Can you be a foster parent and work fulltime? This seems to be a common question of people. The answer would depend on the individual person and how they cope with things. I personally did work fulltime when we started foster care for about a year. It is not easy but it can be done. Yes, you have to juggle things a lot and realize that things can be done maybe not always perfect. There will be days that you may feel totally overwhelmed but it will past as fast as it came. The important thing is that you are committed for the right reasons and becoming a foster parent to you is important. There will be hurdles that you will have to overcome because you are working, taking off work, coming in late or taking off early. There will be times that you will have to face last minutes appointments, the school calling wanting you to come for a conference to address behaviors, and these are just a few. So, has long as you can work this out with your job it can be done.

If I was only fostering and had not adopted, I would still be working full time. We adopted a child with attachment issues and we felt that developing a bond and relationship was for more important than a job. I do know foster parents that adopted that continued working fulltime without any problems. It is up to how you want to live your life and what your family needs.

I have heard some people state that a foster parent needs to be able to take off work on a regular basis, to allow the foster child time to settle in. This is a personally choice not a must. I worked it out that I did placements when I got off work or if there was a time factor for the caseworker (this did not happen often) I would leave work a little early then we had the night to get them settled. Remember, also you will not getting placements every day.


“Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.”
James Allen