What Makes People Think About Becoming a Foster Parent?

Foster parents often step in and care for children who have been removed from the care of their biological parents or legal guardians. While this can be a temporary solution before children are reunited with their parents, some foster parents may provide care for years before adopting their foster kids. Several benefits may prompt a person to consider foster parenthood.

  1. Emotional Reasons

    • Choosing to become a foster parent may simply be the result of a desire to help children, according to the North Carolina Division of Social Services website. Feelings of loneliness or depression may also make fostering children seem like a viable option, with people choosing to become foster parents in order to fill an emotional void. A desire to feel important or needed by a child may motivate people to bring children into their homes for nurturing and support. Those who were abused or neglected in childhood, whether they entered the foster care system or not, may be motivated to become foster parents because they feel they can identify with foster children.

    Family Concerns and History

    • Fostering may seem like a natural choice for those who received foster care when they were children, according to the website of Safe Haven Community Services in Houston. Parents wishing to complete their families, or those who cannot have children, may also foster children out of a desire to later adopt them. Aspiring foster parents who work in careers in education or social work may also grow motivated to foster due to their interactions with children in need.

    Financial Incentives

    • Parents who have careers may long for a way to work from home and still earn money. Financial incentives are available to foster parents, making it a viable option for those who wish to stay home with their children, according to the North Carolina Division of Social Services. However, foster parents may find that these financial incentives only cover a portion of the cost necessary to provide for a foster child's needs.

    Additional Information

    • Foster parents may feel inspired to accept a child into their care for multiple reasons. Your foster child's case worker can help you figure out your motivations for fostering and whether those motivations will help you become a successful foster parent. A case worker can also help you learn about resources available to foster parents in your area.

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