Pros and cons of being a foster carer need some good advice?

Question

are you a foster carer im really thinking of becomeing a foster mum. can some one advice me here on what is the best age group and is being a foster carer a good or bad thing. we have 3 empty bedrooms in our home and think it is such a shame when there are some many children that need a loveing family to care for them. are you a foster carer can you advice me here please i need to here some advice from those that know and have done this work.( we live in the UK thanks)

Answer 1

Folk near me fostered children of all ages,having two of there own,the money was good,approx £350 per child a week,then

not long ago they fostered two sisters of eleven and twelve,the eleven year old was a bit forward,like coming up to me and wanting hugging,odd i fought.Well after awhile the eleven year old accused the foster dad of touching her,police and social services were called in and the dad had to live away from home for three weeks,then the girl, who had lied, was placed elsewhere and now,by Joice,they do not foster.

A lot of foster kids have problems because of there previous life so choose wisely.UK

PS forgot to say they adopted the older girl and her sister is with her gran.Nikki is spot on,also social service Foster team

always visiting them plus kids parents visit and have kids  

for short time.Very very hard work.

Answer 2

From another perspective

I was a foster child, and not just any foster child I was in procter care. ( from the states ) You could do foster care or you could do procter care. I know that most of the time me and my foster sisters did not treat the foster parents like we should have. The people that let us into their home and into their lives where treated like c**p... I feel bad for it but I see it as true. I was once in a proter group home. 8 troubled teenage girls.... WOW! Lol, those parents where tough... Then I went to a proctor home, those parents sucked.... They where treated much better but still disrespected.

Then I went to a regular foster home and we all treated ( there was 3 of us ) that foster mom ( no dad ) very well but often ignored her... We would stay out late and not follow the rules.

Yes remember that the kids you are taking in come from troubled backgrounds which usually yeilds troubled kids with behavior problems. Foster parents are rarley treated well by their foster kids.

If you go for teens youll have fun teenage problems ( Oh and there was only police at our door once in all my foster years )

If you go for kids, young ones, youll have probably very whiney sad disattached kids.

Babies would be eiasiest but the least needed for parents, pleanty of people want babies

So in conclusion, being a foster parent will not be easy. It will be taxing on you emotionally and mentally but in the end when you help someone it will be immensly rewarding. Iwould say do it... and do it for Teens

Answer 3

we foster and it is the hardest work you will ever do! but it is so rewarding when the kids finally come out of their shells with you.I think you would be hard pressed to have 3 kids unless they are a family as you need the time one on one for them.if it is the money you are thinking of then dont! you have to provide clothes,food,outings,uniforms out of the money given and you still pay tax on it.you and your family need to be 100% sure you want to do it.phone up and arrange a home .

visit from your local foster team and they will go through it all

with you.there is alot of meetings and training before you can be accepted.it took us 8 months from start to finish.As for age to have,it depends what the need is in your area,in hampshire it is 10+

Answer 4

I'm a foster care/Adoption worker from the states.

There are several pros and cons.  The biggest con is becoming attached to a child, only to lose them, but if you are able to handle that, you're a needed gift in the system.

I don't know how it works in the UK, but here we have judges that never lay eyes on the children, and will go against the word of social workers, therapists, and teachers (who actually know the kids) and return a child to a crappy parent, only to pull them back into the system later.

There are good things too.

I suggest you contact an agency and get some information.  Be very clear on what you can handle and what you can't (not every kid in foster care steals, hurts dogs and will set your house on fire), pick and age range and genders.

The fact that you have room for more than one child means you may be able to keep siblings together!  ALWAYS a good thing!

Answer 5

My husband and I have been foster parents for 3 years and we love it.  It is hard at times but also very rewarding!!  We are in the process of adopting a sibling set right now ages 15 & 16.  Plus we have an additional sib set of 5 little kids.  For a grand total of 7.  Foster homes are needed really bad in our area right now.  We have had all ages from 5 months old to 18 years old.  You just have to try a few ages and see which ones you can work with.  Yes teenagers can be hard but just be patient and work with them.  Let them open up in their time don't try to force them.  And yes it is hard to have them in your home and get attached and then they go home but that is what you are their for to make a lasting and positive influence in their life for the amount of time that you have them.  Just remember they have been through alot and need love, patience, kindness, respect and trust.  Foster care has been very rewarding for us.

Answer 6

i would not foster more than one child, unless of course they are family; then you kind of have to.

but what is your favorite age of little kids?

teenagers are bad, but give them a chance, they havnt had an  easy life.