I understand that a lot of people aren’t called to be a foster parent. However, Sterling and I encounter a lot of people who want to help out and serve the foster care system by serving a foster family. Here are some of the many ways you can help a foster family.
1. Meals - This item is more for when a family receives a new placement, but it is so helpful. When Little Man first arrived, we were so overwhelmed. I mean we hadn’t even been parents before. There is a huge learning curve when a new child enters your home, especially when your first parenting experience is with a 15-month-old. We had people bring us dinner, Venmo us money for Uber Eats, and send us gift cards. This was so helpful in the first weeks as we were trying to figure out our new normal.
2. Babysitter- In order for someone to babysit foster children, they need to be approved by submitting a background check and getting FBI fingerprinted. This is a huge blessing to a foster family. In Texas, it costs someone $40 to get fingerprinted. We have a handful of babysitters, which have been a huge help to us because we can rotate through them without making one feel overwhelmed. By becoming a babysitter, you are immensely helping a foster family. We are so thankful for the people who have stepped up to be a babysitter and support and love our family in this way!
3. Respite Provider- One step up from a babysitter is a respite provider. This allows you to take care of a foster child overnight for up to 14 days. Sterling and I plan on going to Mexico this August to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, and we are going to camp with our students in June. These would be hard trips to take our foster kiddo on so we would need to find respite. This requires training classes and other certifications that are much more extensive than just babysitting.
4. Pray- Foster families need so much prayer. When we are getting close to a court case, we have to add a visit from our foster child's attorney to our list of monthly visits and go to the CPS office for a family group conference with biological family, attorneys, caseworkers, etc. This is a time where a family could use a lot of prayers. Anytime a child visits with their biological family (ours is weekly, currently) can be confusing and difficult for their little minds and hearts, prayer is helpful then as well. It always means the world when a family member or friend remembers those dates and texts us or writes us a letter. Prayer changes everything, and we know there are lots of people praying for us and our little guy.
5. Clothes and Diapers- This can also be categorized by the text or phone call of "I want to help you out with some diapers, what is his size?" "I know it's getting warmer outside, what clothes do you need?" "My son loves this ball pit, do you think your foster son would too?" or "My child is outgrowing some of their clothes, could you use them?" Our community has been so sweet with the outpouring of needs we had when we first became foster parents. We didn't have any toys, and we had a small pack of diapers in each size for whatever age we might take. People rallied around us sending us diapers, wipes, toys, clothes, etc. I think for the first four months Little Man was with us, we never had to buy diapers. While trying to get in the swing of your new normal, not having to worry about these items is so helpful. Our family members, friends, and church family have provided for us in all of the above ways, and it brings us to tears when we think about it.
Even though you may not be called to be a foster parent, there are so many ways you can help out foster families. I know that Little Man is aware of the love that surrounds him. He walks into church with the biggest smile, because he knows who is there to greet him. He loves seeing our family and friends because they love him so well.
