Kelly Patchen, foster parent growth and retention coordinator for the St. Johns County office of the National Youth Advocate Program, has found that many people don’t fully understand what foster care is all about.
Frequently, people believe that the goal of becoming a foster parent is to adopt the child.
And, while that can occur in some cases, the ultimate goal is actually to reunite the child with the biological parents once they work through their case plan and the home is deemed safe.
Here are some commonly held myths about foster care and facts that disprove them:
Myth 1: You can’t be single and be a foster parent. This is false. Foster parents can be single, married, divorced, widowed, separated or cohabitating.
Myth 2: You cannot work full time and be a foster parent. This is false. In fact, subsidized child care is available if needed.
Myth 3: It’s possible to be too old to be a foster parent. This is false. The only age requirement is that one must be over the age of 21.
Myth 4: A foster parent must first be a parent of their own children. This is false. Many foster parents have no children of their own.
Myth 5: Foster kids are unfixable. This is false. Children are resilient, and foster parents can make a difference in their lives by providing love, structure, support and a caring environment.
“That one breaks my heart,” Patchen said. “No one’s unfixable.”
Myth 6: Foster parents must provide medical insurance. This is false. All foster children are covered by Medicaid for medical, dental and mental health needs. The only thing the foster parent must pay for is over-the-counter medicine and supplies.
Myth 7: Foster children cannot do normal things. This is false.
Myth 8: Foster parents may not be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is false.
