14 Feb The Positive Impact Fostering Has On Your Biological Children
When families are considering fostering and they have biological children in their home, they always ask what impact fostering could have on their children. This is a wise question-one every family should ask. The reality is, however, that a majority of the time they are asking about negative impacts.
But there are a number of positive effects of foster care on your family, especially your kids. Here are a few:
Sacrifice- Fostering gives children opportunities to sacrifice. Whether it be sharing a toy or even sharing their parents, your biological children can choose in many different moments to sacrifice for the benefit of another child-one they’re not related to! This willingness to sacrifice for others is something children will take with them into adulthood.
Perspective- Fostering will give children perspective. Your biological children will see firsthand that the world is a difficult and imperfect place. They will learn about abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Through that, they also can learn that we can do something to make a positive difference. Yes, even kids!
Diversity- Fostering brings diversity into your home. Children who come into foster care match the children in your community- they’re diverse! Different ages, cultures, languages, races, and socioeconomic statuses are all represented in foster care.
Siblings- Fostering also gives your biological children a sibling! The goal of fostering is reunification, for foster children to be safely reunified with their biological families. There are times, however, when this is no longer possible and adoption may become a possibility.
Faith- Fostering can give your children a chance to live out their faith. When they themselves choose to love, care for, and sacrifice for a foster sibling, they live out what it means to love their neighbor.
Your biological children and family forever can be different because of fostering-not just because you will gain a daughter and sister, son and brother, but also because of what fostering will do to you and your biological children. Fostering can bring many positive and lifelong lasting impacts on your children!
To find out how to become a foster or adoptive parent in Arkansas, contact DCFS (https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dcfs/fcadoptinq/fca_inquiry.aspx) or Foster Love (https://fosterlovear.org/) or The CALL (https://thecallinarkansas.org/). To find out how to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Pulaski or Perry Counties, email [email protected]. For anywhere else in Arkansas, visit https://www.arkansascasa.net/.
Stanley Barnes is the Program Coordinator for Pulaski County CASA. He is also a Minister and Founder and CEO of Building Bridges/Mending Fences Mentoring. He has a lifetime of experience in leadership and youth and adult mentoring.
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