If you’re here to learn about foster care, we’d like to say thank you for stopping by. Being involved in foster care is an incredibly rewarding experience, one that just can’t be explained until you’re involved.
This purpose of our blog is to tell you all about the wonderful experience of foster care, as well as what to expect as you go through the process. We won’t lie; foster care can be challenging. But we’ve heard from parents time and again about how it’s one of the best experiences they’ve ever decided to embark upon. We look forward to relating many of the reasons you might want to consider fostering a child.
To kick things off, we’re going to ask a simple question: who is foster care helping? Without a doubt we’ll explore these further in future blogs, but for now let’s answer that simple question.
It’s Helping the Child
This is certainly the most obvious answer to “who is foster care helping?” You’re helping a child (or children, in some cases) by providing them with proper care that they might not be accustomed to. You are encountering a child who has a need, and it’s possible that they’ve experienced some hurt in their lives. By being there for them and offering them a good home, you’re showing them that someone cares about them. This can be all they need to move forward with their lives and grow up to be a better person.
It’s Helping the Community
Children need guidance, and when they don’t get it they can go astray. And when the guidance they do get is from a negative source such as influential peers or gangs, that can certainly affect the community.
When a child is cared for by attentive foster care parents, there’s no doubt that the child is learning how to care as well. Care breeds care, and the simple fact that they are around people who show concern for others is a great way to raise someone who reciprocates. That leads to a better citizen and a stronger community.
It’s Helping You
As good as foster care makes foster parents feel, it’s surprising more people don’t do it!
Doing something good for someone else simply makes a person feel good. For some people that means volunteering at church, and for others it’s simply paying it forward at the coffee shop. But for those who really want to feel as good as they possibly can, foster care is the answer. It’s a great way to show your love for others and the community, all while learning more about yourself.
If you’re here on the site, there’s a good chance that you’ve already given some thought to the idea of foster care. Congratulations! You’ve taken your first step into a much more beautiful world. Sure, there are challenges, but it’s the most amazing growth opportunity for both you and the child, or children, you foster. We truly want to help you through the process, so make sure to learn more about the Contra Costa foster care system here.