In today\u2019s post, I\u2019m once again touching on the similar (but altogether different) vein of uncertainty\u2026only this time I\u2019ll be discussing what it\u2019s like in regards to a case.<\/p>\n
As you may or may not know, when you accept a placement of a child in foster care, you never, ever, ever know how long they will stay. Even if the case worker says \u201cit\u2019s just for the week-end\u201d or \u201cthere\u2019s no way this could last fewer than 6 months\u201d \u2026that\u2019s always subject to change. Always.<\/p>\n
And it is for that very fact that most foster families find that it\u2019s difficult to plan too far into the future because there\u2019s so much uncertainty about a child\u2019s future living situation. Such as: Will he\/she still be here? Will they be moved to another foster home that\u2019s a better fit\/pre-adoptive home? Will they be moved to a kinship placement? Will they be reunified? etc.<\/p>\n
These thoughts of uncertainty are not without good cause\u2026one never knows what kind of twist or turn a case may take; and try as we might to \u201cknow\u201d what will happen, we never quite do until it is, in fact, actually happening.<\/p>\n
Just to make sure we\u2019re all on the same page, you should know that about 50% of children in care do end up reunifying with their primary caregivers (usually one or both birth parents). However, it may take several months or possibly years for that to happen. As a result, foster families can feel left in a bit of a holding pattern as they wait to see what judges and advocates will decide is in the best interest of the child.<\/p>\n
Options which would affect a child\u2019s residence status (aside from reunification) include, but are not limited to: being placed with relatives, having parental rights terminated (which makes the child eligible for adoption), moving into a group home, remaining in foster care, or aging out of foster care (if they are close enough to 18 for this to happen).<\/p>\n
Sometimes, foster families receive a lot of notice about what is going to happen in the future (or what will most likely happen\u2026but of course a judge can always throw a curve ball at court). At other times, a move may happen quickly and\/or unexpectedly.<\/p>\n
And throughout the process of a case, there are typically a number of court dates, meetings, and changes to the plan (i.e. reunification, adoption, guardianship, etc.) \u2026which translates to several instances where the child may be moved to another home.<\/p>\n
As a result, foster parents often find themselves in a tough position when planning for the future: Do they make future plans that include a foster child? Will they even be here to participate? Do I buy a plane ticket for him\/her for our family vacation? Do I sign him\/her up for spring soccer? Do I treat him\/her like my biological children and allow them the benefit of extracurricular activities?<\/p>\n
So yes\u2026clearly dealing with the uncertainty is super-tricky to navigate\u2026so here\u2019s what I recommend and it\u2019s what\u2019s gotten us through: just plan what you want to plan; and do what you want to do. Life is too short to put everything on pause simply because of \u201cthe maybe.\u201d Will plans have to change last-minute? Maybe. Will you potentially lose money on something you purchased for a child or enrolled them in, but now they\u2019ll no longer be there? Maybe. Will there be disappointment that you have to navigate if plans change? Probably so\u2026and these are not going to be easy with the added layer of trauma.<\/p>\n
But by the same token: will you get the chance to go on a vacation as a family (including kids in your care) if you don\u2019t plan it (because you\u2019re afraid it might not happen)? No\u2026you won\u2019t. Will your child in foster care get to experience an organized sport or club or summer camp for possibly the first time (if you think they might not be there by the time it rolls around\u2026so you don\u2019t sign them up)? Absolutely they won\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Yes, there is definitely risk involved, but so much of what we are doing as foster parents is creating trusting relationships, and a good way to do that is through activities as a family, as well as with other children. If not given the opportunity to do that, you not only take that away from the child\u2026but you also potentially put your own life on pause as you walk through the uncertainty of foster care. And how long can (and should) you do that? You can\u2019t and you shouldn\u2019t\u2026so go ahead and make those plans\u2026because you never know what might happen!<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Kris<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In today\u2019s post, I\u2019m once again touching on the similar (but altogether different) vein of uncertainty\u2026only this time I\u2019ll be discussing what it\u2019s like in regards to a case. As you may or may not know, when you accept a placement of a child in foster care, you never, ever, ever know how long they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kriss-corner"],"yoast_head":"\n