All tagged Foster Dad

Don’t Be So Quick to Judge: Navigating Relationships with Biological Parents in Foster Care

One of the most important aspects of being a foster parent, in my opinion, is understanding and acknowledging your own biases. Even if you try your darndest to come to the table without any preconceived judgements, it is just not realistic to say that personal biases don’t exist—they do. Your life experiences, education, ethnicity, social status, gender etc. all play a role in defining who are you and what you believe. That means, as you navigate the world of foster care, it is important you make a conscious effort to analyze how those biases may be impacting your actions or reactions to certain situations.

11 Essential Tips to Prepare Your Home for Foster Children

You decided to become a foster parent—congratulations! Although this is such an exciting time, if you are new to foster care you may also be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what to expect and how best to prepare for your first placement. While some of those feelings will settle with time, there are actionable steps you can take to help set yourself up for success.

Outlined below are eleven simple tips to prepare your home, family, and yourself for foster children. Paying attention to each of these areas can positively impact the transition into this new chapter of your life.

Book Resources for Children Impacted by Foster Care

Processing and adjusting to life impacted by foster care can be quite challenging for little ones— whether it is a child who finds themselves in foster care, or children in homes that provide care to foster children. As a caregiver, the more you can communicate with little ones, and help them through their experience the better; however, sometimes knowing just what to say in a way they will understand can be difficult. That’s exactly why I have put together a resource of books that can help!

Even the Greatest Superheroes Have a Vulnerability

I had a breakdown this week—full on sobbing, ugly cry, cannot catch your breath, feeling a total loss of control. Yup, that happened. And believe me when I say, admitting it “out loud” makes me very uncomfortable. I am not one to share my emotions easily. However, I believe that if there is any hope of creating change for the future of our foster care system, being honest and bringing light to both the good and harsh realities that foster parents face, is a must.