We want to learn your needs. We want to share your needs. We want to equip people to meet your needs.
All too often foster parents are left feeling heartbroken, alone, discouraged.
But it doesn't have to be this way....
How can the Body of Christ serve you?
Meals? Encouraging notes? Prayer? Respite Care? Babysitting?
Our Advocates are committed to sharing your needs with the Body of Christ. Leave a comment below or Click Here to find an advocate near you!
we experienced to foster for the first time. they are siblings of 5 & 4 years old. we are not experienced at all, what we have is the Lord's heart to help us, it was not an easy road. I believe there are a lot of foster parents that are in the journey, I pray that the Body of Christ are sensitive and discerning to just be of help and there for them. The most need is babysitting and co-foster parenting to give the foster parent relief physically, emotionally and spiritually, especially siblings of 2, 3 or even 4. It is a very heavy load to the foster family.
ReplyDeleteWe have been foster parents for almost 6 years and it truly has been the emotional roller coaster of our lives! Notes of encouragement have made such a difference. It seemed like the days I was most discouraged I would get a text or a facebook message from a friend encouraging me, sending a copy of this blog, a scripture and and/or letting me know she was praying for me. It was like a hug from God through these precious, thoughtful people. Respite care is also a HUGE need also. A weekend to just sleep in makes such a huge difference and ability to refocus. It also allows personal time to spend with the biological children to let them know they are important and not being "replaced". My children at times have had difficulties because of the needs of the children that come in our home, so encouragement for them is also important.
ReplyDeleteWe have been foster parents for 8 years. We have a wonderful support system and get lots of encouragement in a variety of ways. The biggest need is for people to not just assume we are too busy or wouldn't be interested in getting together just because we have extra high needs kids. We NEED to be invited over, to be asked to join in activities. We are trying to surround these kids with love and some semblance of normalcy so they can know what it is like to be a part of a Godly family. We don't exclude our fosters from any family activity and hope that other people don't expect us to exclude them. One on one time with each of us as parents as well as with each of our kids is a wonderful treat. We have some family members who will take one kiddo at a time to lunch or out for an ice cream cone--doesn't matter if it's our biological child or foster. We love that! Please ASK us about the kids--and ask them. They love it when people really pay attention and listen to them. What we do as foster parents is to love these kids and treat them as our own--as challenging as they may be. They are in foster care through no fault of their own but they usually feel like it's their fault. They need unconditional love -- especially from our church family. The little details of life get rough sometimes--dishes, laundry, etc. Help in the daily chores are always appreciated (whether you are parents of fosters or biological kids!). Keeping us as a family in prayer is an absolute must! Encouragement in any way--cards, notes, emails, hugs (lots of hugs!), phone calls--is wonderful. We love it when people take the time to get to know what specific need we may have with specific kiddos. We don't do this to get thank yous or kudos. We do this because God has placed it on our hearts and has given us some very precious children to care for the best we can and to show them by everything we do and say that God is an awesome God and He loves each and every one of us.
ReplyDeletePeople showing that they care. Foster care is "messy" and many people don't want to get involved. Churches are great with international adoptions and people having babies, but foster care is not something they are aware of or comfortable with. Awareness in the local churches is REALLY important!
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