How Much Are You Allowed to Bring Into Fostercare?

Question

i think that i'm leaving for foster care in a couple of days and i was wondering, how much are you allowed to bring?

i'm trying to fit everything into this small suitcase, but i can fit much in their, and not even everything that i need. do you think that i could bring a duffel bag for my items as as well into foster care?

if you personally have been in foster care, known anyone who has/is in foster care, or etc... could you tell me how much they might have brought or been allowed to bring?

thanks for the help : )

Answer 1

Bring as much as you like.  Some foster homes are good to you and will get you brand new items the first week you arrive.  Others are not as generous and you may have to survive on what you have for a while.  Take as much as you like, and ensure yourself against being without.  They will not take your items from you, however, in some homes other kids will.   Pray and ask God to be with you-- at this time my heart goes out to you-- Sincerely--- Toni D.  

Answer 2

I know its not very much. My good friend growing up was in foster care, and she had one bag of stuff that was hers.

Good luck, are you okay? Do you need anything? I'll keep you on my heart.

I've been reading your other questions and I'm really really concerned about you. Foster care, isn't fun, its not a piece of cake or walk in the park. Is your mother sure about this? do you have friends you can go to? You could get moved around a lot and your chances of being adopted, are not good.

be careful!

Answer 3

When a friend's daughter was taken into care, she was allowed to bring what she was wearing, and one favorite stuffed toy. No bag, no books, NOTHING else.

Answer 4

I have had children come into my house with everything  /  nothing.  If you are old enough to pack yourself, then I say bring whatever you  need (clothes...etc) and whatever you want (pictures / nick nacks).

Answer 5

I know kids in foster care who have their stuff in garbage bags, and take several bags with them.  My prayers are that you get a wonderful, caring family, and that your situation greatly improves.  Pack your ultimate needed things first.  Then, pack your duffel bag with most of the things you'll need.  You can then put everything else in boxes, plastic totes, or whatever you have, and hopefully, since it is yours, you'll have room.  Use your school backpack to pack something like a Playstation or hobby of some sort.  When you are picked up, they'll help you get what you need, and will know more about your particular situation.  Good luck!

Answer 6

My children were allowed to bring their clothes and their toys and their pictures. When we adopted them, they came with a lot of their stuff from their original family, as well as lots that their foster family had supplied them.

Do you have a social worker yet? Or a contact person in foster-care?

I am not sure if you live in the US or Canada. My kids are from Canada.

If you do have a worker, call her/him and they should be able to tell you.

Answer 7

Take what you want to take. There should be no limit, well it's not allowed anyway. That's the way it is here in Australia.  

Answer 8

Oh brother.  Please let me respond.

1)  If you think that you might be returning to your bio-parents DO NOT bring valuable stuff.  If you are in a group home, your stuff will get stolen, lost, broken, etc.  In group homes, even though you have your own "space," things disappear and "what's yours is everyones."  I don't think I ever knew what clothes were really mine when I was in a group home with kids my age.  Share and share alike.

2)  If you think you will NOT be returning to your bio-parents, do you have a friend that can keep your valuable stuff until you either get a permenant foster home or age-out.  That way someone you trust will keep it for you.

People telling you to bring your playstation and stuff like that are wrong.  That will get taken the first day in your group home.  And probably broken by the second.

Stick to clothes, books, some pictures if you want, and maybe a stuffed animal or something like that.  

I am sorry, but this is the reality.  Stuff gets stolen or broken all the time.  It sucks.

Answer 9

We were able to bring everything we had with us. d**n! It sucks to be a foster kid. No one had respect for me for being a foster kid, but it wasn't my fault, & neither is it yours.