We're exceptionally grateful to Paydayr for financing the day-to-day operations of KidsFirst and for funding our outreach programs.
04/28/2018
12/30/2013
Children in Need of a Home
In the United States, there are nearly half a million children in foster care. Many of these children have been abused or neglected, most of these children have been removed from unsafe homes, and all of these children are in need of someone who can provide them with the love and care that every child deserves. Being a foster parent can be both richly rewarding and emotionally taxing, but the rewards for those who choose to open up their homes and their hearts to a child in need are immeasurable.
Foster Care
Foster care is a state-run program which places children into a group or private home, with certified caregivers. When children are placed into foster care, it's usually best for the child to be placed in a private family home, rather than an institution or group home. This is why there's such great need for foster parents who can provide a safe, stable and loving home for these children. Through the course of a foster care relationship, the family courts and child protection agency act as the child's custodian, handling all legal decisions, while the foster parents are responsible for the child's everyday care. The foster parents are also typically reimbursed on a month-to-month basis for expenses incurred while caring for the child.
Adoption
Foster care, being a temporary solution, is only intended to provide a safe home for a child, until a more permanent arrangement can be made. In the event that a child can't return to their home, or don't have a home to return to, the courts will look to family members or others who are close to the child, to serve as the child's adoptive parents. In some cases, a foster parent may also decide to adopt a child in their care, though, this is typically only an option if there are no family members able, or willing, to take the child. Though, the goal of foster care is generally to reunite a child with his or her family, many children in foster care are eventually available for adoption, at some point.
The Need for Foster Parents
There are many situations that result in a child being placed into foster care. In some cases a child has lost his or her parents, with no other family member able to serve as their legal guardian. In many other cases, however, children are removed from a parent's or relative's home, that the family courts have deemed unsafe for the child. Often times, when a child is removed from a home, the parents are given a set of requirements to be met, in order to regain custody of their children. These requirements can include things like completing rehab or going to counseling, and until they're met, the child will remain in foster care. These issues can last for months or years, and can even recur after a child has been returned to the parent's home. This is why it's so important for these children to be able to live in a stable and caring environment, through foster care programs.
Where to start: