most successful foster parents are flexible and willing to take on the changes and responsibilities that come with caring for a child in need.

Expect to find support.

Know that you will need emotional support throughout the process — whether it is from your spouse, extended family, or a trusted friend. It helps to have someone to talk with who understands, such as with an online support group. Expect to feel overwhelmed at times. You will feel better knowing that these emotions are normal and that you have support for when these feelings hit.

Opening your heart and home to a foster child is a beautiful thing. Know that you are doing great work to help a child and family through a very difficult time. While it is normal to expect the unexpected, it’s important to remind yourself why you are foster parenting in the first place — to provide a stable and loving home for a child in need.

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).