*Collaborative post
Fostering a child is one of the most rewarding acts a person can undertake. To give the gift of a family to someone who doesn’t have one represents a pure act of compassion, and while it may be daunting at first, both you and your new family member will grow together in ways you never thought possible.
That said, there’s a lot to consider. If you’ve recently had the thought that you might want to consider fostering but don’t know where to start, this article is for you; we’ll go through the basics of what you need to know so that you’re signposted to the right areas to do your own research. Let’s get into it!
Why Foster?
Roughly 1 in every 140 children are in care and they’re all there for different reasons, whether it’s some issue pertaining to the breakdown of their original family to matters of abuse, neglect, or the death of their parents.
Inevitably, these children have gone through a lot, and while care homes do their best to provide a safe, compassionate environment, they can never replace the stability of a dedicated family to support a child’s upbringing given the number of children they’re looking after at once.
Considering the crucial importance of a stable family regarding a child’s upbringing and subsequent future, giving that gift to someone in need is invaluable, with families who foster upholding an essential part of the fabric of our society’s obligation to help those in need.
Preparing for Fostering
Fundamentally, understanding commitment is the most important thing regarding your preparation. This is someone’s life you’re taking into your hands, so it’s key to fully understand what fostering entails, which relates both to caring for a child in general and being prepared for any emotional baggage children in care may bring with them.
Secondarily, you need to make sure your home is thoroughly prepared and ready to accept a new member of the family, and also that you’re in a financially stable position to care for them. You’ll be required to undergo an assessment process beforehand which covers many of these elements and more, so it’s prudent to read up on that first.
Choosing a Centre
Once you’re ready in every other way, the next step is to actually visit a care home. You’ll need to pick somewhere with not only a great track record for supporting their children, but somewhere that’s there to help you every step of the way. Care Visions fostering, for example, works closely alongside families to provide them and their new family members everything they need for what is both a difficult and exciting process. Having support in this way is an essential component.
Wrapping Up
In essence, fostering comprises three steps: Understanding, preparing, and committing. The intricacies of raising a child are, of course, far more involved in that, but hopefully, this short article has provided you with a solid starting point for this special journey. Plan things out properly, and you’ll find you’ve made one of the best decisions you could ever make.