Can I be a foster mum?

Question

I live in rented accomendation, am single and have no money.....ok bad start!!! But I am a qualified and experienced childcare worker and have recently graduated from teacher training. I am not sure if teaching is the path for me but I know that a teaching qualification is important for the work I want to do with kids so it was not a waste of time. I want to work on more creative ventures - writing/art/craft etc perhaps making and desiging school teaching resources and run my own bussiness. I was wondering if I will be eledgable to be a foster mum - I know I would have good references etc, though I am in therapy for post traumatic stress but this is well under control.

Do you think I am likely to be in a position to be a worthy candidate for being a foster parent?

Any genuine thoughts and advice/info will be appriciated thank you.

Answer 1

You have a pure and good heart - you would make a wonderful foster mum. Good luck

Answer 2

You need to have an income that allows you to care for yourself and also will allow you to properly financially care for your foster child.  Yes you will get assistance for the child including medical card and usually foodstamps (only to be used for that child and not yourself) but you have to prove you can care for yourself first.

Answer 3

A lot of people become foster parents because they think it's a way to make money.  I'm not assuming that you are but letting you know that if you are trying to make money it's not going to work.  The money that the government gives you is used to take care of the children and generally isn't enough if you're not able to support yourself in the first place.  

Being a foster parent can be very stressful and emotionally trying.  You will have to experience getting attached to the kids and then the children going back into bad situations. Its hard to deal with kids coming from those situations and a lot of them have behavioral issues.

My advise is for you to be sure this is something you really want to get into.  You are already in therapy for PTSD so you have to be careful of what you are getting yourself into.  On the other hand foster care can be so rewarding.  You get to pour love into kids lives and take care of them. How great?  Regardless, I'm sure you will make a great foster parent if that's what you decide to do.  Blessings!

Answer 4

Yes you can.  Speak to your local authority about fostering - it sounds like you have alot to offer a child