Don’t Let These 10 Foster Care Myths Stop You From Helping a Youth in Need
Becoming a foster family caregiver is a big decision, and many foster care myths and misconceptions may prevent potential caregivers from taking the leap. Here are some of the most common misunderstandings that stop people from fostering youth in Canada—and the truth behind them.
Foster Care Myth #1: You Can’t Foster and Have a Career
People often assume that foster care is a full-time commitment (and in some ways it is, in the sense that you need to provide a 24/7 stable environment for a young person). But just as parents have jobs- and often even demanding careers- while raising children, it is perfectly okay to have part-time or full-time work outside the home as a foster caregiver.
It is helpful for children to see carers set an example by being committed to their work. That being said, a flexible job that allows you to work from home part-time or take leave when an emergency arises will make being a foster parent easier.
As long as the needs of the kids living with you always come first and you have a strong support network in place, you can absolutely balance employment with foster caregiving responsibilities. We simply require our foster caregivers to ensure there is a PLEA-approved adult at home at all times when they are not available.
Foster Care Myth #2: It’s Like Hosting an International Exchange Student
You may think that having a young person in your home is similar to hosting an international exchange student; simply a place where a child can stay, eat, and learn while they go about meeting their program requirements. In reality, being a foster caregiver is a much more involved undertaking than providing housing for an exchange student.
You should think of fostering as more of a parenting role than a hosting role. Foster kids often face significant challenges in their lives and require extra support to help them overcome obstacles and thrive. The foster agency you work with should provide comprehensive training to equip you with the skills to help those in your care.
Foster Care Myth #3: You Can’t Foster if You’re Single
Many would-be foster parents are under the false impression that if you’re not married or don’t have a partner, you can’t be a foster caregiver. This is completely false! Foster parents can be single, married, divorced, or in a relationship.
Single men and women can offer different perspectives and can be fantastic role models for young people. While it is important to have a support network to step in when you need help ensuring day-to-day needs are met, being single in itself does not disqualify you from being a foster caregiver.
Foster Care Myth #4: You Need to Be a Homeowner
As long as you can provide a safe, stable environment with minimal disruptions that adheres to the standards laid out by your foster agency, there is no need to be a homeowner to become a foster caregiver. Whether you own or rent a house or an apartment, what matters most is the security and compassion that you can provide.
You will need to provide the child or youth in your care with a safe, comfortable, and suitably furnished private room. At PLEA, we expect the youth in our program to be treated like a full member of the family who is included in family meals, household routines, and celebrations like any other family member. We work with you to make sure your home meets the other required standards to ensure you’re providing a nurturing home.
Foster Care Myth #5: You’ll Never Be Able to Go on Vacation
Being a foster caregiver for youth is indeed a full-time responsibility. However, respite care is available to cover for you when you need personal time, a holiday, to attend training, or any other reason that you may need to temporarily be away from your home.
Respite care can help you avoid burnout and exhaustion and improve the overall stability of placements. When you foster with PLEA, respite relief can be provided in your home or the home of a pre-approved caregiver.
Foster Care Myth #6: You Need to Be Financially Well-Off
When you work with a reputable foster family agency to be matched with a youth in need, you should not incur any out-of-pocket expenses. Foster caregivers receive funds for each youth placed in their home. PLEA Community Services provides a competitive rate to ensure that the youth in our program get resources and care that will help them thrive. This is one of the many reasons to become a foster family caregiver with PLEA.
Foster Care Myth #7: Foster Kids Are Trouble-Makers
Any parent will tell you that challenges arise when caring for children and youth. Fostering will also present challenges, and in many cases these challenges can be severe.
The kids PLEA supports have likely experienced tough situations that involve trauma, sexual exploitation, addiction, or other mental health issues – but this doesn’t mean they are bad kids. They need stability, understanding, and care to help them overcome these challenges and move forward.
PLEA provides comprehensive and ongoing training to ensure you feel confident in your ability to deal with any issues that may arise during the placement. You will receive 24/7/365 wraparound support from a dedicated team, including a Services Coordinator who visits the home every 10 days and a Youth Worker who will meet the youth several times a week to do activities in the community.
You’ll also have access to a whole network of youth caregivers to share challenges and successes. In other words, yes there will be ups and downs, but you’ll never be in it alone! This level of caregiver support is an area where PLEA excels and exceeds what many other home care agencies provide.
Foster Care Myth #8: I Won’t Be Able to Have Friends Over
It’s understandable to be worried that your ‘normal life’ will be impacted by becoming a foster caregiver. In many ways, it will be, since you will be responsible for the well-being of a young person. However, this doesn’t mean the end of your social life.
Cultivating healthy relationships not only benefits you but also serves as positive role modelling for youth. When you have your friends over, it demonstrates what healthy interactions look and sound like. Having trusted friends over is not only permitted but it’s also encouraged!
Foster Care Myth #9: You Can’t Have Pets or Other Kids in the Home
Foster parents come from all backgrounds, including having biological or adopted children. Growing up with foster siblings can teach biological kids valuable lessons about inclusion and empathy. What matters is that all the kids in your home are treated equally and you make efforts to include your foster kid as a full member of the family.
Having pets in the home can also help youth form positive relationships within your family. You should be able to demonstrate that your pet does not pose a safety risk to the youth, the support team, or any other visitors to the home. The pet should be vaccinated, adequately trained, and comfortable around people.
Foster Care Myth #10: You Can’t Foster If You Identify as 2SLGBTQ+
We encourage our foster caregivers to bring their unique life experiences to enrich the care provided to the youth and children in our program. The youth come from varied backgrounds and diverse identities, including sexual orientation, so foster caregivers with varied backgrounds are encouraged and welcomed. All that matters in becoming a foster parent is your ability to provide a secure, stable, and nurturing home.
Become a Foster Family Caregiver With PLEA
If any of these foster care myths have been holding you back, consider reaching out to a local foster care agency in BC to learn more. No one expects foster parents to be perfect. We understand that you have a social life, a job, pre-existing commitments and hobbies, and would like to take a holiday from time to time. Training and resources are always available to help with fostering challenges.
The bottom line is, that no matter your background, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation, if you’re a compassionate person who can provide a stable environment for a young person, you might be the perfect candidate to improve the life of a youth in need through foster caregiving. Fostering can be life-changing for both you and the youth who need a safe home in BC.
Please contact us today to learn more about how you can get involved.
