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Most likely your foster children had never experienced these things I’ve mentioned and every child deserves to have these experiences. Yes it can make these events more stressful by involving a foster child (I’ll be writing about ways to ease the process, so keep checking back.) It does not mean it cannot be done and the foster child would be successful. People, we take this job as a foster parent so we need to do what is right by the child and what that child deserves. Remember it is a job as a parent and a foster parent. How I think about it is would I put my own child... more

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I personally have found that home day care providers are easier to work with because of drop-ins and can be more accepting of difficult children. I found a lady not far from my house that I used. I could call her with a week’s notice or the day I needed care with multiple special needs children. Even if I needed overnight care she worked with me. A great bonus for me was that she could watch my own children for me so I didn’t have to split up my foster kids and my children up. I also had my sister go through some classes and the background checks so she could help me... more

You as the foster parent are entitled to so many days (a month or a year, depending on your agency) for respite care for your foster children. Respite care is for Foster children in care when the Foster parent needs a break or something comes up in their lives. Some Foster parents do not need respite care. There are children that are foster children in care that will need respite care expressly if you work with therapeutic children or children with severe behaviors or emotional needs. These children can be very draining to you personally, your family and your way of life. There may be times that you have severe problems between a foster child, one of your children or another foster child... more

Continuing on with the different types of foster care.

Adult Care - This is for care to adults that cannot live on their own ( mentally retarded). This should be only looked at as a long term placement. This can be a very different placement and is more case by case need to what degree of care would be. It could be a wheelchair bound person that can not in any way care for them self (will needed assistance with dressing, feeding, bathing, and may required changing diapers). It also could be a mentally retarded person that needs supervision with their daily life, you may have to teach them skills (washing dishes, laundry, helping to prepare food, money, etc) and this also could... more

Continuing on with the different types of foster care.

Also under therapeutic care falls most Mentally Retarded children or in some states they would fall under medically fragile..

Medically Fragile is a area of care that deals with children that have severe medical needs, ongoing illness and chronic condition (ex: cerebral palsy, Spinal bifida, seizures disorder, cancer, HIV, etc) This requires prolonged hospitalization, ongoing medical treatment and monitoring. These children usually take a number of different medications and have a number of devices to assist them in their life. The paperwork on this type of placement can be overwhelming. You need to be very... more

When the children come into care, it will be decided what level of care they need. Most come into care as basic. This does not mean that they will stay basic. You will need to think about what kind of care would be best for you and your family. This will also depend on what agency you will want to use. A lot of agencies just work with one type of care. I will start with the most difficult first, since I have the most experience with this type of care.

Therapeutic Care - Children that are in therapeutic foster care tend to have more emotional problems and they can be very severe. These are very difficult children that need a lot of understanding and patience. Most children... more

Foster/Adopt Placement - When it is felt that a child or children stand a good chance of being placed up for adoption, they will look for a foster family that is licensed to adopt and open to the possibility. This can also be called a legal risk placement. This does not mean this child or children will be up for adoption for certain. There are a number of children that do end up returning back home or to a relative placement. This can be very difficult for the foster family but sad to say it is part of the foster to adopt process. Hang in there and you will find the child meant for your family.

Foster Placement - In most cases the child or children will be placed with a foster family... more

I will explain the types or the differences of the placements. This should give you some food for thought. Hopefully after reading this you may have an idea of placements you would like to do.

Emergency placement - They have the child or will be removing the child and they need a placement right away. If they can not find a foster home or an emergency placement the child will be placed in a shelter, until a foster home can be found. Most of the time they do not have a lot of information on the child, how long, or medical information. Emergency placement can turn into a longer placement, if you choose. I have only had two placements moved after emergency placement, one was moved... more