Being a foster parent is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life. You’ve taken the foster care training, passed the foster care home study, and met the requirements to become a foster parent. By wanting to open your home and heart to a child who needs to be loved and cared for, you know in your heart that you’re ready to become a foster parent. But what if there is more than one child that needs love and care? What if there is a sibling group? This article will go over what to expect when fostering a group of siblings and how to prepare for welcoming a sibling group into your home.
How Long Will I Foster the Sibling Group?
The length of fostering children depends. Some sibling groups need foster care for a few months or years, so it’s best to prepare to be willing to care for the sibling group for as long as they need a safe and loving environment, or if they’re ready to be placed for adoption. With this being said, it helps to sit down and think if you’re truly ready to foster a group of siblings.
Will I Be Ready to Foster a Sibling Group?
If this is your first experience or if you’re new to parenting, don’t fret. There are a plethora of resources and parenting classes you can learn from and professionals you can speak with before starting your journey into fostering. Here are some things to consider when it comes to wanting to foster a sibling group.
Do I have enough room in my home?
Think about how many spare rooms you have if you decide to foster a sibling group. While siblings can share a room, certain states have age limits on room sharing. Also, it helps to keep in mind of safety concerns such as enough space for dressers, beds, and belongings.
What is my financial situation like?
While there’s no general income limit to become a foster parent, you will have to provide proof of income to show that you can provide for the sibling group’s basic needs.
Should I ask for assistance with childcare, food, clothing, and other household needs?
If you come to the conclusion that you might need help with meeting the sibling groups needs, there is no shame in asking for assistance. You can ask a family social worker for resources that you could be eligible to apply for.
What kind of classes do I need to take?
You are required to take foster parenting classes, you can ask your local foster care services or adoption agency to find out how many classes you need to take. It also helps to be CPR/First Aid qualified.
Will I be ready to let go of the siblings when it comes to adoption or reunification?
Part of the foster care journey is coming to terms with letting the sibling group go when it’s either time for adoption, or if the siblings get reunited with their birth parents. When that time comes, you can always ask to remain in the children’s lives with updates, and visitations.
What do the other members of my household think about wanting to foster siblings?
If you have other family members who live with you, ask about how they’ll feel about welcoming a sibling group. If you have kids, be prepared for them to ask questions, and provide encouraging answers.
Why do I want to foster now?
Perhaps the most important question, it’s crucial that you ask yourself if you’re truly ready to foster a sibling group and how big of a commitment it will be with everyone involved.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll feel more prepared to foster a group of siblings. Not only will you be equipped with the knowledge, but you’ll also realize what it takes to care for foster children. Having what you need before you foster will be beneficial for not just yourself, but more importantly for the sibling group.
Benefits of Fostering a Sibling Group
There are some amazing benefits when it comes to fostering a group of siblings. Children who are fostered together have someone who is going through getting to know their foster family together and will feel more comfortable and have stability in their new environment. Siblings who are fostered together also have a more substantial chance of being adopted together and a higher reunification. You can also choose to adopt the sibling group to keep them together and give them a permanent family. Foster children can share a room and learn to respect their sibling’s space and belongings. Overall, fostering a sibling group is a positive outcome for everyone involved, and you can also reach out to others for help to make the fostering experience an even better one.
It Takes a Village
Fostering children is hard work, and as the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Suppose you’re struggling with staying on top of household chores, meal prepping, child care, or employment conflicts. In that case, you can always ask others for help and reach out to a medical professional if any health-related issues arise. You don’t have to handle the fostering journey alone when you have a community with you to assist you along the way.
It Takes a Big Heart to Care for Others
Fostering a sibling group has its own challenges, but has an even bigger reward. By opening your heart and home to children who need parents who will love and care for them, you’ll show the sibling group that they’ll always be loved long after they’re out of foster care. Foster homes are safe havens for sibling groups, and you can become that safe haven that sibling groups will never forget. If you’d like more information on foster care, you can visit https://adoption.com/foster.
