What do you think about a 19 year old becoming a foster parent?

Question

I am a nineteen year old who has had a passion to do this my whole life, God presented the opportunity and I want to take it. The problem is... people have been looking down at me because I am young. I went through the training and am starting the liscensing, but everyone else doing it in my class are couples in their 30s or 40s. They think I dont know a lot, but I do, I have been taking care of babies my whole life. What do you think about it?

Answer 1

If that is your passion and you can provide a nice caring environment for a child or children then why not. Good Luck.

Answer 2

to young you shud go enjoy your life first

if it was my child in foster  i wood demand they were moved sorry hun you wonted to no  if rest were honest



i was not being nasty but its not just the children you have to cope with but there mums+dads uncles auntys

i no you meen well but you realy aint thought it out

Answer 3

I think that if you waited a few more years you would be much better prepared.  At your age you should be out getting your education and preparing yourself to provide for yourself through the rest of your life.  

You will have a much happier life and be a much better parent OR foster-parent if you have gotten an education or career training first.  THEN you will be able to offer children a better life.

Answer 4

Go for it .Some say you need to be married.Some marriages are not happy and u have miserable kids.If this is what your heart says .......do it. Children are looking for someone to love them . I doesn't matter single, married ,old, young ,black or white.As long as you give them something better than what they come from.

Answer 5

Personally, I can relate pretty closely.  Right now I'm 19, and I'm working on becoming a foster parent in Texas.  I would say make sure you know what you're getting into, I'm not saying you don't know, but make sure you understand what type of children they are going to give you (in Texas they rate them by prior offenses, age, situation, and aggressive tendencies)

It's a lot easier to become a foster parent if your financially stable, married or have a degree, preferably all of them.  I really think your best bet is to go with your heart.

I know personally I'm going to be working my buns off through school, investing and saving money to rent a large enough house to take in foster siblings, and one day I hope to Build a Residential Treatment Center for the more aggressive kids.

I guess all in all, I'd really like It if you would aim at the bigger target of being able to provide a stable foster home for more kids later on, but then I guess I really want someone else to pursue the same dream as me.  

Shoot for the moon I say.

Answer 6

I think first you should be married, as a child needs two parents.  I also think you should be a little older, as life experience is very important when it comes to parenting.

Wait a few years and get married, then I think you would be great for it.

God bless xx

Answer 7

GO FOR IT girl!

Answer 8

don't let age be the issue. if you're doing this on you're own however, you really should think about finances. if you aren't financially stable you wont be able to provide any better living situation than the one they most likely came from. But i think if its something you feel passionately about, go for it.

Answer 9

Personally I think you should live your life, enjoy your life meet a special man and have your own babies and THEN take on fostering :) good luck

Answer 10

For legal purposes I can see why they may state you have to be at least 18.  Other than that it shouldn't be about age.  It's about what kind of loving, healthy & safe environment can you provide for this child.  Can you financially take care of this chid.  Are you mentally & physically capable of loving & taking care of the child.

It doesn't matter if you're 19 or 40...

Answer 11

I don't think any state would consider you as qualified foster parent material because of your young age.

Answer 12

If you fulfill the requirements, and this is what you want to do, by all means I see absolutely no problem with it.  You are an adult and there are children who need foster homes.

Answer 13

I think you know what you are getting into and if the State approves you then go for it. So many kids are in need of a place to call home even if it is temporary.

Besides, age is just a number. I know 18 - 19 year olds that are much more mature than some 40- 50 year olds.

Best of luck to you and the children!!

Answer 14

I was a single foster parent of a 6-7 year old for nine months.  It is very, very difficult.  And the child I had was terrific.  She did not act out, she was smart, she was pretty, she was athletic, she never got sick.  And she was in school all day so it wasn't such a struggle to juggle working and fostering.  Believe me, they are dying for more foster parents in California.  So, I support your trying it.  Ask for a short-term placement at first--for a child that is expected to go to a parent or relative pretty soon.  They won't be 100% sure, but they do have good guesses.  A short-term placement gives you a chance to get a feel for what it is really like without damaging a child further: they are already typically moved around a lot, so you don't want to damage the child further by creating an extra move.  But don't expect it to be like your ideals.  Often the parents are the worst problems, but the foster care system itself causes all kinds of problems for the children--changes in social workers, delays, lack of follow-through.  In my case, it wasn't the girl that was so upsetting and that made me not plan to do it again for many years to come--it was feeling so helpless to make her happy when the social workers were getting nothing done and the mother was causing delays to the child getting a permanent placement without showing up for visits or otherwise making her life better.  The chaos in the childrens' life will inevitably affect you emotionally if you care about them.  Plus, you have a lot of new responsibilities and constraints on your usual way of life.  I still feel guilty that I couldn't do more/make things better/lost my temper, and it has been several years.  Maybe I will try it again, if my husband agrees, in a few years.  But it was a deeply upsetting experience and I will not undertake it as lightly in the future.  I would do it because there is a need, and not expect it to be fun.  It was rewarding, because I think I was better for her than the home before me or the relative she went to after me, but it was painful.

Answer 15

I had friends with babies by the age of 19, and they didn't have experience with newborns.  How is this any different.  You are taking classes and have had experience, so your age shouldn't make a difference.  Everyone matures at different times.  I am currently a foster parent.  My foster babies bio mom is 21 years old and isn't even close to as mature as you sound.  If you pass the class and the licensing then I guess it is a go.  Don't worry about what others think, I just hope you are prepared to give the babies back or possibly adopt if needed.

Answer 16

Follow your heart.  The older folks may wish they had done it sooner.  You'll learn as you go- just like every parent does- no matter what age.  :-)

I followed my heart to adopt while still single and it was the best thing I've ever done.

Answer 17

That depends entirely on your maturity level.  My parents fostered when we were little (they had kids really young, so they were about your age when they were doing foster care), and they did drugs with the kids, drank, let them do whatever they wanted (they were fostering teens...not a good combination for addicts with young children, but eh, that's my parents for ya).  You sound a whole heck of a lot more mature than they were.  Just be prepared to work 10 times harder than your older counterparts to prove that you are worthy of this experience.  People might have good reason not to trust a 19 year old foster parent...but you can prove them wrong, if you're up for it.  Good luck!