Anyone foster/provide respite for kids?
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Topic: Anyone foster/provide respite for kids?
Posted By: VioletStar
Subject: Anyone foster/provide respite for kids?
Date Posted: 08 March 2010 at 11:52am
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We are just about finished the process to provide foster/respite care for kids... probably mainly between 5-10 years old but anywhere from 3-12 years (possibly up to 16 year olds one day).
Any tips? What 'rules' do you have for your house? Luckily through my job I know all the social workers I'll be dealing with and they are great. Thanks!  ------------- Formerly Wishin41 |
Replies:
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 March 2010 at 12:13pm
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nope and due to my work I am not in a position to do it now...but may in time! good on you for offering your home tho!
It takes someone special to do respite care...maybe even at times more so than to foster due to having these kids for such a short time...or for an unknown period! protect your heart in all this....thats my advice! give all you can and make sure these kids get love and affection...and where youre able to make sure the parents / caregivers know that you adore their child and have their best interests in mind at all times.... all the best for this pathway you have chosen....I salute you!!!  its an awesome job!
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Posted By: VioletStar
Date Posted: 08 March 2010 at 12:51pm
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Thanks!
We'll probably go down the road of having teens eventually but I need a break from them at the mo lol... I worked with teens with special needs for years so am probably still recovering from that 7 mths on lol. ------------- Formerly Wishin41 |
Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 08 March 2010 at 3:38pm
| i want to become a foster parent but i am only 20 and DP is 25 so i doubt we would get accepted. even though both of us are fantastic with kids and my course is flexible to work around school/kindy hours |
Posted By: VioletStar
Date Posted: 08 March 2010 at 3:46pm
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Definitely go for it mucky_one... they can only say no.
We are 25 and 29. I think if I had applied when I was your age they would've accepted us. It's about your maturity and what you have to offer not a number 
Feel free to PM me if you want to ask any questions! ------------- Formerly Wishin41 |
Posted By: VioletStar
Date Posted: 12 March 2010 at 11:24am
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Update:
YAY! The home visit went great and looks like they already have 2 pre-teens lined up for us for regular care. Exciting!  ------------- Formerly Wishin41 |
Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 12 March 2010 at 11:35am
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Sara well done. I have fostered for 2 years (and family fostering situation) and he has just left us...gutting Just my opinion from my experience. Good luck hun -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Its hard and rewarding at the same time. I think your situation will probably be easier though as ours was tainted hugely by the expectation that we actually adopt the child involved, which unforunately didn't end up being a reality. I would adbvise still though to decide what rules you want in place and keep them. Don't let yourself be swayed by the bad life that some of the kids might have had. Kids need boundires and often these children have not had them...and this has been shown in their lives by lack of rules, lack of general care and indifference. 
IMO the worse thing you could do is be reallay lenient and let them give you sob stories, and the worst thing you could do is not care IYKWIM? By laying down boundries and rules etc you are showing you DO care and that the kids are more than their sad story. Posted By: VioletStar
Date Posted: 12 March 2010 at 12:26pm
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Yeah I totally understand where you are coming from. I think I will find putting boundaries etc in place like second nature as I've worked with teens for a few years now and definitely had to have strong boundaries and I put them out there and the teens respected them because they knew I wouldn't back down in regards to them if it came down to it. But we had great fun as well... it's about balance in the relationship I believe.
I had a few of the girls I worked with last year describe their relationship with me being like I was their sister (in regards to being able to be able to talk to me about anything etc) but at the end of the day they knew I was staff. That's so awesome you've fostered for 2 years, I knew about the family fostering but didn't realise about the other fostering - good on ya! ------------- Formerly Wishin41 |