When foster children leave their families to come into care it is important for them to be able to establish an attachment with the foster family. This helps lessen behavior and mental health disorders. It is a time for healing and where these children should find a stable and nurturing environment. It is our responsibility as foster parents to do everything we can to ensure that these children find security and hope in our homes. This will help, greatly, eliminate the possibility of multiple placements. In-other-words, moving from home to home. Finding ways to connect with the children is important to their well being.
Unfortunately, I so often hear of foster families that cannot handle circumstances surrounding a child placed with them and request that the child be moved. Though I understand that there are situations that warrant a move I firmly believe that with a little hard work and TLC on the part of the foster parent there can be positive outcomes, eliminating the need for a new placement.
As a foster family, I have found that by welcoming the children into our home unconditionally and accepting them as a family member, we have had mostly positive experiences. The children usually accept their new life and develop a sense of belonging and security. Consistently meeting their needs allows attachments to form and brings trust, and that is the goal to being successful. Is it a lot of work? You bet, but the rewards are great.
Every child has strengths and challenges, it is our responsibility to make foster care a place for healing and work through the challenges so that the strengths emerge and stability is established.
The goal is stability, this helps eliminate disruption and the need for multiple moves while in foster care. When a child has consistency and openness they have a general sense of control in their lives.
There is a significant portion of foster children that experience multiple moves during their time in the foster care system, commonly three or more moves. I don't know if there are any statistics to support it, but my guess is that a good portion are related to behavior and mental health problems in these children, and foster families unable to cope.
Over all, I have experienced that by meeting their most fundamental needs and by being consistent in boundaries and expectations, by forming stability and trust, giving love and affection, attachments form and with attachments I have found that the children in my care generally desire to please and make home a fun place to be.
