7 Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
At this moment in time, there are more children in need of families than there are families willing and able to care for them. In the Houston area, the need for foster parents is significant.
The state of foster care in Houston and around the country is challenging, but there is also a meaningful opportunity for loving families to help make a difference by becoming foster parents.
As you consider the possibility of providing a loving home for children in need, there are many steps between learning about the need for foster families and becoming one yourself.
We’ll guide you through some of the information about foster care, common questions and misconceptions, and the steps to becoming a foster parent yourself!
Have more questions? We’re here to help as you navigate this decision.
An Introduction to Foster Care
A child enters foster care when the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) finds evidence of child abuse, neglect, and/or that their biological parents or guardians are unable to properly care for the child.
After DFPS has investigated the situation, Child Protective Services (CPS) are the ones who work to find a safe placement for the child/children. This placement could be with a relative, licensed foster family, or a group facility.
Foster care is a temporary arrangement whereby state-certified adults provide homes for children who have been separated from their birth parents.
The ideal outcome for children in foster care is reunification with the child’s birth parents. In instances when that is not possible or safe for the child, other options for permanency, such as adoption, may be a possible outcome in certain cases.
Considerations Before Becoming a Foster Parent
There are many common misconceptions about becoming a foster parent. If you are considering the possibility of providing a loving home for a child in need, here are a few important things to keep in mind to avoid any misconceptions and inaccurate expectations.
Foster care is about the child. Foster Care is less about your family getting a child and more about a child getting your family, whether temporarily or permanently. Before asking, “What do we want?” begin by asking, “What is the need?”
Every child in the foster care system has experienced trauma. Many of their biological families have too. They need families who know how to bring healing through love, and their birth parents need communities who are willing to support, guide, and mentor them toward restoration and reunification with their children.
There is always a degree of uncertainty in foster care. Embracing uncertainty is the heart of foster care. Foster parents take on this uncertainty so that children don’t have to carry it alone. Although reunification is the goal, there is no guarantee that will be the outcome. Every case and every child is unique. If you are hoping to eventually adopt a child, remember that “unrelated adoption” is the State’s last resort, and no case is clear cut. Embrace the uncertainty as the heart of foster care.
7 Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
1) Assess your motives.
The first step to becoming a foster parent is to assess your motives. There are a variety of reasons to foster and/or adopt, and to be honest, some reasons are better than others.
- Maybe you have always wanted to foster and/or adopt.
- Maybe you first considered it after having struggled with infertility.
- Maybe you have a particular burden to care for vulnerable children.
- Or maybe, having had a number of biological children, you’re looking to continue growing your family.
2) Connect with other foster/adoptive parents.
Next, connect with other foster/adoptive parents. We highly encourage you to discuss foster care and/or adoption with wise and humble people who are further along in their foster care/adoption journeys. Ask questions, gain insight, and learn from their experiences. Good mentors can help you manage your expectations, provide ongoing support, and answer the multitude of questions you may have.
3) Select a placing agency.
Now that you’ve taken the first two steps, it’s time to select a placing agency. The city of Houston is home to a number of certified placing agencies (CPAs). All CPAs contract with the State of Texas and adhere to the State’s Minimum Standards, but they may differ in their approach to licensing, training, and support. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” agency, but it’s important to do some research and find the best fit for your family.
4) Begin the training and application process.
Once you have narrowed down your list of CPAs, you’ll begin the training and application process. An orientation class (or several) should give you a feel for the organization and help to answer your lingering questions. Your agency will provide you with a list of training and documentation that will need to be completed during the licensing process. Be patient, take your time, and keep copies of all documentation.
5) Grow a support system.
Next, it’s vital to grow a support system. Foster and adoptive families do not thrive in isolation. As you begin your journey, it’s important to identify and enlist friends, family, and/or neighbors who can provide ongoing support for your family. We highly recommend that the members of your support system get certified to babysit so that you can have the time and space to rest and receive ongoing training. You can visit riversideproject.org/babysitting for more information about getting babysitters trained.
6) Begin preparing your heart.
After you submit your application and complete your training, you will be scheduled for a home study. Your agency will have further instructions on how to prepare. In addition, begin preparing your heart to show love and compassion no matter what comes your way. And if you have children in your home, begin having conversations about love, patience, selflessness, and hospitality. Your entire family will be called upon to make room, both physically and emotionally.
7) Wait for a call.
Finally, it’s time to wait for a call. As you wait for your first placement, we encourage you to continue learning and preparing. If you pray, it’s never too early to start praying for children in foster care and their biological families. They are somewhere in the city, and they need your love even now.
This is a discernment process. There are many factors that you must consider before knowing if foster care is right for you and your family. We are here to walk through this process with you and help connect you with others. Reach out to us at hello@riversideproject.org or download our Prospective Foster Family Resource Guide to learn even more about becoming a foster parent!
DOWNLOAD: Prospective Foster Family Resource Guide
