foster families

[my4ds]

are there many foster parents/families here on AB?

[NicM123]

I was in foster care & intend to foster once my own child is older :)

[my4ds]

how did you find the care system worked for you NicM (if you dont mind me asking that is)?
we had our 1st of 6 home visits today .it went ok i think.

good luck to you NicM

[China Doll]

My mother and father were foster parents up until I was about 12.

[NicM123]

It worked fantastically for me! I was included in all aspects - i was 16 though, so i guess that was why. I received counselling from the start of my foster placement & attended alot of support groups about living independantly when i got a council flat. All in all, a great experience. I'm still in touch with my foster family now 7 years later. Although i'm back in contact with my birth parents, I still call their children my brothers & sister & we refer to them as grandparents to my son. Poor thing will be very confused when he's older! I can't wait to foster & its so nice to know that other people find it such a valuable service aswell. Let me know if i can help with anything else!

[bandearg]

I too gre up in foster care and it worked well for me as I went on to college and now work with children in care. My partner and I have discussed fostering and may do it in a couple of years when my little one is about four!!

Good luck and stick with it. It is not always easy and the child/ren will test you. Most children in care will have been let down by the adults in their lives and will expect you too to. You need to keep reminding them you are there for them.

Good advice always make time for yourself. Don't get too involved with childs biological family, leave that to the social worker as it can turn sour if you don't with divided loyalties for the child. Never bad mouth or criticise the natural parents. Encoiurag ethe child to have photos of their family in their room. Social workers don't always give you all the information you need on the child so be careful.

It is a very rewarding and enjoyable experience but it is also a challenge depending on th ereason children are placed with you. Take all the support you can get and good luck

[my4ds]

thanks NicM and bandearg.

i will def keep you up to date as i go on.i cant actualy wait to start helping the kids .it will be nice to have another child in the house.

good luck for when you start the fostering proces.