Foster Families
Hey all! I was wondering if there were any other foster families out there who take their kiddos camping. We host a support group for other foster/adoptive families in our area. None of them go campin...
Forum Discussion
@Raymon: Glad to hear that having additional kiddos hasn't kept your son from going camping. Good on him for providing them with a permanent home. The adoption process can be challenging, to be sure. We have tribal placements along with state placements. On our current tribal placement, we were told we would never be allowed to adopt. However, in time, we have been able to show the tribal courts our respect for the culture and have integrated elements into our daily lives. They have now cleared up to adopt our 12-year-old boy later this summer!
@Merrkalia: Fostering is certainly not for everyone. The need is greater than those who are willing to give it a try. There are several ways you can get introduced into fostering without committing to taking in a kid long term. The easiest way is to get cleared to provide baby-sitting. Foster parents (at least where we live) are not allowed to call up the teenager across the street to watch kids for awhile. Licensed child care providers are required. The process to get cleared for this is quicker than the full foster parent licensing process.
Another way to get started is to complete training to provide respite. There are times when foster parents have to take care of personal business (like a family emergency) and can't bring kids along. Respite providers care for the children for a full day up to a few nights for the foster parents. Many foster parents start out by providing respite so they can get a better feel for what fostering is like.
@Merrkalia: Fostering is certainly not for everyone. The need is greater than those who are willing to give it a try. There are several ways you can get introduced into fostering without committing to taking in a kid long term. The easiest way is to get cleared to provide baby-sitting. Foster parents (at least where we live) are not allowed to call up the teenager across the street to watch kids for awhile. Licensed child care providers are required. The process to get cleared for this is quicker than the full foster parent licensing process.
Another way to get started is to complete training to provide respite. There are times when foster parents have to take care of personal business (like a family emergency) and can't bring kids along. Respite providers care for the children for a full day up to a few nights for the foster parents. Many foster parents start out by providing respite so they can get a better feel for what fostering is like.
