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When you hear the term foster family, what comes to mind? Many people automatically think of brave but clueless foster parents taking on a troubled teenager that is too much to handle – a stereotype often depicted in movies and on television. The truth is, a foster family can look a number of ways in real life. Foster children are all different ages and come from multiple backgrounds. Many are not placed because of their own behavior, but because of circumstances where it is no longer safe for them to live in their home. Read on to learn more about what a foster family is and how fostering can be a special experience for everyone involved.
What is a foster family?
Like any family, a foster family consists of children and adults sharing a home and forming a close-knit relationship. However, in most cases, a foster care living situation is temporary. Foster youth are placed in a loving and secure environment while their birth parents are unable to care for them. Ultimately, the goal is to reunite the biological family when it is deemed safe for the child or teenager to return. In some cases, their stay may be short. In other cases, they may need long-term care. Regardless of the situation, every child deserves to grow up safe and protected, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. In some cases, the family relationship can last a lifetime.
Negative misperceptions vs. truth.
There are many negative misconceptions about foster children. For example, the stigma is that they may cause stress and conflict within an otherwise peaceful home. The truth is, most foster children do well when given proper boundaries and loving guidance. Another misconception is that foster children are too damaged to be fixed. This could not be further from the truth. While many of these children may have suffered abuse, they are given a variety of resources, such as counselors, therapists and support to help them overcome their trauma. Many of these children are strong and resilient and want to experience a positive, healthy life — they only need a little help getting there.
What makes a foster family special?
When you become a foster parent and open your home and heart to a child in need, it can be an enriching and special experience for every member of the family. Some foster families are couples with biological children. Some are single parents or adults who have no children of their own. But all include a youth in foster care. You can be placed with a child or teenager, or you can choose to foster biological siblings. It is up to you as to how many children you are willing to foster or have the space to take in. Regardless of the size of your family, the relationship and bond you will share is unique to foster care, and this time together will have a lasting impact.
As you can see, there are many hidden joys found in foster families. Click here to learn more about how to become a foster parent in the state of Illinois, and take that first step.
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
