A Day in the Life of a Youth Caregiver
If you’re wondering what it might be like to become a foster caregiver for youth, you’re not alone. PLEA Community Services is currently looking for families who want to open their homes and hearts to a youth in need. Perhaps you can offer a youth a fresh start and sense of belonging in a safe, nurturing home but are unsure of the requirements. Knowing a bit more about what it’s like to be a foster caregiver may help you decide if it’s a good fit for you.
What’s it Like to Be a Foster Family Caregiver?
Giving a young person an opportunity to live in a safe and supportive home environment instead of a facility is an incredible gift. Carol, one of our long-time youth caregivers describes the rewarding feeling as “the thought of just sharing and being available to influence impact and leave your imprint on people’s lives has always been a part of who I am.”
The day-to-day foster caregiving for youth involves what any normal family with young people would experience, perhaps with some additional challenges. In this role, you are actively parenting and providing round-the-clock support, not simply providing a bedroom like you would to an international student.
What is most different about being a youth caregiver is that you will have a variety of professionals coming into your home periodically to ensure the home is safe and meeting standards as well as to support you. You’ll have quarterly home checks, visits from a Service Coordinator every 10 days, and care team meetings.
Some kids live with our youth caregivers for a short time, for 6 months or so. Other youth are in the program for several years, including up to the age of 19. Your experience as a foster caregiver will be different depending on the age of the child you are matched with and how long they stay with you.
What are the Youth in the Foster Care Program Like?
The kids who come into the PLEA program are youth aged 8 to 19 years old who, for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to live at home with their own families. They have typically not been successful in other programs. If they are in foster care, things have not gone well in their lives up to this point. They have experienced trauma and may never have had a healthy attachment in their life, which means they may not respond to you in the way you would hope.
The emotional challenges and trauma from bouncing around different facilities in the foster care system may also be linked to substance use. Some of the youth have had run-ins with the police, faced sexual exploitation in the past, are unwilling to trust adults, and may refuse to go to school.
The bottom line is that each youth in the program comes with a unique set of challenges and requirements, which is why at PLEA we tailor the program to meet their specific needs and provide our youth caregivers with the support and knowledge to optimize their chances of success.
Is Being a Foster Caregiver Hard?
Becoming a foster caregiver for youth is a serious commitment and certainly comes with its challenges, but it is also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. Being approved to be a foster caregiver in the first place is a time-consuming process which involves a thorough assessment of your home and suitability to become a caregiver. There is no cookie-cutter model we look for in a potential youth caregiver, but you do need to have the enthusiasm to help young people thrive, a desire to make a difference, and a safe home to offer!
Once you are approved to be a foster caregiver, you will no doubt face some hurdles with a youth adjusting to living with you. For example, perhaps a youth has a diagnosis that you’ve never worked with before. Maybe they are struggling with the use of alcohol and drugs or are reluctant to go to school. Luckily, there is a strong support structure in place for you when you work with PLEA so you are never alone in your journey.
What Kind of Support for Youth Caregivers is Available?
PLEA takes a holistic approach to help ensure that our youth and foster caregivers are as successful as possible. If you become a foster caregiver with PLEA, you will receive both professional training and access to a community of experienced caregivers for peer support.
Each youth has unique needs, and we carefully review their referral documents to ensure we create a tailored program for them. This means you will be given any relevant training you need to effectively support any young person placed in your home. This may include cultural training, Naloxone training, first aid, de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed practice, and anything else that will equip you to be a great youth caregiver.
In addition to thorough training, you will also have 24/7 support. There will be a Service Coordinator assigned to you who will help you navigate day-to-day challenges as they arise. There are youth workers who will typically come several times a week to accompany youth to do activities in the community. Plus, a program manager is always on call during evenings and weekends to help you troubleshoot if needed.
One of the benefits of being a youth caregiver with PLEA is access to a community of other caregivers. “I really appreciate that PLEA is creating a space for caregivers to come together,” says Carol, one of our long-time caregivers. There are group events during which you can build community, share tips, hear about the experiences of other caregivers, and discuss situations that arose and how you dealt with them. This creates a positive atmosphere for learning in which you are never alone.
How to Become a Youth Foster Family Caregiver
After reading this, are you still wondering if being a foster caregiver is a good fit for you? Contact us to learn more about what it entails and discuss your concerns with one of our helpful team members.
