where are foster parents most needed?

[Anonymous]

I am moving to the DC area soon and and working in DC. My wife and I want to be foster parents (she will stay home or work part time if she can find something flexible enough). We are primarily interested in younger kids (baby to early elementary) and are open to adoption if a kid needs it, but also happy to have kids stay for a little while and then go back to family.

I know that there are some parts of the country where foster parents are desperately needed--whether because of the opioid epidemic or other reasons, pretty much as soon as you're licensed you'll be getting calls to take kids. And there are other states and counties where there are way more foster parents than kids who need them (which may be a very good thing!).

We're more interested in living in Maryland or DC than Virginia based on my commute and where we have some relatives and friends. Are there particular places where the foster care system is especially functional (I know, I know...having been involved in it not as a foster parent before, it's not going to be great anywhere) or where there is a lot of need? In addition to DC, some of the counties we've looked at are Montgomery, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Frederick. Maybe Howard County though when I visited a friend in Columbia it wasn't my favorite--I like older houses and it looked like everything had been built more recently.

Thanks for any tips you have!

[Anonymous]

Any county will be fine. Dc is the most disfunctional.

[Anonymous]

DC definitely has the most pressing need for families, but there are plenty of DC agencies that will place with kids in the suburbs. I was impressed with Lutheran Social Services when I looked into doing foster care, but then life happened and I wasn't able to actually do it.

It might be worth calling LSS or another agency to get details about exactly how far away you could live from DC, etc . . .

[Anonymous]

They are needed everywhere, so I would focus on finding the best agency so that you don't burn out. A sucky agency can really make life unmanageable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are needed everywhere, so I would focus on finding the best agency so that you don't burn out. A sucky agency can really make life unmanageable.

I'm not sure that's totally true, especially if she wants young kids. I called about becoming a foster parent in Montgomery County, and they said that at that point they were only certifying people willing to take teenagers, or younger kids with severe medical needs, because they had enough families for younger kids with mild to moderate needs.

[Anonymous]

I don't have an answer OP, but just wanted to say you have a big heart. I think about it from time to time, but I don't think I have the strength to do it. You are a good human being.

[Anonymous]

DC has lots of foster parents who will take babies or young kids. LOTS AND LOTS. The greatest need for CFSA is for people who will take gay teens, or teen moms and their babies, or sibling sets.

I love when people are all, "I want to help. I can take babies." Listen, your heart is in the right place, but EVERYONE can take babies. Call CFSA they will tell you. They NEVER have trouble placing a single baby. But two or three siblings? Forget it, they get separated.

[Anonymous]

If you say you only want babies most public agencies will not license you (the private ones will.)
If you say you are open to anything any agency will license you.
Once you have gone through licensing you can say you are open to anything- but are most comfortable with younger children.
You will be pushed to move out of your comfort zone- and that might well end up being a good thing for you.
Babies sound easier- but they really are not.
I know you said you prefer MD or DC. If you are really looking at foster care- the nice thing about Alexandria City and Arlington County is they are fairly small- so it is much more likely you can keep kids in schools- manage driving to DSS etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you say you only want babies most public agencies will not license you (the private ones will.)
If you say you are open to anything any agency will license you.
Once you have gone through licensing you can say you are open to anything- but are most comfortable with younger children.
You will be pushed to move out of your comfort zone- and that might well end up being a good thing for you.
Babies sound easier- but they really are not.
I know you said you prefer MD or DC. If you are really looking at foster care- the nice thing about Alexandria City and Arlington County is they are fairly small- so it is much more likely you can keep kids in schools- manage driving to DSS etc.

OP here--Thanks for this. We don't just want babies. I think from what I've read DC licenses for 0-6, 7-12, and 13-21. From prior experiences with kids, I actually really enjoy toddlers and the 4-6 year old set though babies are fine too (and a stay-at-home parent might allow us to take kids who are too little for day care or who have some special medical needs). My wife was a camp counselor and has experience with slightly older kids. But we have really not been around tweens or teens much and feel like we need to work up to that. If we are in DC it looks like we'd have a 2-bedroom place, so we could take siblings if they're able to share a room. I think I saw a thread on here from a while back that Arlington didn't need more foster parents but I could call them and check. Alexandria is an interesting idea (especially since I like old houses) and we will look into it, though I think we'd rather live closer to friends and relatives in MD, and it would be a better commute.

[Anonymous]

If you live in MD you can take DC children, but if you love in VA you can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has lots of foster parents who will take babies or young kids. LOTS AND LOTS. The greatest need for CFSA is for people who will take gay teens, or teen moms and their babies, or sibling sets.

I love when people are all, "I want to help. I can take babies." Listen, your heart is in the right place, but EVERYONE can take babies. Call CFSA they will tell you. They NEVER have trouble placing a single baby. But two or three siblings? Forget it, they get separated.

