Foster parents play a crucial role in our community by giving children who can’t live with their families safe and nurturing homes. They are vital in helping a child in their care in making a move back to living with their family.
Although it may be difficult to say goodbye to a child in your care, foster parents can find solace in knowing that the best result for the child and the family has been accomplished and that they have contributed to making that transition as smooth as possible.
Fostering and family reunion
Foster care is the temporary custody of kids ages 0 to 18 by foster parents who have been trained, screened, and accredited. Foster care can emerge from a court order or sporadically from a voluntary agreement between the child’s parent and a foster care organization.
When a child or adolescent first enters foster care, the goal is to assist the parents in getting their child or adolescent back into their care as soon as it is secure to do so.
Even while foster care is required, separating a kid from their family should never be the first option. Many parents can have their children securely returned to their care with the proper resources and assistance.
Why is it crucial for families to reunite?
Children that have a close family connection feel comfortable and secure. There is proof that they perform better in terms of their physical, mental, emotional, educational, and health results, as well as their feeling of identity and connection.
Children, families, and communities can all suffer greatly when a parent and child have split apart. Research shows that taking children from their homes, even when necessary, hinders their development. The potential for major negative developmental repercussions increases with the degree of separation trauma.
What part do foster parents play?
Foster parents have the responsibility of providing a child with a secure and nurturing environment while their own families and parents work to rebuild their lives.
During their placement, foster parents assist children in maintaining ties to their biological families. Sharing family tales, hanging family photos throughout the foster home, bringing a child’s artwork to a parent visit, or keeping a weekly notebook of the child’s activities are a few examples of how to do this. Foster parents can help children in their care maintain relationships with their biological parents and other members of their extended family, such as grandparents, by facilitating contact between them.
Advice on bidding farewell
- Keep in mind your motivation
Foster parents’ job is to care for children until their families can. Foster parents ultimately want what is best for the children and teenagers they are caring for.
- Be ready
In some circumstances, decisions about reunification can be reached in court rapidly. Caregivers can be ready for this by keeping track of important court dates, and printing photos frequently for the child to take home.
- Celebrate with youngsters
Mark the milestone with the child by having a short afternoon tea or other rituals with youngsters or young people to let them know they won’t be forgotten.
- Keep a cheerful attitude
Reunification may cause a range of diverse feelings among children and young people in care; change can be difficult. By expressing positively about the experiences they have had while in the placement and about their biological families, caregivers can make it easier for themselves and the children and young people to say goodbye.
- Seek out support
Foster parents are not expected to handle a placement’s termination on their own. VQ Foster Care provides you with services like the carer assistance program and is available to debrief with you for as long as you need. Additionally, your family and friends will be a tremendous help.
