Whether you have a new placement arriving or sending a foster child home, chances are you will be rearranging bedroom furniture. That is unless you are specifically taking a certain age and gender of children. Over the years of providing foster care, we have accepted boys or girls from newborn through 17. We have five bedrooms that we use for sleeping rooms and we usually have eight children living at home. If a girl moves out and our next foster child is a boy then we would need to rearrange the boy’s bedroom. Sometimes we actually have to trade entire bedrooms.

Allow... more

One of the rewards of foster parenting is when a birth parent thanks you; when you know that a birth parent really appreciates all you have done, and all you are doing, for his or her child. My five-year-old foster daughter’s mother looked me in the eyes and said, “I couldn’t do what you do. I don’t know how you can do it.” The name of a child we had fostered several years ago had come up and she had asked me about whom we were talking. I explained that it was a child we thought we were adopting. She had come into our family as a newborn and had stayed until she was 20 months... more

The truth is that not every person is cut out to be a foster parent. We all have should have some responsibility for the foster children. Some of us can make an ongoing commitment that will involve our time like tutoring, big brother or sister, child advocate, etc. While with others time can be a factor, and they just do not have extra time. You do not have to make a major financial commitment either to help foster children in care.

Even something as easy as purchasing a duffle bag, suitcase or a pair of pajamas can be a great way to help the children in foster care. Theses are not things that will break your pocketbook either. Below, you will find some ways, and other ideas to... more

This can provide foster children with so much information about their lives while in foster care. I do not think a lot of people think about how important this is for the children that come into our lives. Sometimes these children are with us a few days, months or even years. While they are with a foster family, they are making memories. Mile stones are happening, and lives are going on. Even if they are older, children they may forget when something happened or where they were living when it took place.

You have to remember a large number of foster children will have multiple foster family placements. Sometimes two or three a year, so you can imagine how events can become lost... more

A week long camp named Camp to Belong has a goal unify siblings separated by adoption placement, relative care, or foster home placements. Siblings come together to share their lives, make new lasting memories and continue their lifetime bond of being siblings. They get to experience new things together such as horseback riding, rafting, swimming, wall climbing and camping out. What a wonderful way for siblings to be able to come together and reconnect even if it is just a short time. The camp also has therapy -like classes to help the children to learn to cope with being separated and a Therapeutic Art Program.

For older children... more

Encore School of Dance in Saginaw, Texas will be offering free dance classes for the upcoming summer and fall sessions to local foster children. Classes start out as young as three years old and to teens.

This is a great way for a foster child to develop self esteem build his or her confidence, and have the opportunity to make new friends. Dancing can be a wonderful may to get children involved in some exercise. Taking dance can help your foster child focus his or her attention and develop self discipline. Dance can also be a wonderful opportunity for boys to of all ages.

It is a wonderful thing for a foster child to be able to explore his or her ability to learn to dance.... more

A number of foster children coming into care do not have shoes or the shoes they have do not fit them. It is sad to think that there are children in the United States going without shoes and other basic needs.

Alabama has decided to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) and National Foster Care Month (May) by asking people to come together to help the 6,000 children in foster care in Alabama. Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent’s Association and the Alabama Secretary of State’s office are coming together, to ask that everyone donated shoes for the 6,000 foster children in care. The shoes can be used or new any sizes or gender. Shoes need to be dropped off or mailed by April... more

If you are a foster parent, that has adopted one of the children that has come through your home, you need to investigate resources that may be available to your family. Post adoptive support may be available to your family. Lutheran Social Services is an agency that provides support to adoptive families. A lot of adoptive families do continue foster care after they have adopted, so a lot of these services can also benefit foster parents.

The have support groups for the parents, that meet on a regular basis and child care can be provided (YEAH!!). They can also help you get in touch with therapists, doctors with specialties, support groups for disabilities, specialized training and... more

A website called Fosterclub is a great website for everyone.

For foster children it provides information on a number of different issues that foster children face. There are contest for the foster child to get involved in. They have different opportunities for foster children to be involved in like 2007 Fosterclub All Star, awards for outstanding foster children, etc. They also provide a message board for foster children to communicate with other foster children.

They also have an area for adults, mainly foster parents. You can receive free online training for foster care. It provides foster care information and conference... more

We all need time for ourselves especially foster moms. We can so easily get caught up with all the responsibility and drama of foster care. It seems like you are getting pulled in every different direction. Every therapist, caseworker, bio parent, child, school personal, doctor and whomever else, telling how to do things their way, what is wrong with how you do things, and then telling you not to listen to other people. Most of the time you can ignore it, let it go but there are times that it gets overwhelming. This happens to us all at some point. Take the time to recharge yourself physically and emotionally. Sometimes it is easier to just keep going than allowing yourself sometime to... more