Foster Care & Myths: #2 - Someone Else Will Step Up.

Over the next several weeks I intend to write about the various myths associated with foster care. It’s never a surprise to me to learn what people think about related to foster care. There’s likely plenty of opinions out there on a variety of issues but I narrowed with my upcoming myths on just a few.

I speak to groups all the time. Last year I attended as many as 45 Sunday church services to talk about foster care. I have met hundreds of people as I get directed at the churches and in the communities. A popular notion that people have is the idea that someone will step up so they don’t have to. Curiously this idea is often coupled with the belief that people have that they do not possess the skill to do foster care, even though they have raised their own children and maybe even grandchildren.

I’m certain that people are not trying to make an excuse for them selves and circumstances in their own home are good excuses for why people should not do foster care yet, these assumptions are myths.

I don’t want to give off the wrong impression. Doing foster care is hard work. There’s a variety of concerns and issues that are valid because of the hardships associated with foster care. Yet, I believe what people are often saying is that they believe there are enough foster parents out there that they need that consider doing at themselves.

In reality, at least in the state of Indiana, there are not enough homes for the number of children being referred by the state and in need of a foster home. Caseworker’s often make multiple calls to various groups and agencies in hopes to identify a home with in the county where the child is from. In Indiana there are 15,000 children in out-of-home placement. The state managers the caseloads of children in need of service and depend heavily on County foster homes as well as private placement agencies. Yet, even among the many that there are, there is still a shortage of homes. This results in children having to wait in offices or placed an emergency shelter facilities until a home becomes available. Even the number of children who are eligible for adoption is significant.

I will often say in the many presentations that I make that no matter the number of agencies that are recruiting, we are not in competition with each other because the need is beyond all of us.
Dr. John DeGarmo is a foremost expert in foster care and does presentations nationally. His latest article points out the significant need for more homes. Dr. John DeGarmo, Foster Care. | Check out his latest book - Church and Foster Care.

Latest trends nationally have identified that children are often being placed several counties away from their homes which means the reunification plans or casework providers must travel hours for court hearings and family visitation. There simply is not enough homes available.

While it is indeed helpful to have support systems for foster parents, ultimately we need more homes as well.

MYTH #3 Click Here.