How to be a Foster Parent

Making the decision to being a foster parent is an exciting one. It is a decision that is rewarding in so many ways. It is also one that takes incredible commitment, unconditional love, and patience. After you determined that you are ready to begin, there are long hours of training ahead of you before your first foster child is placed in your home, and becomes part of your family. These hours of training will go a long way in helping you prepare for the many challenges that await you as a foster parent.

As each state has its own set of laws and policies in regard to foster parent training, your situation will likely be different than somebody in a neighboring state. The first step is to locate your city’s child welfare agency, and contact them. Perhaps you already know someone who is a foster parent, and they can help you find the correct contact information. If so, you are one step ahead. If not, the phone book or internet is a great way to find what you are looking for. As each state is different, you will find that there are a number of different names for child welfare agencies.

Before contacting the agency nearest to you, it is important to determine if you qualify as a possible foster parent, as there are requirements to be met before you become certified. These include the following: