Information for foster parents

It is important to prepare well for the arrival of a child in foster care, this preparation can have an impact on the foster care's success. Challenges can arise at the beginning which foster parents should be prepared for.

A foster child is usually coming from difficult circumstances into a new home. Child welfare staff are responsible for preparing both the child and foster parents well before the transition to foster care begins.

Preparing for foster care

Before the foster child arrives in the home, it is the responsibility of the child protection services to prepare the foster parents for their role and inform them about the child’s personal interests, and other matters that are considered to be relevant in accordance with the objectives of the foster care.

Examples of information that would be useful for foster parents to receive:

• Family circumstances and child’s parenting history

• Favorite foods for children, breakfast, day, evening and night routines

• Traumas that a child has suffered, as appropriate

• Parents’ problems and their attitude towards foster care

• A detailed health history of the child

• Child health care and general practitioner

• Medication and treatment

• Potential allergic reactions

• Determinations of medical status currently available or in progress

• The child’s interests and strengths

• Social and educational status of the child

• Programs to safeguard the child's well-being, under the Child Protection Act

• The part of that program on the handling of cases directly related to foster parents.

• The foster care contract

Child welfare services prepare the child as well as possible with regard to age and development, including the creation of a "life book" that the child takes with him or her to the foster home and the foster parents keep updating while the child is in foster care.

Adaptation

It is important that a good transition takes place and that both the child and foster parents are well prepared before the transition to foster care begins.

Children are different and therefore it is necessary to take into account each child individually when adjustment is made. Adaptation always takes into account the age of the child, development and factors such as past trauma, personality, adaptability, strengths and weaknesses.

Here is an example of an integration plan from the Child Protection Services:

It is normal that a child may have difficulties with foster care at the beginning. What foster parents can do to facilitate the transition is to create an environment that welcomes the child, show patience, keep expectations in the right way, let the child discuss his or her feelings, be consistent regarding behavior and rules, support the child and seek expert assistance if needed.