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Hello, my name is James t and I am a 48 Christian male waiting my for my packet and then my Orientation. I am very excited about this as I have prayed about this for a long time now and believe God has placed this on my heart to take in "aged-out" teens and teens that are 12 and older. [Foster care 1st, then possible adoption].If anyone here has taken in teens I would really like your imput, any suggestions, comments or advice would be most appreciated. I look forward reading your posts and making new friends here. Thank you so much. Blessings
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James, this may be unnecessary or outdated (last fostered many years ago, parented birth daughter now adult,I am currently completing application in new state to foster) but I would suggest two things; one, know what your "buttons" are and how you feel and react when they are pushed, and two, make sure you have some exposure to teens (whether through work, volunteer work, mentoring, community activities etc.) including those who are of different racial/ethnic groups and different socioeconomic groups and lifestyles than you are. Example for one: I am not overly fond of "foul" language in private, but it pushes my button in public; my reaction then usually is how boring and uncivil is that limited (and usually loud) language. Example for two a: check out a few community events/activities such as multicultural celebrations, perhaps a few hours volunteering at a food bank or homeless shelter or thriftstore; and two b, brainstorm by yourself or better yet with friends/relatives/support group on ten or more ways in which the area or region you live in has changed for teens now from when you were a teen (examples: harder to get into military or into trade apprenticeship programs; drive-in movies are largely absent from the landscape; school breakfasts and lunches are more common and those who get them free are no longer stigmatized by a different colored lunch ticket; fewer gas station and supermarket entry jobs paying over minimum wage; the former Boys' Club is now the Boys and Girls Club, etc.) Sometimes stuff like this is not mentioned, or is glossed over, in foster parent training.
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I just want to thank you for doing this. Many people are under the mistaken impression that teens in foster care are a bunch of trouble-makers. I aged out after ten years in care and Know this not to be true. Apparently you also know. Good luck. Be patient and be accepting. That is my advice.