7 Facts You May Not Know About Foster Care

There are many misconceptions that exist around foster care. In recognition of National Foster Care Month, we’d like to shed some light on a few of these foster care myths.

• Children in foster care come from a wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. In fact, Caucasian children make up nearly half of all those in foster care.
• More than 50% of all foster children are reunited safely and happily with their biological parent(s) or guardian(s).
• The average age of children in foster care is 8 years-old.
• On average, children spend just over a year in foster care.
• Less than one out of every 10 foster care children are juvenile delinquents.
• Many states provide help for families to feed and care for foster children and even assist with daycare, medical care and tuition if needed.
• You do not need to be wealthy, own a home or married to be a foster parent.

What is required?

Although states and organizations have different requirements for foster parents, at the basic level, you need:
• Financial stability (evidence you can care for the family you already have)
• A roof (rented or owned)
• An extra bed
• Demonstrated responsibility and good judgement

And most importantly:

SELFLESS LOVE! The kind of love that can provide for a child with the hopes of finding that child a permanent home! For more information about how you can help a child through foster care, please visit LSS/NCA’s Adoption and Foster Care Page.

Resource:

Children’s Bureau
Foster Care Statistics 2013