Reply to Fostering as a single parent

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Lots of single foster parents. Some are retired or otherwise don't work (get public assistance). I think you would get approved. The question is just whether you have enough flexibility with your job: can you go to IEP meetings? Pick a kid up from school? Go to therapy? Court? Caseworker meetings? Family visits? Assume the kid will need a lot of your time during 9-5.

Also make sure your kids are on board with this. If they get really attached to the foster child it may be hard for them to see the kid visit with or reunite with family. And if the kid has behaviors that disrupt your family, that's hard too.

I'd suggest serving as a respite caregiver or approved babysitter for foster families first, to see what it's like. Get to know foster families in your area. You'll want the support and it will help you decide if you want this. It's really important to have good foster families and I'm glad you want to do this, but you will also be inviting a lot of chaos into your lives from the kids, their families, and (sometimes most of all) the system itself.

--former foster parent (not single though). Now I volunteer with DC127 to help kids avoid going into foster care.[/quote]

Foster parents have to have an income and not be on public assistance.  [/quote]

It really depends on the state laws and the licensing agency. Foster parents have to be financially stable. But some people who get SSI and food stamps are financially stable. A lot of NYC foster parents live in public housing. Anyway, this is not super relevant to OP.[/quote]

Maybe in NY but not in this area.  I was a foster care worker for many years.  We had families on social security but never public assistance.  But, completely not relevant.  The issue for OP is really time.[/quote]

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