Pros & Cons of Being a Foster Parent

Foster homes welcome children of all ages.

Being a foster parent is a simultaneously rewarding and challenging experience. Having the ability to bring a child into a safe home environment -- and choosing to do so -- is an admirable decision. Although foster parents can benefit in many ways from this title, foster parenting can also cause emotional challenges for the family. Before beginning the process of becoming a foster parent, weigh the pros and cons of this decision.

Pro: Sense of Purpose

Being a foster parent can give the participating family a greater sense of purpose. No longer are the family members just acting for themselves or as a family unit; instead, they are welcoming an outsider into their home and family life with open arms. Foster parents make a difference in the lives of foster children every day, which can lead to a more fulfilling life. This sense of purpose can improve family relationships as well as the parents' outlook on life.

Con: Separation

Foster parenting is a temporary situation. Foster parents welcome children into their homes for a limited period of time. Eventually, the child leaves, moving into a permanent home with adoptive parents or returning to his biological parents. The inevitable separation associated with foster parenting can be difficult for families to accept. They bring a child into their home as one of their own, only to see the child eventually leave. The separation can have a lasting impact on family dynamics and emotions.

Pro: State Support

Because foster parenting is a challenging situation, states support families who foster, both financially and emotionally. While foster parents certainly do not make money from fostering, states provide financial compensation to foster parents to help with the child's living expenses. This can take some stress off of the foster parents. Likewise, states provide resources to prepare parents for fostering. In North Carolina, for example, future foster parents have to complete 30 hours of training to prepare them for the challenging task.

Con: Limited Ability to Help

Because foster care is not a permanent solution, foster parents might struggle with the feeling that they can only help so much. While they can nurture and provide for the child while she is in their home, they cannot do so once she moves on to her permanent home. Thus, some foster parents might feel like they aren't doing enough to help the child grow and mature. This concept can be one that foster parents struggle with both during and after the fostering.

References

• North Carolina Division of Social Services: Foster Care
• Foster Care Month: Statistics and Data