DC definitely is hurting for families that can take siblinds and 12-21 year old youth. We were suprised to learn that in DC they had such a hard time finding families that are supportive of LGBTQ youth but sadly it is true. DC places lots of kids in MD so if you are in MD that doesn't rule you out for DC foster care.
I think one reason DC has a hard time keeping siblings together it the space and bedroom requirements. I believe it is 70 square feet per bedroom. I want to say it was 40-70 of space per child depending on the number in the room. (But I am not sure) I do know kids over 5 or 6 can not share a room with a opposite sex child. Some exceptions are made for sibling groups. Affording a 3+ bedroom home (with reasonable sized rooms) is not cheap in DC. Many of those that can afford larger homes aren't interested in fosterling care and certainly not teens. So, a lot of kids get split up and or sent to out to MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you say you only want babies most public agencies will not license you (the private ones will.)
If you say you are open to anything any agency will license you.
Once you have gone through licensing you can say you are open to anything- but are most comfortable with younger children.
You will be pushed to move out of your comfort zone- and that might well end up being a good thing for you.
Babies sound easier- but they really are not.
I know you said you prefer MD or DC. If you are really looking at foster care- the nice thing about Alexandria City and Arlington County is they are fairly small- so it is much more likely you can keep kids in schools- manage driving to DSS etc.

OP here--Thanks for this. We don't just want babies. I think from what I've read DC licenses for 0-6, 7-12, and 13-21. From prior experiences with kids, I actually really enjoy toddlers and the 4-6 year old set though babies are fine too (and a stay-at-home parent might allow us to take kids who are too little for day care or who have some special medical needs). My wife was a camp counselor and has experience with slightly older kids. But we have really not been around tweens or teens much and feel like we need to work up to that. If we are in DC it looks like we'd have a 2-bedroom place, so we could take siblings if they're able to share a room. I think I saw a thread on here from a while back that Arlington didn't need more foster parents but I could call them and check. Alexandria is an interesting idea (especially since I like old houses) and we will look into it, though I think we'd rather live closer to friends and relatives in MD, and it would be a better commute.

If you want to limit your self to 0-6 or 10 and under even. You may want to find a 3 bedroom+ apartment or home. Also, making sure the bedrooms meet the minimum size and safety regulations for the county or agency. If you are open to siblings, speical medical or behavioral needs you will probably have a number of placements over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you say you only want babies most public agencies will not license you (the private ones will.)
If you say you are open to anything any agency will license you.
Once you have gone through licensing you can say you are open to anything- but are most comfortable with younger children.
You will be pushed to move out of your comfort zone- and that might well end up being a good thing for you.
Babies sound easier- but they really are not.
I know you said you prefer MD or DC. If you are really looking at foster care- the nice thing about Alexandria City and Arlington County is they are fairly small- so it is much more likely you can keep kids in schools- manage driving to DSS etc.

OP here--Thanks for this. We don't just want babies. I think from what I've read DC licenses for 0-6, 7-12, and 13-21. From prior experiences with kids, I actually really enjoy toddlers and the 4-6 year old set though babies are fine too (and a stay-at-home parent might allow us to take kids who are too little for day care or who have some special medical needs). My wife was a camp counselor and has experience with slightly older kids. But we have really not been around tweens or teens much and feel like we need to work up to that. If we are in DC it looks like we'd have a 2-bedroom place, so we could take siblings if they're able to share a room. I think I saw a thread on here from a while back that Arlington didn't need more foster parents but I could call them and check. Alexandria is an interesting idea (especially since I like old houses) and we will look into it, though I think we'd rather live closer to friends and relatives in MD, and it would be a better commute.

I didn't see the thread that said Arlington didn't need foster parents- that's definitely not true. Arlington is always recruiting- they still have to place a lot of kids outside of Arlington.

That being said- I would not base your decision on where to live based on this. If MD is better for your commute and closer to your family- you should live there.

[Anonymous]

OP, you and your wife are awesome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has lots of foster parents who will take babies or young kids. LOTS AND LOTS. The greatest need for CFSA is for people who will take gay teens, or teen moms and their babies, or sibling sets.

I love when people are all, "I want to help. I can take babies." Listen, your heart is in the right place, but EVERYONE can take babies. Call CFSA they will tell you. They NEVER have trouble placing a single baby. But two or three siblings? Forget it, they get separated.

Do you happen to know if DC has a need for adoptive families for siblings, and teens?? I see a number of younger-teen siblings pairs & groups, as well as teens with mild-moderate needs, and kids with mild medical needs (often in a sib group or a older child) on national adoption listings. I rearly see kids that fit those descriptions on the heart gallery or other websites from DC. I have been told DC rearly places outside of kinship? And that the don't do TPR's until they have a adoptive family lined up. Is this why we rearly see DC kids on the heart gallery and such?