Celebrating Foster Care Month 2023
Who Are Those Foster Parents
Who are the people who become foster parents? Are there criteria that I can’t meet? Does my living situation rule me out? Who are agencies looking for when they recruit people to become foster parents?
Here are some expectations of foster parents and some myths about who can be licensed as a foster parent.
Foster parents need to be able to provide a safe and stable home with room for a child or adolescent. Homeownership is optional; many foster parents live in apartments. Some live in public housing.
There needs to be one English-speaking parent in a foster home, but a partner can have another primary language. Many of the children we serve are Hispanic, and Spanish-speaking foster parents can significantly help in interacting with some of our foster children’s birth parents.
We recruit foster parents from diverse backgrounds. Like all families, foster families come in all shapes and sizes. Some foster parents are part of two-parent households; others are single parents. Some foster parents are straight and/or cisgender; others are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Some have already raised a family; others are first-time parents.
Foster parents must be adults who, with agency support, can meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma. Foster parents bring with them a variety of life experiences. We know that adults who have experienced trauma in their own lives can bring a unique perspective to foster parenting.
All prospective foster parents need to undergo training and licensing, which help prepare them to meet the needs of the children they will welcome into their homes. All foster parents have in common the desire to help a child in need and the willingness to provide love, nurturing, and safety in a stable environment. Many people meet those criteria.
Ready to explore foster parenting? Call 978-935-2801 or email us to talk to a Family Resource Worker today!
Learn more about our approach to Plummer’s Foster Family Program here.
We know it’s a big decision to become a foster parent, and we’ll try to answer all your questions. We can also mail you additional information or contact a Plummer foster parent who can provide a first-hand perspective on foster parenting.
