All responses taken from our Facebook groups: Foster Parenting Toolbox and Kinship Parenting Group.
We asked current foster parents what inspired them to open their homes to children in need. Here are their stories:
“I was working in the court system as a GAL and learned very few foster homes take teenagers and they are often placed in group homes that are far away from their birth families. I did not want any more young children, but thought fostering teens would be a great fit for us.”
“I was working as a nurse in a postpartum and newborn nursery. It was literally breaking my heart when the investigators would come get the babies from the nursery and say let’s take you back to the office and see if we can find you a home for tonight.”
“Empty nest and thought we could help reunite families. We had the space. I had the time.”
“Always had the dream of one day being a foster parent. Grew up with a neighbor who fostered medically fragile newborns. She would let me come and rock them and care for them when I was 9 years old. I absolutely loved every single minute of those days.
I grew up, got a home and started a daycare. I knew the timeline was falling into place. I started fostering in 2014. I have had many little ones come into my care. Each one holds a very special place in my heart!
I have adopted my daughter and son as well. Life is good!”
“I like kids, and I have a huge background in developmental disabilities. We have a big house and a flexible schedule, and we know there aren’t enough homes in our area. I also love the act of parenting but not so much the idea of long-term parental planning if that makes sense? We are not seeking to adopt but are open if it’s in the best interest of the kid/s.”
“Had never even given it a thought. We became foster parents by circumstance of one of my daughter’s friends. Agency tried to get us to be kin, however, that was not in the best interest of our foster daughter. So we took the plunge and were in the first group to do PRIDE online. It will be six years soon and we have zero regrets.”
“I was a foster kid who survived. Now I want to help others make it out of foster care.”
“I grew up in a chaotic childhood filled with trauma. I believe every child should be safe, loved, and well taken care of, and I want to help provide that to kids who need it. Also I’ve always loved kids and it’s a natural fit for me and something I’ve always wanted to do.”
“I want to be an advocate for the littles that cannot use their own voice yet.”
“It was a specific teen that I was a mentor to for over two years. It was us or going back to a horrible placement. We couldn’t let that happen.”
“Because so many children need somewhere safe to stay and someone to believe in them.”
“Our experience doing kinship care helped us understand how often siblings are separated in foster care. We started fostering to help keep siblings together.”
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