Finding a doctor willing to provide care for your foster children can be a challenge. A lot of doctors do not take Medicaid so this limits your choices, or they only have a certain number of Medicaid patients they see. If you have a doctor that your children or your family sees check with them to see if they would be willing to see your foster children even if they say they are closed to new Medicaid patients. My foster children were taken as my children since my doctor had been seeing my daughter for a few years.

When we moved last year there was not a... more

Reader xxsurroundedbyxy has asked what you can do when you have no support. I will share my ideas about finding help with foster children when family or friends are not an option. Please, share your thoughts, ideas or experiences below to help out other foster parents.

Some foster parents do not have family or friends willing to help out with foster children for any number of reasons. This can make things rough for you and add to your stress level.... more

What to do when you do not have the built-in support system with your decision to do foster care? First, every state and agency will have their own laws and guidelines to meet, so check with both before doing anything.

The reality is that it was your decision to become a foster parent and not that of your family or friends. When foster children are placed into the mix of things it can stress others out. Some people have an image or a distorted idea of foster children being juvenile delinquents, etc. that you may have to overcome.

Respite... more

While I have talked about foster parents needing a support system, we also have to have an ongoing support system for any foster children that come into our home. The support system for your foster children will continue to grow and develop as you foster. I here oh, so often that Child Welfare is not assisting the foster parent with issues they are having or helping get foster children the care they need. While I totally believe that they should be the ones to assist the... more

This is something that every foster parent needs to manage the stress and challenges that comes along with being a foster parent. When I first started fostering, I did not realize how important and what a necessity this is. While most of us have the family members and friends that are our normal daily life support system, we also need this with being a foster parent.

This means that your daily support system will need to understand some basics of foster children and be open about children that may have issues or behaviors. Truthfully not every family member... more