Foster Parenting E-Magazine, August 2012
Foster Parenting Announcements
Photolisting: Now is the perfect time to raise foster and adoption awareness. If you have your own blog or website, perhaps you would like to add our Photo Listing Widget to help raise awareness of foster children nationwide.
Would you like to help more children from your agency get adopted faster? Click here for a form to add children to our photolisting. This service is FREE to all states and includes a team of technical support and customer service staff to maintain the Photolisting.
Don't see any children from your state? Please contact your local officials to let them know you would like to see children from your state.
Blogging: Interested in Blogging? We're currently looking for volunteer bloggers for the following categories: Foster Adoption and Foster Care. This may be the perfect time to voice your adoption experiences and share with our community.
Creating a Safe Home Environment
One important aspect and responsibility of being a foster parent is to create and maintain a safe home environment. Some, if not many, of your foster children will have experienced one or many traumatic events. These could range from living in a violent or tough home or neighborhood, losing a parent, or being separated from a sibling. No matter the exact nature of your foster children's pasts, your home can be a safe haven for them. Having a home environment that is safe and non-judgmental can even improve behavior problems and help your foster children feel at ease. In order to create such an environment, there are a few necessary components.
No Bullying Zone - Your foster children have to deal with a lot every day. They may be bullied, teased, or even ostracized in their school, neighborhood, or even among their friends. Your home should be a sanctuary. No bullying or name-calling should be allowed. Your foster children should feel that your home is a safe place in which they can be themselves without being tormented for it.
Be Open to Discussion - Sometimes, everyone just needs to talk. It may be about how their day went or which movies they want to see, or it could be about their pasts and what they're feeling. Be open to discussion, in all its forms. This can help create strong, stable, and trustworthy bonds. When your foster children know they can come to you and talk about anything, they'll feel safe, respected, and loved.
Have a Schedule - Children need structure. It can make them feel safe because they know what to expect and they know what is expected of them. Make a set time for meals, homework time, family time, and so on. It's OK to make exceptions, but for the most part, stick to your schedule so your home feels stable and predictable to your foster children.
Remain Calm - If you can remain calm, even in emotionally heightened situations, your foster children will be better able to do the same. Even if you feel you're at the end of your rope, remain calm. If you have to go into another room and finish the discussion later, do it. It's better to be emotionally level when discussing important things.
Emergency Plans - Depending on the pasts of your foster children, they may have some anxiety when it comes to unpredictable events. Setting up emergency plans for your home and other locations can be a great way to calm those nerves. Map out what to do if there's a fire, if a bully picks on them, how to inform adults of abuse or misbehavior, and how to contact authorities in the case of an emergency.
These simple efforts can go a long way to making your foster children and everyone in your household feel safe, comfortable, and calm. Everyone deserves to have a safe place to call home. You can provide that to children in need. You can be their safety and their refuge. It's a big responsibility, but it's also a great honor.
The Adoption Photolisting
Hoping to Adopt? Create Your Profile Today and get 30 Days FREE!
Sign up with Parent Profiles to create your adoption profile today and start connecting with expectant and placing parents. Your profile will be featured on many of the best known adoption websites. Mention you saw this ad or when completing your paperwork use code PPCN and we will give you 30 days free*.
*Contact ParentProfiles.com for details.
The information and links displayed above relate to profile posting services provided on the ParentProfiles.com web site, which is a service of Adoption Profiles, L.L.C., who sponsors this section and is solely responsible for its content.
Foster Parenting Blogs from AdoptionBlogs.com
The Thing No One Wants to Talk About
I have been quiet on this forum lately, mostly thanks to technological issues that always seem to crop up in the quiet pre-dawn hours while my 5 children are abed and I have time to write. And also, frankly, because there has been something lurking below the surface. Let's just say I had "a bad taste in my mouth."... more
Touching the Life of a Teen
I am sitting in a very hot room waiting for a pack of teenagers to head my way. I am their teacher. I look forward to every moment of that teaching time but I have to admit, I am relishing the quiet of this room to collect my thoughts before I am overtaken... more
Foster Parenting Community, News & Events
Foster Parent Support - So let's talk about when you DO feel connected.
Foster Parent Support - First Placement Over
Foster Parent Support - Wth?
Foster Parent Support - We are so close I can taste it!!!!
Add your non-marketing adoption related event at no cost. Get started today by registering for an account.
Foster Parenting Tip of the Month
Once you become an official foster parent, baby proof your home. Even if the children you foster aren't babies or toddlers currently in your home, you never know when you'll be asked to care for one on short notice. This can save you a lot of stress and work later down the foster care road.
In Your Words
Have a question? Comment? In Your Words is your way to reach out to the adoption community and get tips from others and share important information.
Share Your Thoughts with Us
Have something to share in the next issue of the emag? Please use the form below to tell us about your thoughts, comments, experiences, feedback, etc. Your submission may appear in an upcoming issue of the emag.
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