Is Foster Parenting Right For You?
Foster parenting is not right for everyone, but is it right for you? While not an easy decision to make, we hope you will explore and evaluate the concept thoroughly. Where do you start? You can begin by answering the following ten questions:
Eleven Questions to Consider:
- Can you love freely and easily?
- Do you feel secure with yourself and your parenting abilities?
- Do you have a stable family situation?
- Can you set firm and clear expectations and boundaries, yet be understanding and keep a positive attitude?
- Are you willing to seek counseling assistance when the “right” answers to a problem seem just beyond your grasp?
- Do you view bedwetting, lying, disobedience, and minor destructiveness as symptoms of a troubled child?
- Can you love the child who, because of an overwhelming fear of rejection, cannot love you back?
- Can you tolerate major failures and be happy with small successes?
- Can you maintain a positive attitude toward the child’s parents, even though many of the problems the child is experiencing are related to their actions?
- Can you help the child to develop a sense of belonging in your home even though the stay may be only temporary?
- Can you love a child, and then let go?
If you can say “Yes” or “probably” or even “I think so” to the questions above, and if the rewards for you are in the giving and not just what you can receive, then we have children who need you. If you are not sure about your ability to provide this kind of care for a child, but you are willing to participate in training to enhance your skills, understanding, and ability then foster parenting may be for you.
Please contact us at 253.383.4361 and ask to speak to our Foster Care Coordinator if you are interested in talking about becoming a foster parent, or helping our foster parents and children as a volunteer or a contributor to the Foster Parent Support Fund.
If you want to read more about GATEWAYS foster care or the application process first, the Recruitment Handout can answer some of your questions.
But, if you’ve read enough and you’re ready to start right now, you can begin to fill out the foster care application forms and mail or email them directly to our foster care coordinator charity@gatewaysforyouth.org Charity Woolbright. She will have a foster care recruitment specialist contact you and assist you in completing the application.