When you first thought about becoming a foster parent, you may have wondered about the risks. Maybe you thought, "That happens to others, but not me."

What can go wrong with having a foster child? 

The first step is to look into the reasons that foster care can go wrong. Before taking on the responsibility of fostering a child, it's important to arm yourself with as much information as possible. That way, you'll be ready to handle the challenges and risks of fostering. This may also include a consultation with a family lawyer near you, if you live in Nassau County, for example. The following is a list of eight considerations to make if you are considering taking on the role of a foster parent.

Downsides of Foster Care 

Foster care can entail legal risk. 

The purpose of the foster care system is to give children who are in temporary need of a home a safe solution to their needs. Some kids spend just a few months in foster care, while others stay for years. At some point, if parental rights are terminated (whether voluntarily or involuntarily), some of these children will be adopted. In other cases, children may only be in foster care temporarily before being returned to their biological families.  

You may grow attached to the children, only to find out they have to be returned to their
parents 

Since the primary objective of the foster care system is to reunite children with their biological families, there is a potential danger for families considering foster adoption or who may have trouble letting go of a child once they have taken him or her into their care. Foster care will always be a source of anxiety for families who participate in it; therefore, it's important to maintain a level of adaptability. For those who have moral qualms about reuniting a child with his or her biological family, this may be an enduring source of stress. If you're worried about the toll it's taking on your mental health, talk to your caseworker about how you can adapt to the shifting demands of foster care. 

1. Kids are negatively affected by the trauma they face. 

The need for foster care arises when a child is at risk, is ignored, or is living in an unsafe environment. 

Foster care can step in and provide a child with a temporary home when the child's birth parents can no longer care for them. This is done in the hope that the child can eventually return to their biological family. As a consequence of this, the youngster is frequently traumatized, which results in destructive behaviors on their part. As they work toward overcoming this obstacle, there's a chance he or she could benefit from receiving psychological or emotional support. It's possible that her actions are being influenced by the trauma she experienced as a result of the forced relocation she was subjected to. It is a significant life transition for everyone involved, including the child as well as the foster family. The young child, who has been through traumatic experiences in the past, needs to be in an environment that is loving and safe to recover and feel valued. 

In addition, prospective foster parents should be emotionally and psychologically prepared to offer their support to the child as she works through the difficult
experiences that she has already been exposed to. This may require the completion of parenting seminars, attendance at specific conferences, or the acquisition of specific pieces of training that address traumatic concerns, behavioral difficulties, negative emotional responses, and nonphysical discipline. The challenges that come with fostering can be overcome, in large part, by obtaining the appropriate resources to help foster children. On top of the typical challenges of parenting, dealing with a child's traumatic experience can be challenging for some parents. As a prospective foster parent, you may want to consult with a family law attorney to find out any legal info. you may need to be aware of beforehand.  

2. Foster children are frequently older siblings. 

If you'd rather have an older child who doesn't need diapers anymore or if you'd like to have a large family with plenty of cousins and other relatives, this could be good news. But some families can't take in a group of siblings because they don't
have enough room. Some parents worry that bringing in a child who is older than
the rest of their kids will mess up the birth order and cause trouble. 

*Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. It is the author’s opinion. For legal advice, please consult with an attorney in your area. Click here for info. on divorce and family law in Nassau County.