want to beome a foster patent

[linn51]

i have been thinking about this for a long time now but have a lot of questions that i keep coming up with. i am semi retired and have the heart to foster a child but what if i become attached to him/her? will i be able to keep my part time job i have at night 2-3 times a week? what kind of funds do they give you to help support them?

[swestmd]

As a single woman with a very demanding job including some weekends I also wasn't sure if I could "hack it" as a foster parent. As a way of finding out answers to my own questions about the process and my own eligibility I decided to just take the class. Anyone can do that much.
After the class, I slowly completed all the steps (dragged it out for months!) and lo and behold...I became licensed.
I turned down my first placement offer out of sheer fear but then they called me absolutely desperate to find a placement for a 17 month old girl. I took her in and we dug in our heels and just made it work.
Between daycare, my mother and a friend from work I have all the support I need to provide her with a stable, safe, nurturing home. It's been 12 months already and can't image life without her. I'm broke, busy, haven't seen a movie in 12 months, haven't left the house after 7pm in ages but I'm loving it and I WILL do it again if given the chance.
Moral of the story...just get out there and DO it. Trust that you will find a way to make it all work. Chances are good that you can provide a better environment than many of these kids are used to anyway.

[plbrown109]

Hello,

After reading a few threads, I wasn't sure I could qualify to become a foster parent. But after reading your post, you gave me hope.

I'm a single mother. My kids live with me (ages 22 and almost 20) as well as my almost 3-year-old granddaughter and my future son-in-law. I have talked to my daughter about doing foster care and she said she and her family would move out so I would have the room needed to provide foster care. I also spoke to my son who said he is willing to help with fostering too.

I currently do not work outside the home and my only source of income is from an investment account. Would I be turned down because I don't actually have any income (i.e., I'm living off of money I already have so it can't be considered income)? I quit my last job a year ago (March 2007) right after my father passed away. There was a lot to do to settle his estate plus I decided to sell my childhood home. I bought another house and moved to Fredericksburg, VA last December (2007).

I was able to be a stay-at-home mom from the time my daughter was 18 months. I would like to be a stay-at-home mom again and not work outside the home so I can give more attention to the children I would foster. I also used to volunteer in my childrens' elementary school and would love to do that again.

I've tried to explain things as much, and as briefly, as I can. Do you think I would be approved to become a foster parent? I really want to do this because there are so many children that need nurturing and to be in a loving, stable environment. I could provide that but am afraid because of not having income from a job, that I will be turned down.

I look forward to hearing your positive comments, suggestions, ideas, etc. I really want to do this and hope I can.

Thank you for reading this thread and for 'listening.'

P. Brown

[chrisnpamela]

I can promise you - you will become attached. You'll have to understand that you are the solid ground for the child that is waiting to go back to their family. If you get involved keep in mind you are changing the world - one child - one mind at a time.

You will hurt if and when they leave. But it's normally a good hurt.