Foster Children From Different Backgrounds
Foster Children from Different Backgrounds
There is a wide array of children and teenagers from all different kinds of backgrounds currently in the foster care system. There are children with an assortment of ages, ethnicities and religions and they each come in to the fostering system at different points throughout their childhood and for various reasons. One thing is certain though; they each need a good foster home with caring foster parents.
Fostering organisations recognise that just as the children are all different, foster carers also come from a variety of different backgrounds, a range of ages and can be single or married. What they are looking for in each foster parent, is whether they can provide a child or young person with a stable, safe and loving home. As this is the most important factoring if the child is going to develop and enjoy a happy familial life.
You need to be open minded, understanding and empathetic if being a foster carer is something you aspire to, in order to appreciate the difficulties that some of these children and young people have had to deal with. Perhaps you have an idea of a particular age group or background that you think you will be better at when it comes to fostering, but you may find that your personality and skills actually are better elsewhere such as fostering teenagers.
If you are thinking of becoming a foster carer, then you need to be able to appreciate the fact that no two children will be the same and each time you receive a new placement, it is likely to be different from your previous experiences. It is unfortunate but some of the children may have come from abusive homes or they may have been neglected making them sullen, withdrawn and they may be difficult to get through to. Whereas others may be on the path to being reunited with their birth family and your role could be to facilitate that transition.
Fostering a child or young person will be one of the most fulfilling achievements you will ever undertake. If you are a patient, understand, caring person that has a free room and can provide a safe, clean environment then you can have a huge impact on someone's life, a child's life. Whether you work directly for your local authority or you work through an independent agency, you will be supported throughout the entire process. You will be provided with training and have regular contact with a social worker who can answer any questions you may have.
There is a wide array of children and teenagers from all different kinds of backgrounds currently in the foster care system. There are children with an assortment of ages, ethnicities and religions and they each come in to the fostering system at different points throughout their childhood and for various reasons. One thing is certain though; they each need a good foster home with caring foster parents.
Fostering organisations recognise that just as the children are all different, foster carers also come from a variety of different backgrounds, a range of ages and can be single or married. What they are looking for in each foster parent, is whether they can provide a child or young person with a stable, safe and loving home. As this is the most important factoring if the child is going to develop and enjoy a happy familial life.
You need to be open minded, understanding and empathetic if being a foster carer is something you aspire to, in order to appreciate the difficulties that some of these children and young people have had to deal with. Perhaps you have an idea of a particular age group or background that you think you will be better at when it comes to fostering, but you may find that your personality and skills actually are better elsewhere such as fostering teenagers.
If you are thinking of becoming a foster carer, then you need to be able to appreciate the fact that no two children will be the same and each time you receive a new placement, it is likely to be different from your previous experiences. It is unfortunate but some of the children may have come from abusive homes or they may have been neglected making them sullen, withdrawn and they may be difficult to get through to. Whereas others may be on the path to being reunited with their birth family and your role could be to facilitate that transition.
Fostering a child or young person will be one of the most fulfilling achievements you will ever undertake. If you are a patient, understand, caring person that has a free room and can provide a safe, clean environment then you can have a huge impact on someone's life, a child's life. Whether you work directly for your local authority or you work through an independent agency, you will be supported throughout the entire process. You will be provided with training and have regular contact with a social worker who can answer any questions you may have.
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