How to Foster a Child

Video Transcript

"Hello, I'd like to speak to you about how to foster a child, and become a foster parent. Just know that in your local communities, there are agencies to help you. Now, I'm Dr. Felicia, and I can lead you right along the right path, there. Contact your local child care center, your child abuse center, and you can ask for the numbers for your local community foster parent programs. Ninety percent of the time, the foster parent program has an orientation program, that's going to help you, inform you on all the details, of being a foster parent. One of the things to remember is, that although you may want to care for the child, there comes a time in the child's life, when you may have to give that child back, to the original parents. Now, going through the process of being a foster parent, requires that you bring the child to various appointments, doctor's appointments, school meetings, etc. Follow through on everything that is necessary for their care, but in addition to that, you may have to supervise visitation from the birth parents. Now, this is something you'll have to acquire, and get used to. It's very difficult, because many foster parents become overly attached to the children, and this is when it's hard, and you have to give them back by court order, to the original parents, as long as the parents met their treatment plan, so do keep in mind, that becoming a foster parent is certainly a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but there comes a day, when you will have to say goodbye to that same child. Many women do do this with great flair, and they may have raised thirty, forty, fifty foster children, in their lifetime, so that's certainly an admirable quality, and rewardable, so in becoming a foster parent, please contact your local agency. Now, this is Dr. Felicia, saying goodbye for now."