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Dear ParentLine: We are fortunate to have two healthy children and a comfortable lifestyle. My husband and I have discussed sharing our home with foster children, but we would also consider the possibility of adopting a child. Can you give us more information about this subject? Signed, Open-hearted in Hooksett, NH

ParentLine thanks you for understanding that, sometimes, it really does take a whole village to raise a child. Sadly, there’s no shortage of kids who need to be loved and nurtured all over the world and right here at home. And, yes, according to local experts ParentLine interviewed for this column, there are several things to consider and lots of ways you can help.

According to Jeannette Birge, director of Child and Family Services’ Permanency Solutions program, “Being a foster parent isn’t just about love. Foster-parenting is also about providing structure, encouragement, discipline and security, and in supporting the best interests of the child.” Birge recommends that you give serious thought to this decision that will create an impact not only on you and the child you foster, but also on all the members of your family.

Julie Skinner, team leader at Casey Family Services, observes, “Prior to passage of the Adoptive and Safe Families Act (ASFA) in 1997, not enough effort was being made to find permanent living arrangements for children in foster care. The law was a major push for states to pay more attention to this issue,” Skinner explains. “Strict guidelines were placed on time limits that a child could remain in foster care. Concurrent with efforts to reunify a child with their birth family, agencies have a 12 month time limit in which to put another plan in place—a kinship or relative arrangement or adoption.” Skinner adds, “The state has come to private agencies with the need to recruit families who can serve the needs of all different permanency plans.”

“The law was a major push for states to pay more attention to this issue,” Skinner adds.

In essence, Skinner says, “The fundamental issue is that agencies are seeking greater commitment from people interested in becoming involved to support what’s best for the child. In the past, when a child was taken into a foster family, there was a sense that the child might not be free for adoption. Now, we’re asking, ‘Can you extend your commitment to include adoption, if that’s what’s best for this child?’”

To meet these needs, Skinner observes, “In the foster care field, we’re now thinking of resource families rather than foster families. Resource families are prepared to make whatever commitment is in the best interest of the child. This may mean working closely with the child’s birth family to support reunification and helping to make this happen. Another option might be to support efforts to find an adoptive family for a child and to help with the transition during the adoption process. Or, it may mean adoption if the child’s needs are best met by that permanence plan.”

Gail Degoosh, foster care specialist, NH Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) says, “Before you make your decision, you will want to gather information about programs and services that are available in New Hampshire, which include foster care and adoption.” Degoosh adds, “Also, there are many other ways you can contribute to the welfare of children and families involved in the foster care and adoption programs that offer a way to get you started.”

May is National Foster Care month and has also been declared NH Foster Care month by Governor Lynch. Degoosh suggests you might wear a blue ribbon to show your support of foster care, or you might mentor a youth in foster care who is 18 and who will leave the system and who needs support to find a job, rent an apartment, or enter secondary education. Youth and children in group care need visiting families when they have no family home to go to at the holidays and other special occasions. Donations of goods and services might be made to the local foster parent support group of the NH Foster and Adoptive Families Association at www.nhfapa.org.

A resource for information on becoming a foster parent is the free orientation and training that’s available through Granite State College and DCYF. To find out when classes are held and how to register, go online at http://www.granite.edu/etp/fff.htm or call 1-800-852-3345.

“During the foster and adoptive training, you will learn about the children and families, the work you will do with the parents of the children to help them have their children returned to them, and the possibility of being a “resource family” to the child, should he or she not be able to return home, “ says Degoosh.

Yet another way in which people can become involved is through the state-wide faith-based initiative. Through an initiative launched by representatives of several NH faith communities and funded in July, ’05, Bethany Christian Services currently works on behalf of children in foster care with all 12 offices of the Division across the state.

Of the initiative, Degoosh says, “Support for children becomes a part of the social mission of the churches. This partnership is a natural fit. Our church “families” provide help that the state may not be able to find funding for. Such things come in the form of bicycle helmets, tickets to a sports event, camperships, gift cards, or a generator to keep life-support going for a youngster in need

Currently, there are more than 800 children in foster family care in New Hampshire. DCYF and other licensed child placing agencies in NH continuously recruit for individuals and couples who want to share a family life experience with a child who needs care. The basic NH foster family care licensing requirements include:

Foster parents must be 21 at the time of application.
A criminal background and central registry of child abusers check.
Fire and health inspections of the home.
Medical examination of every family member.
Five references.
Completion of a 21 hour orientation and training program.
Minimum of two home visits in which all family members of the foster family are screened.
A home study (the Fosadopt Family Assessment) that requires input from all family members including children and grandchildren.

During the home visit, the agency and the family determines the age and gender of the child that best fits the family and the number of children that can be placed in the home with consideration given to the foster families own children.

Birge concludes, ‘People who provide foster care understand and believe that every child needs to be cherished, nurtured and encouraged and they are willing to open their homes and their hearts to give these children a chance. These are special people, indeed.”

Resources:

Gail Degoosh, DCYF Foster Care Specialist, 800-852-3345 or 271-4711.

Julie Skinner, Casey Family Services Foster Care Team Leader, 800-417-7375 or 224-8909.

Jeannette Birge, Child and Family Services 800-640-6486.

Bethany Christian Services – 603-483-2886.

ParentLine is a free and confidential service of Child and Family Services, a statewide, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families. Call ParentLine, 1-800-640-6486; write ParentLine, c/o Child and Family Services, P.O. Box 448, Manchester, NH; email parentline@cfsnh.org or visit our website at www.cfsnh.org.