Resources for Foster Parents

Foster parents are critical to the foster care process and the work to achieve permanency for children and youth in care. As primary caretakers, you play a significant role in working with parents and in carrying out the tasks in a permanency plan while taking on the day-to-day challenges of meeting the needs of a child. These resources offer information about caring for children and youth in foster care and provide helpful links on where you can go for support. Additional resources act as guides to help you learn what to expect from the foster parent licensing process and how to support the diverse needs of the children placed in your home.

• Caring for children and youth in care
• Finding support
• Tipsheets, guides, and additional information

Caring for children and youth in care

10 Things Every Foster Parent in Virginia Should Know
Newfound Families Virginia
Explains key pieces of information related to fostering children, including reimbursement rates and court processes.

6 Foster Care Skills You Need to Master Before Becoming a Foster Parent
Craft (2017)
The Spruce
Highlights basic foster care skills, including assessing your family’s fitness for fostering, maintaining open communication, managing challenging behaviors, and coping with a sense of loss after a child’s reunification with his or her birth family.

Process to Become a Foster Parent
Child Net
Describes the five key steps of the foster parent process. 

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Finding support

National Foster Parents Association
Provides information and support to help foster parents along their foster care journey and their work to achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for the children in their care.

Daily Strength Foster Care Support Group
Daily Strength
Connects with other foster parents online. Answer questions and learn from what other foster parents are doing.  

Foster Parents Bill of Rights
National Foster Parent Association
Provides access to the Foster Parent’s and Foster Children’s Bill of Rights by State.

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Tipsheets, guides, and additional information

Resource Family Approval Toolkit
Alliance for Children’s Rights (2017)
Helps families navigate the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process. While this process varies by State, the RFA guide highlighted here is an example of what to expect in the State of California.

How to Support Reunification: Even if You Don’t Want to
Bailey (2017)
Adoption.com
Lists ways to cope with and manage responsibilities in throughout reunification process.

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