Eddy_Editorial Booklet_Thinking About Becoming a Foster Parent

Thinking About Becoming a

Foster Parent? the

Path begins here...

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Eric & Jaci Hasemeyer’s Story

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he Hasemeyer family led a fairly normal life until one day, when Jaci encountered a fifth-grade boy who refused a free ticket to the skating rink because there would be no one to take him. Eric and Jaci had three kids at the time, but they decided to become a solution for kids like this young boy. They signed up to become foster parents and hosted over 30 children in their home throughout the years. They ended up adopting 9 of those children.

Several of Eric and Jaci’s friends were so inspired that they also decided to become foster parents and the Hasemeyers found

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themselves forming a support group for foster and adoptive families. This grew as well, and eventually, Eric quit his stockbroker job and went to school for a masters in counseling so they could help more families throughout their area.

After graduation, he started a center for this purpose. To raise awareness on behalf of foster children, the Hasemeyers’ oldest daughter, Krista, started a Walk Your Talk event. Within three years, the event garnered the support of 1,000 people and $30,000 and was adopted by churches.

Table of Con tents

□ Wanting to Expand You r Family □ What Are The Requirem ents for Being a Fost er Parent?

□ Benifits f or You and The Child

□ How to B ecome a Fost er parent

□ Are You Approved?

□ Understa nding The Ef fects of Seperation, Grief and L oss.

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Wanting to expand your family?

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any people tell us that foster care is something that they may have thought about for a while. Maybe you know someone who was a foster parent or foster child? Maybe you saw something on TV or an ad in the newspaper? Maybe you saw a post on the internet?

Maybe you just thought it sounded like something interesting to do?

When we meet with prospective foster parents, we share with them information on what foster care is, who the children are, what the requirements to become a foster parent, and how to start the process.

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Equally important is answering the question, “Why should I become a foster parent?�

The answer to that question is different for each person, of course, but over our years of experience we have found that the most successful foster parents often mention some common reasons:

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I care about children and want to help them. Children and youth in the foster care system have been abused, neglected, abandoned, and face tremendous obstacles.

Foster parenting is a powerful way to lift up the heads of children and youth, and show them that there is hope for the future.

I didn’t have children. By being a foster parent I can share my home and give my time and attention to a worthwhile cause.

Everyone has to start sometime. Children do not come with an instruction manual.

Being open to learn parenting skills with the guidance and support of experienced caseworkers will give a person the tools to be an effective parent.

There are not enough homes for older children and sibling groups. The bond between a siblings is one of the longest relationships a person has in life. When siblings cannot be placed together, a child has to deal with the additional separation of being away from parents and brother or sister. Another challenge is finding homes for older children.

Teens are also hurting, having experienced abuse and betrayal. They are looking for someone to them and help them succeed.

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What are the Requirements for Being a Foster Parent? □ You must be 21 years of age or older. □ You need a stable and secure income. □ You should be in good physical and mental health. □ Your home needs to pass a safety inspection. □ You cannot have child abuse reports. □ You cannot have a criminal background. □ You need a stable family relationship. □ You must have the ability to commit to a child.

If you can check all these boxes, you can do it!

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Benefits for You and the Child For You

For the Child

Create relationships that last a lifetime, by opening your home to a young person who is a good match for your family. Earn a dependable second income at home. Receive a tax-free income that pays for the needs of the foster child and reimbursements for your efforts parenting a child.

Earn additional income after achieving Transformation Education (TranZed) Certification status.

Foster parenting goes beyond helping an individual child. Foster parents help fight the problems of homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, poverty. While caring for foster children, foster parents give a child’s birth parents the chance to receive the necessary help to overcome problems that may have led to the removal of the children from their home. Foster parents can also be role models to birth parents on better ways of parenting the children.

An average 4-year-old child comes with $282 per month to cover expenses, while a medical or special-needs child would receive $671 per month.

You’re helping children have better lives.

You’re actively removing them from poor environments and providing them with the stability they’re seeking. Even if you only have a child for a few months, you have the ability to teach the child lifelong lessons and set positive examples for how healthy families should function.

