Grateful Hearts: Recognizing the Importance of Foster Parents
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to appreciate foster parents and families nationwide. This year’s theme—Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities—emphasizes the importance of fostering successful transitions for youth leaving care. Despite the availability of resources, foster parents play a crucial role in providing a stable foundation. RISE Services, Inc. firmly believes in the transformative impact of loving, trained, and supported foster families on the lives of foster children. As we honor foster parents this month, let’s explore some key reasons to celebrate their invaluable contributions.
They Open Their Home to Children & Youth
Children placed in foster care need a safe and compassionate home in which they can live while their biological parents work to create a stable and loving home for them. Foster parents, also known as professional parents, do much more than open their homes to provide comfortable beds, warm meals, and transportation to school and activities. They wholeheartedly open their hearts and homes to children and youth who have experienced significant trauma with no conditions or strings attached.
They Skillfully Balance Their Role as Foster Parents
A foster child who is placed in a strange home without their parents requires patience, love, flexibility, and compassion on behalf of the professional parents. Foster parents wish to nurture and connect with the children in their care, but at the same time, be mindful of their foster children’s unique relationship with their biological parents. They provide for their foster children’s emotional and physical needs, while understanding that reunification is the goal, returning to their biological home where they can be cared for, supported, and most importantly, loved.
They Provide Much-Needed Structure
In some cases, children placed in foster care have lived with little to no structure. It’s possible there were no behavior expectations, bedtime rules, after-school routines, or similar expectations. Foster parents are responsible for setting and introducing that structure to their foster children. This may entail informing them of family expectations, developing a daily routine they can follow, and setting personal or educational goals with them. It may not be easy, but by providing this structure, professional parents are giving their foster children valuable tools for success and happiness as they safely return to their parents’ homes.
They Expect Challenges & Rise Above Them
Each foster child or youth who enters their host home has different and challenging experiences. There is a vast amount of history in each child’s life, and they bring that history to their foster parent’s home. They may need supplemental services such as child development screening, behavior management training, or one-on-one counseling. They may be young and not have much memory of living in their home, or they may have suffered insurmountable amounts of trauma. Professional parents are prepared and ready for each unique challenge as they welcome foster children into their families.
You Can Impact a Foster Child’s Life Today
If you are a foster parent, we thank you! You have selflessly answered the call to give your heart and home to youth and children in need. If you know a professional parent, be sure to offer your gratitude and appreciation for their part in keeping our nation’s children safe. You may have questions about becoming a host home or foster parent in your state of residence. Don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our foster care staff members will answer your questions and provide any resources you need to make the best decision for you and your family.
Source: Fussell, Sally. “Dear Foster Parents: Thank You for Your Sacred Work.” Blog article. SAFE: Stop Abuse For Everyone. The Safe Alliance. Web. 07. May. 2024.
