Tips for New Foster Parents:

1. ASK QUESTIONS!!!! NO QUESTIONS IS BETTER OFF UNANSWERED!!! DON’T WORRY ABOUT OFFENDING THE CASE WORKER. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU AND THEIR AGENCY!!!
2. DON’T BE AFRAID TO SAY “NO” TO A PLACEMENT. IF IT IS NOT A PLACEMENT YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH DON’T DO IT!!! TRUST ME THEY WILL CALL YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER PLACEMENT!!!!!
3. BE UPFRONT WITH WHAT TYPE OF PLACEMENT YOU WOULD CONSIDER TAKING! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PICKY!! IT IS YOUR HOUSE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR LIFE!!!
4. DON’T WAIT FOR THE AGENCY TO CALL YOU FOR PLACEMENTS!!! SOMETIMES THEY DON’T CALL EVERY FAMILY. I WOULD CALL ONCE A WEEK AND SEE WHAT THEY HAD AVAILABLE. IF THE SITUATION DIDN’T SUIT ME, I WOULD THANK THEM AND DECLINE. BUT YOU BETTER BELIEVE AFTER A MONTH THEY KNEW MY NAME AND WHAT TYPE OF PLACEMENT I DESIRED!!!!
5. WHEN THEY CALL FOR A PLACEMENT GET AS MUCH INFO ON THE KIDS AS YOU CAN!!! YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME THEY WILL NOT GET IN DEPTH ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE KIDS.