If you and your spouse have talked about providing foster care in Phoenix, AZ, you need to make sure you have truly thought about the entire process. There are different avenues you need to consider to make the process go as smoothly as possible not just for you but for the child or children you provide care for as well. Once you give it ample research and thought, you will determine if you are ready to provide foster care in your home.
Have Support
One of the most important things you can do for yourself and the child you take in is to have support. Taking in a foster child can be difficult, depending on the life experiences the child has already had to endure. Aside from your spouse, you will need support outside your family, whether from other family members or friends. If you don’t have anyone close who can provide the emotional support you need, you might be able to find various support groups in your area that include many people who are going through the same process as you.
Be Emotionally Ready
Every child who requires foster care in Phoenix AZ, has his own life story. While some children might have experienced similar circumstances, no two children are exactly alike. If you are caring for children who experienced abuse or neglect, they might be hesitant to accept a loving and nurturing family. Despite your best efforts, it might be difficult to connect with the child in the beginning. It is important to prepare yourself for this to prevent disappointment and frustration on your part.
Consider the Ages
If you already have children, you need to determine how a foster child or children will fit into your home. Do you have room in your life for a baby and getting up in the middle of the night, restricting how mobile you can be with your other children? You should also consider how an older child would fit into the mold your family has already created. An older child will come in with his own habits, needs and beliefs, changing how your family currently operates.
Before you decide to provide foster care in Phoenix AZ, you will have to determine if you and your family are ready. It is important to have appropriate support for you and your spouse and to determine if you are emotionally ready and whether your children are ready for the changes that are about to take place.
For more information about foster care in Phoenix, AZ, visit A Place to Call Home online or call 1-480-456-0549.
