How to Become A Foster Parent
Should I Become a Foster Parent?
Being able to care for children who can’t be looked after by their families is a noble endeavor in itself. The foster care system in the United States tries its best to provide such at-risk children with a safe and congenial environment to grow up in. And this makes the role of faster parents extremely important.
How to Become a Foster Parent 
There are multiple reasons why a child’s biological parents may not be able to provide them the care and sustenance that they deserve. It might be poverty, mental health problems, unemployment, drug/substance abuse, etc. on the part of one or both the parents.
This is where the foster system comes in to provide these unfortunate little ones with a safe, loving and enabling family for some time. Foster care can be of different types such as traditional care, medical or therapeutic help, emergency care, short-term shelter, relative or kinship support, etc.
Becoming a foster parent is not exactly a lifetime commitment from your side to the child or their biological family. However, it is certainly a responsibility to make a positive difference in the life of a child dealing with unfortunate circumstances. If you want to know what needs to be done to become a foster parent, this guide is for you.
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Education
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No binding requirement
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License/Certification
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Mandatory (Varies by State)
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Experience / Training
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Not a binding requirement but prior experience of foster parenting can certainly come in handy.
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Key Skills and Abilities
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Open communication, self-reflection and assessment, behavioral management, ability to deal with unexpected challenges.
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Source: National Foster Parent Association (NFPA)
Being able to communicate with complete honesty all the time is one of the most important skills needed to be a good foster parent. As the guardian of a foster kid, you have to maintain open communication not just with the children but their biological family, school authorities and foster agency staff. The ability to self-reflect and keep a cool head under stress are also some of the traits needed to be a foster parent.
Steps to Become a Foster Parent
To become a foster parent, you must fulfill the following requirements and then get in touch with a foster care agency near you.
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Ability to meet the emotional, physical and developmental needs of the child.
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Be able to provide 24/7 care and support to the child.
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Be able to take care of your own financial needs independent of the foster child’s stipend.
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Have an adequate and welcoming home that is free from fire and safety hazards.
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Pass a thorough background investigation.
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Possess the ability to work in a team environment.
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Earn a license/certification that will enable you to take a foster child under your wing.
Licensing requirements for foster parents vary from one state to another. Moreover, different counties may have separate requirements too. In this regard, a good place to gather further information is the Child Welfare Information Gateway - State Resources.