Supporting Foster Parents as Community Members

Foster parents play an extremely crucial part in supporting children in foster care by providing love, support and stability to children who are experiencing separation from their biological families. Although foster parents love what they do, there are many challenges that foster parents often face that can be stressful and overwhelming that differ from parenting your biological children. Foster parents must navigate birth family relationships, complex emotional and behavioral needs, therapy and psychiatrist appointments, the foster care system, social worker visits and much more. Community involvement is critical in making this process smoother for foster families. Below are a few ways that you, as community members, can support your local foster parents.

Have Empathy and Understanding

While it is easy to see a child out in the community throwing a tantrum, yelling, screaming and/or breaking things or even getting in trouble at school and labeling them as bad or naughty, it is important to remember “the why”. Children in foster care at times have complex behavioral and emotional needs due to the trauma, abuse, and neglect that they have faced in their life. Give them grace and understanding as the foster parents and/or school staff support them through a hard moment. When speaking to foster parents, this was the biggest area that they noted as being critical when supporting foster parents and wishing they had more of this in their community.

“I wish they understood the why”– Family Works Foster Parent

“I’ve seen people look differently at children who are in care. With younger children, but definitely at older kids and even how some people treat foster parents. Understanding our kids and parents I think is a big one.” – Family Works Foster Parent

Physical Support/ Respite

The emotional toll that comes with fostering can be overwhelming at times, which is why it is important for foster parents to take breaks. This is no different than your own children going to their friends, grandparents, or another family members’ home for a few hours or weekend. Becoming a respite provider is a great way to support local foster parents by giving them a needed break. Respite is when a child that is placed with another family comes to stay with you for a short period of time, anywhere from a few hours to a few days to a few weeks. You do not have to be a licensed foster parent to get approved as a respite provider. Even helping with after school pick up or brief childcare duties can be a huge help!

Clothing/ Toy Donations

One way that community members can support foster parents is through clothing or toy donations. Instead of dropping off your gently used items at goodwill, consider donating them to organizations that provide support to foster families.

Advocacy

One of the most powerful ways that a community can support foster families is by advocating for better policies and resources for foster

children. This might include advocating for better funding for foster care programs, better access to daycare services, and reform to the foster care system.

“Having access to childcare programs that meet the criteria for childcare assistance and having childcare centers that accept it. While in my research I have found quite a few childcare centers that qualified but not very many of them will accept childcare assistance.” – Family Works Foster Parent

Communities play a crucial role in supporting foster families. These are just a few of the many ways that community members can support local foster families and also make the transition easier for foster children.

Additional Resources:

Support Foster Families: Empowering and Strengthening the Foster Care Community – His House Children’s Home

How Communities Can Support Foster Children and Families

Foster Care: Ways to Support Families in Need

 

Apply to be a Foster Parent