Foster care mythbusters

Fact 1: Foster parents can be single, married, divorced or in a relationship. You can rent or own your home. You do not need to own a home to provide a safe, stable, and loving home environment. You also do not need to make a lot of money;. You just need to have an income so that you can financially support yourself and those living with you.

Fact 2: Foster parents can continue to work part-time or full-time jobs, no different than when caring for a biological child. Arrangements can be made for before and after-school care, as well as daycare for younger children. Daycare costs are reimbursable when foster parents work.

Fact 3: There is no upper age limit to becoming a foster parent, only a minimum age of at least 21 years old. Age should not prevent you from becoming a caring and loving adult for a child in foster care.

Fact 4: You will get attached and that is okay - it’s human nature and it is what children need. It will be hard to see a child leave your home, but it is greater to know you gave the child the love and stability they needed during a rough patch in their lives. Even if they are only with you for a short time, you may be the one person that can make a positive change in a child’s life forever.