Written by: Serenity Henderson March 30, 2021
Before being placed with a foster child you never want to be blind sighted. You’d want to be prepared and be ready for anything that might come your way. You’ll want to ask a thorough list of questions to ensure everything will run as smoothly as possible. Here are some questions that get asked the most by our foster parents here at FSA.
What type of behaviors do the child suffer from? Some foster kids have a tendency to have some behavioral issues which is normal. You’d want to be aware of what issues your placement may have that way you can be prepared for anything that might come your way. Know not to take it personal when the child is misbehaving. Certain behavioral issues may cause for specific trainings to best deal with it.
What is the child’s medical history? You’d want to know of any serious medical or mental conditions. Certain kids may need to be monitored closely depending on their history. You’ll need to make sure their getting their medications on time if need be. Again certain issues may cause for mandatory trainings.
What is the child’s background or history? Have they been in foster care before? If so for how long? Why are they being replaced, where are their parents? These are some questions you’d want to ask to get an idea of the child’s history and who the child is. What they’re used to seeing and how you should deal with them.
Is the child abusive? Again most of these kids come from harmful backgrounds and deal with different conditions. Sometimes you might get placed with an abusive child. It would be useful to know before hand so you can decide if that’s something you think you can handle. These kids need to be properly handled and taken care of.
If the child has visitation with the biological parents would there be anything that I’d have to worry about? Some kids, biological parents have issues coping with the reality of things and may sometimes try to cause trouble in you and/or the child’s life. Ideally you’d want them to be able to stay in touch with their parents because it can allow them to keep an ongoing relationship. However no biological parent is ever allowed to just show up or try to hold visitation without DSS permission.
About how long will the child be placed in my care? For kids who parents will be returning, sometimes it’s hard to put a definite date on when the child will be leaving. In certain cases the parents need a little bit longer to be able to take care of themselves properly. Sometimes things happen, next of kin family members appear, the parent may be able to take them back sooner or later than expected. Either way it is important to ask how long a child may be with you just to give you an idea so you can be prepared.
Age and Ethnicity? Again these are just simple question that will fully prepare and help you to know the child you may be getting. You’d want to know the age to get an idea of where the child is at mentally and what necessities they might need that they do not already have. As for the Childs ethnicity you’d want to know just to avoid any surprises and deal with any concerns (if any) you might have, straight away. A Childs ethnicity should not hinder you from taking them in and caring for them. However it’s good to know before hand to kind of get an idea of their background and where they come from.
Each child needs and has the right to grow up protected from misuse and disregard, and caring foster parents offer kids support and dependability when they need it most. At Family Services of America, we spend a significant amount of time in personalizing plans for all children admitted into our services to get them ready for their next transition. We cooperate with our foster parents to provide services, including therapeutic foster care, adoption and outpatient Services. Quality care and services you can trust. Contact us today on how you can become a foster parent. https://www.familiesofusa.com
