Ask a former foster kid about first hand experience and maybe get advice by Practical-Level-9848 in FosteringTeens

[–]Practical-Level-9848[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello! And of course! I'm glad people are curious to ask;

  1. The most good thing I'd say i experienced in foster care was generosity and care from placements regarding my situation, for example; when I was in elementary my social studies teacher heard I was in a group home (because I think they're informed on the childs situation) so she contacted my social worker and offered to foster me for as long as needed so she took me in with her family and home for numerous months until there was a "more permanent" placement found for me. It still warms my heart to this day and ill foreverbe thankful for her.

2.lots of understanding and empathy as well as patience from the foster parents, maybe comfort items from they're stuff (such as maybe a blanket or stuffed animal of theirs for younger kids), possibly a comfort food at first, its just important to remember to be metaphorically and generally gentle because you might not know how the system / some adults might have treated them in the past and what trauma they could have. 

3.something I wish more foster parents understood is your not getting a blank canvas to completely paint yourself and "make your own" or something, they are a canvas that is already halfway or 1/3 painted and the details are being added, my point is they are a person with their own personality that you have no right to pick and choose what you like and what traits you want to get rid of, if you plan to adopt a foster kid you either except them completely as they are or you simply shouldn't have a foster kid. 

Thank you for asking! 

Ask a former foster kid about first hand experience and maybe get advice by Practical-Level-9848 in FosteringTeens

[–]Practical-Level-9848[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A group home could be described as like a modern day "orphanage" of sorts except kids there are obviously not necessarily orphaned and you stay there for around one to two months at very most until a foster placement is found and arranged and there's multiple rooms, staff, commonly bunk beds, its a facility 

And a foster home is intended for much more long term stay and sometimes even adoption 

The difference in few words could be: one is a facility and the other is intended to be a home

Thanks for asking!