Frequently Asked Questions That Foster Parents Hear

I partnered with Joovy and received the Joovy Room to facilitate this post about frequently asked questions that foster parents hear.  All opinions are my own.

Have you been thinking about becoming a foster parent?  If you’ve been wondering what it is like to be a foster parent, this post is for you!

My husband and I tossed the idea around for over 10 years before finally taking the leap.  Now that we’ve been licensed for 1 1/2 years, I feel like we’ve been “broken in”.  In this time, we’ve actually had 19 children come through our doors.  Some were placements while others were respite.

If asked how many foster children we’ve had, I would have guessed 10-12.  But when I took time to make a list and count, I was shocked at the number.  From what I hear, there’s a shortage of quality foster homes across the country.  So I wanted to take some time and share some frequently asked questions that foster parents hear, as we’ve gotten these a lot.  Because let’s face it, everyone is curious about foster care and how it works. I hope this post gives you a better idea of what it is like to be a foster parent.

If you’re curious about this topic but not sure you want to take the leap of being a foster parent yet or you’re just not able to commit to that extent, there are also many ways you can help a foster family without actually being one.

Frequently Asked Questions That Foster Parents Hear

1. How Can You Let Them Go?  The most common thing I hear is “I could never do foster care because I’d want to keep them.”  Honestly, it’s not easy.  But the goal of foster care is to reunite.  You go in knowing that.
   
2. How Do You Handle So Many Kids?  Since we have 5 biological kids, we often hear “I don’t know how you manage”.  We have rules to help keep us sane but everyone pitches in and we find life so much fun with a houseful of children.
3. Do You Plan To Adopt?   To be completely honest, we originally went into foster care with the hopes of one day adopting.  Now, our hearts have changed.  Should the situation arise where it’s unsafe for kids to go home, we are still open to adoption.  It’s just no longer our top priority.
   
4. I Hear It’s Free To Adopt Through Foster Care.  Can I Adopt A Baby For Free?  While it’s not unheard of, getting a baby from the hospital and adopting quickly is extremely rare.  Remember, the goal of foster care is to reunite.  So the first 6-12 months of that baby’s life is spent with everyone working to get them home.
5. Do You Get Paid?  While foster care payments will vary from county to county and state to state, the answer is yes.  HOWEVER, it is by no means a “money making business” for most.  Our county doesn’t pay for diapers, food, clothing (past a small initial allowance), entertainment, etc.  We are expected to use our daily stipend for everything.  Plus, we have to transport for visits in our county… Three times a week, 30 minute drive each way.
   
6. Were Their Parents On Drugs?  First off, we’re not allowed to divulge that kind of information.  And sometimes, we don’t even know it ourselves!
7. How Do You Have Enough Room?  We’ve made some adjustments but make it work and can comfortably add 3 foster children to our home.  (We have a 4 bedroom, 2 bath.)  We just recently did a boys room makeover and now our three boys have a triple bunk.  The two girls have regular bunks.  And we have a twin bed with trundle for older foster kids.  For the times we have a baby in our care, we’ve added the Joovy Room to ensure we have enough space for little ones.

Joovy Room

Packed with some really great features, the Joovy Room is a great choice for parents and foster parents alike.  It’s truly a Full-Featured Nursery Center that’s been amazing for our family! It’s available in gray (as pictured in this review), black, and teal.

• All-In-One Convenience:  Designed to be an all around solution, the Joovy Room can be used for sleeping, playing, and diaper changes.
• Easy Set Up:  The ease of set up and take down make using the Joovy Room especially easy for grandparents and sitters.  And it makes perfect for travel.  Plus, it comes with a storage/travel bag.
• Removable Bassinet:  Since we take on both infants and toddlers, this is a much appreciated feature.  As everyone knows, those tiny newborns just don’t stay small!  So having a higher up bassinet geared for babies up to 15 pounds is really nice.  But then, we can remove the bassinet and utilize the full playard base after that.
• Waterproof Sheet:  Babies spit, drool, and leak through diapers.  So the included waterproof sheet for the Joovy Room is genius!  Plus, Joovy does sell additional sheets if you want a spare.
• Flip-Away Changing Table:  Simply change baby and then simply flip the changing station right around the side and out of the way.  No removing and storing when not in use!  LOVE this feature!
  
• Side Diaper Station:  The middle section is perfect for diapers and there are two additional netted storage pockets for wipes and other necessities.  A one stop diaper changing shop!
• Large Storage Pocket:  Additionally, there’s a single large storage pocket on the other end that I find perfect for a spare blanket and burp cloth.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one space saving nursery center, the Joovy Room is IT!

It’s exactly what we were looking for! We can use it as a diaper changing station, crib for baby, and storage for diapers, toys, other other baby necessities. Then, when we don’t have a baby in our home, it’s easy to put it away, leaving extra floor space.

Head over to Janessa’s full Joovy Room Playard & Nursery Center Review for an in depth look at this must-have piece of baby gear!  And don’t forget to check out her video below.

Head over to Joovy to order your very own Joovy Room today!