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The worker from your chosen foster care agency will conduct a home assessment to determine if the home meets safety, space and health standards.

Call one of the Foster Care Agency offices in your area to register as a foster parent.

You will complete the Foster Parent Inquiry Form

online or contact Mission WV toll free at 866-CALL-MWV (225-5698).

A background check will be conducted.

You will receive extensive training from the Foster Care Agency.

You will also attend a pre-service orientation- This training discusses the responsibilities and details of becoming an adoptive or foster parent.

Notification of approval- After completion of the assessment the family will be notified whether their home has been approved for adoptive or foster children.

After approval the information will remain in the West Virginia Adoption Resource Network Family Register for six months.

After You Are Approved 1. Your foster care social worker will contact you with a potential placement when a child becomes available.

2. Your foster care social worker will provide you with as much information as available regarding the child.

3. You will be able to meet your potential foster child prior to placement.

4. You will have the opportunity to ask your foster care social worker questions.

Pride Training

Home Study

Families must complete the PRIDE training course and complete a home study. PRIDE training is an excellent opportunity to meet other families who are going through the foster and adoption process.

It is also an opportunity to educate yourself about adoption and foster parenting.

The home study is a comprehensive report of your family and home environment. The completed home study includes an application, summary of your family’s history, interviews, criminal background and child abuse clearances. The timeline of the home study can vary from family to family.

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Understanding the effect of separation, grief, and loss All children in foster care have experienced abuse and/or neglect or dependency. For many children, the termination of their birth parents’ rights may trigger intense feelings of loss and grief.

These feelings are natural and often occur at different stages throughout the lifelong journey of foster care and adoption. Grief that is not addressed may display itself in problem behaviors, self-medication, anger, or denial. Children and youth in foster care or who are adopted may need

help labeling their feelings and understanding that they are grieving.

All children in foster care have experienced tremendous loss. Even in the very best of foster care placements, children will experience loss of their familiar home surroundings, at least some disruption of daily routines, loss of personal belongings, pets, and family members—parents, siblings, and kin.

Even when the plan is reunification, and there is a

good possibility that they will be returned home, children experience profound loss while they are separated from their caregivers. How a child experiences loss depends on many factors, including: • The child’s developmental level • The significance of the people separated • Whether the separation is temporary or permanent • The degree of familiarity of the new surroundings

Of these factors, a child’s developmental level will most deeply impact his or her understanding of the situation, and therefore influence how he or she behaves while in foster care. The following is a brief summary of how a child’s developmental level will affect his or her response to grief and loss.

Infancy An infant placed in foster care is at risk of losing his or her basic sense of trust in adults, and the world at large. This Grief and loss can manifest in withdrawal, excessive and sometimes mournful crying.

Preschool Children of this age have not developed logical thinking abilities. When these children experience

loss, they may feel sadness, hopelessness, denial, and guilt. The fear of further loss may make the child clingy, anxious, and stubborn.

School Age During this period, children are developing their ability to understand cause, effect, and time.

They are beginning to form concrete and logical thoughts. Grief will show itself in school or learning problems, and preoccupation with the loss of caregivers and or related worries.

developmental task: forming his or her own identity. Issues of independence, resistance, and separation are already occurring—profound loss adds a tremendous amount of stress to his or her maturation process.

When faced with loss, adolescents can turn to destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, etc.

Adolescence At this stage, children understand permanence and will grieve like an adult. Complicating the grief process is the adolescent’s primary

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tory Ashley Rivera’s S ey Rivera’s Story

To read about Ashl

visit

en https://www.childr stories-foster-care/

eive Foster Parents can rec services such as: • Additional parenting support ded • Respite care when nee h wit • Assistance transportation and visitation supervision as needed. ups • Structured support gro • Trainings

Your foster care agency also provides: □ Licensed therapists on staff □ 24/7 availability □ A network of 23 offices across 4 states □ Foster parents can receive services for the children such as: • Birth to Three • Medicaid Insurance • Transportation Reimbursement for Medical Care • Therapy Services • Assistance for school • Clothing Assistance

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