Working as a professional in child welfare has taught me that foster and kinship families have one of the most challenging roles in the foster care system. Biological parents have nine months to prepare for having a baby and can teach the child from day one what to expect from his or her parents and the rules of the home. Foster and kinship parents have a child enter their home with notice sometimes only an hour before and may receive very limited information about the child. All foster children have different life experiences, personalities, interests and responses to the home environment they are entering. Foster or kinship parents want the child entering their home to understand that he or she is safe, immediately cared about and loved; all while juggling the child’s fears, comprehension of what is occurring, and physical and mental health needs. These parents open their homes to multiple workers every month, as well as invasive questions and regulations that guide how they parent and keep children safe. They bond with and love each child and know that being a foster parent involves exhaustion and constant adapting. They also hope to provide a positive experience in the child’s life while understanding they may not know what happens to the child when he or she leaves their home.
Foster care is seen in movies and TV shows and talked about in the news, but what is foster care in real life? As a professional who has worked in the field for many years, I have heard a wide variety of questions. During the month of May, which is National Foster Care Month, those who work in child welfare and those who provide for children in foster care have an opportunity to dispel myths and speak truth.
The WHY.
- 7,465 children in custody in Kansas
- 2,892 licensed foster families in Kansas
- 100/105 counties in Kansas have a licensed foster care family residing there
- 10 months = average time a child is out of the home prior to reunification
- 38 months = average time a child is in a foster home prior to adoption
The PURPOSE.
Foster care is a temporary step taken to ensure a child’s safety while providing supports and services to the whole family to prepare them for a safe reunification. Foster and kinship parents are not a replacement for the family but rather a positive, temporary home to provide a healthy, consistent and loving environment while children cannot be with their parents. A team of professionals helps support the biological family, foster or kinship family, and the child while working with them to determine the path taken.
The PROFESSIONALS.
There are a few things all social welfare professionals have in common. Each person does this job because they care about the families and children in our communities. They understand each situation is different and that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Working with families, children and other professionals is a part of their daily lives. Successes for the families and children push them to continue advocating in our communities and beyond.
ACTION NEEDED.
- Ask your local foster families what their needs are
- Collect items such as new clothing and school supplies for local Foster Care agencies
- Provide a meal for a local foster family
- Volunteer with a local child welfare agency
- Stay informed on issues that may affect the families in your community
Our communities and the families in them are important. We can all work together to provide for those families and children in the foster care system our support. Reach out to Kansas Caregivers Support Network, and we’ll connect you with resources in your community.