Dismantling Myths About Foster Care
There are a number of myths floating around the internet regarding the foster system. Did you know that the goal of foster care is to provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment for a child until they are able to be united with their biological family? This goal is often miscommunicated, adding to the plethora of misinformation surrounding the foster care system. Here are six common myths about foster care.
1. MYTH: To be a foster parent, I have to be relatively young, married, a parent already, and live in a house.
TRUTH: People from all types of backgrounds and from all walks of life are eligible to foster a child — young or old, single or married, homeowner or renter, college degree holder or not. The baseline requirements that must be met, however, include: being 21 years of age or older, passing rigorous background/screening checks and proving that you are able to provide a stable and nurturing home for a foster child.
2. MYTH: I have to be a stay at home foster parent.
TRUTH: Many foster parents work outside of the house! Discuss with your licensing agency what options might be available to you to help cover daytime childcare costs.
3. MYTH: Once a child is placed with me, there is no further support.
TRUTH: Outside of the non-taxable monthly stipend from the government that all foster parents receive to help cover costs of child-raising (food, clothing, transportation, etc.), foster parents have a number of resources at hand, including a licensing specialist assigned to their home and support from case managers.
4. MYTH: I must provide services like medical insurance and clothes for a foster child in my home.
TRUTH: Other than over the counter medicines and supplies, foster parents do not pay any of a child’s medical expenses; any medical, dental and mental health care needs are covered by the state.
5. MYTH: As a foster parent, I will have no input on the child that will be joining my foster home.
TRUTH: Working with your licensing agency, you will have control over which children you decide to foster and will be able to connect with a child who is the right fit for your household. However, A Child’s Hope International advises that the broader your parameters, the more quickly you will receive a placement.
6. MYTH: Children in foster care have experienced trauma that is beyond repair; I can’t do anything to help.
TRUTH: Not only is the popular misconception that children who have suffered trauma and abuse are irreversibly “broken” destructive in its own right, but it’s also unfounded.
Yes, children in foster care have faced trauma, however, no child is beyond repair. It is NOT the responsibility of a caretaker to do “fixing,” yet rather to provide a safe spot for healing and love. It’s incredible what a structured, supportive, and nurturing environment can do for an individual. While trauma — psychological, physical or otherwise — should never be underwritten or minimized, it’s possible to be a safe place for a child until they are in a permanent home again. Foster parents have the ability to positively respond to the needs of a child who has experienced trauma, teach them healthy coping skills and be the help they need in a time that can be extremely scary or incredibly sad.
Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
Here Are a Few Reliable Resources For More Information on the Foster System
About the Author
Mckayla Yoo is a proud resident of the Jersey Shore getting her History and English degrees in Massachusetts. A lover of slow fashion, she believes in conscious consumer choices and the five R's. In her free time, you can find her researching cold case mysteries and perfecting the art of iced coffee.