Children unable to live with their families, due to abuse, neglect or other issues, are removed from their biological families and moved into foster care. Foster care parents provide short- or long-term care, depending on each child. Children suffering from more complicated emotional, behavioral or mental health issues live with therapeutic foster families. These specialized foster parents receive additional training and support to aid them as they parent difficult foster children. Individuals with a background in working with children, a desire to contribute to society and a willingness to face challenges are appropriate candidates to become therapeutic foster parents.
Instructions
1. Gather information about therapeutic foster care. Talk to therapeutic foster parents, read articles online and join discussions. Understand the demands and expectations of a therapeutic foster parent. Confirm that you have the appropriate background and experience to apply, undergo training and become a therapeutic foster parent.
2. Search within yourself to assess whether you are willing, capable and motivated to become a therapeutic foster parent. It will be both emotionally rewarding and draining. Communicate with your spouse and children about the impact on your family due to becoming a therapeutic foster family.
3. Research the foster care agencies in your area that utilize therapeutic foster parents. Agencies generally fall into two categories: local departments of social service (sometimes called family social services) and private, nonprofit adoption and foster care agencies. Compare training, pay and support provided. If possible, talk with current therapeutic foster parents involved with each organization.
4. Apply to the adoption and foster care agency of your choice. If accepted, you will undergo a home visit, complete a home safety inspection, submit fingerprints as part of a criminal background check and fill out lots of paperwork. Your training will encompass parenting techniques, along with some combination of First Aid, CPR, anger de-escalation and restraint training.
5. Parent the children who enter your home with firmness and love. They will arrive from difficult situations and have challenging behaviors. Most, if not all of the children will have an emotional, behavioral or developmental diagnoses. Possible diagnoses include anxiety, autism, bipolar, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, reactive attachment disorder and others. Ask for help, utilize the support systems in place and attend support group meetings.
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