10 Things You Need to Know About Foster Care

Not all children who need to permanently live away from their birth family want to be adopted, so instead they go into long-term foster care until they’re adults.

- United Kingdom government website

Love. this. statement. It’s a government agency taking into account the needs and wants of children. Actually listening to children! How cool. So, when Capstone Foster Care wanted to write a guest post* for Expat (Adoptee) Mommy, how could I say no? Foster care–distinct from closed or open adoption, is actually a great option for families who truly want to help children in need.

In focusing on what’s truly best for the child, we move away from “completing our family,” and “it was God’s will that you were adopted by us” … to “how can this child’s needs and wants best be met?”

Of course this post focuses on foster care in the U.K., not the U.S. But it seems we could learn some important points from our former colonial power about best practices, open-mindedness (there’s no discrimination based on marital status or sexual orientation) and caring for kids in need.

Welcome Capstone Foster Care.

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Becoming a foster carer

No one said that fostering would be easy, but the rewards it offers and the opportunities it provides to children’s lives make a huge difference. Those who are interested in becoming a foster carer are often curious about the challenges involved and the criteria required to apply. Foster Care Agencies like Capstone Foster Care provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Who can foster a child?
Fostering is not ideal for everyone, although it is suited to a wide range of people. Married couples as well as single people are eligible to become foster carers. Applicants over the age of 18 will be considered, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Homeowners as well as those in rented accommodation are welcome to apply.

Do I have to already be a parent?
No. Whilst already being a parent provides you with a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills which can be transferred into fostering, many people without children of their own make excellent foster carers.

Is the assessment procedure a lengthy process?
Assessment procedures take approximately six months. During the course of the assessment procedure, you will be required to attend the ‘Skills to Foster’ training course, as well as completing a home assessment and portfolio prior to your formal application being reviewed.

How long do children stay in foster care?
Different children have different needs. Children can be in foster care from just a number of days to anywhere up to weeks, months or years, depending on the circumstances.

Is becoming a foster carer challenging?
Caring for young children and teenagers in your home can mean facing some difficult tasks, and it is not always easy. It’s important to have patience, endurance, sensitivity–and a good sense of humor helps too. As with many things in life, there will always be good times, even the most difficult children. It is incredibly rewarding to offer consistency, and a safe, secure, caring environment as a foster carer.

Is it possible to foster a child if I have a criminal record?
We do consider applications from carers who have minor criminal convictions, but not those who have been convicted of violent offences or crimes against children. A full CRB check is a requirement of the application.

Do foster carers get paid?
Newly recruited foster carers could receive between £10,000 and £15,000 per year [approx. $15,434 - $23,151], dependent on circumstances. If you look after more than one child, this number can increase.

Can fostering lead to permanent adoption?
The purpose of foster care is to provide temporary care and accommodation to children who may return to their family environment. Some children cannot return to their families for a number of reasons, in which case long-term fostering or adoption may be considered.

It is time for the child to leave, what happens now?
We appreciate that parting can be a difficult, upsetting experience for both carers and children. It is important to remember that you have helped a child when they were at their most vulnerable, and now it is time for them to return to their family, or on to a new home.

Is it possible to continue working?
Foster carers might find it possible to work outside of the home during school hours, for a maximum of 18.5 hours a week. This will require careful consideration, as children can often need full-time care and attention. For younger children (under five years old), we request that you consider foster caring your full-time job.

If you are looking for a foster care agency in the U.K., you can consider Foster carers in Bradford by Capstone, who have built a good reputation to train you to understand your foster child and how to respond to their needs.

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Thanks Capstone!

P.S. I’ve received a bit of flack about Sunday’s guest post about one mom’s path to open adoption. I appreciate all of the commenters. It’s my view that we must engage the here-to-fore “dominant voice” in dialogue, as opposed to attack, derail and name-call. If we are going to make any real change in the way adoption is practiced, we must involve adoptive parents as well.

I’ll be talking more about this in tomorrow’s post, so if you want to jump in on the conversation, please read The Two of Us–Motherhood and Adoption and stop by on Wednesday.

* The sponsored guest post is provided on behalf of Capstone Foster Care, UK, a  well established independent foster care agency from UK with foster care homes throughout England.

“Hand With Silhouettes Family” by jannoon028 from freedigitalphotos.net