7 Questions to Ask When Considering Foster Care
On any given day, there are thousands of children in foster care in Arkansas, with only 1,800 foster family homes available. Those numbers tell us we need more foster families, especially for older children, teens and siblings.
As director of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), I’ve compiled the most common questions and information that will help you decide if fostering is right for you.
1. Why do children come into foster care?
4,548 kids
in Arkansas were in foster care in 2015
720 kids
exited foster care in 2015 due to adoption
DCFS strives for children and youth to remain in their own homes with their families whenever safely possible. But sometimes, it is necessary to remove children or youth from the home to ensure their safety.
Our caseworkers consider a number of things when deciding whether to remove children, but the most important question is: “Is this action necessary to protect the health or physical well-being of the child from immediate danger?” In Arkansas, children can only be removed from their parent or caregiver if there is an assessment that the child is in immediate danger and the only way to protect the child is to place the child in the state’s custody.
2. Are all children in foster care available for adoption?
No. In fact, nearly two-thirds of children in foster care in Arkansas return to their homes or to relatives. Reunifying families is always our goal, if it is safe to do so. Often the biological parents simply need support to address issues, like substance abuse or lack of parenting skills. We work to support families, and we have some amazing foster parents who mentor families so they can get their children back.
3. Where are children placed while they are in foster care?
When making placement decisions, we’re guided by the value that every child deserves a safe, stable family. Ideally, a child is placed in an appropriate and safe relative’s home with his or her siblings. But if a relative is unavailable, children should be placed in a foster family home, preferably with their siblings and in their home community.
4. What kinds of children are in foster care?
Children of all ages, races, ethnicities and genders are in foster care in Arkansas. The greatest need for foster homes, however, is for children 6 and older (especially teens) and sibling groups. It is critical for us to find more foster homes for these children. That’s how you can help the most.
5. Do I have to be “perfect” to be a foster parent?
Kids in foster care don’t need you to be perfect; they need you to be present, engaged and committed to their healing and care. It allows you to support and learn with them in the hard times, sharing in their experience to bring about a new and better outcome.
6. What if I become too attached to a child in foster care?
The best foster parents get attached. Many foster parents extend that attachment to the children’s biological families, both while the children are in their care and after they return home. Wrapping around the biological families and the children means as much to the foster parents as it does to the biological family.
According to The CALL,
1,100 children spend time in Pulaski County foster care every year due to abuse or neglect.
On average, there are only 300 families to care for these children.
7. How do I become a foster parent?
At our website FosterArkansas.org, you’ll find the general requirements to be a foster parent and a link to the Foster Family Home Inquiry page, which is the first step in becoming a foster parent in Arkansas.
Mischa Martin is director of the Division of Children and Family Services for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She came to work as a child welfare and adult protective services attorney at DHS in 2008, and served in numerous roles including assistant director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Mischa has served as the DCFS Director since April 2016.
She lives with her husband and twin boys in Sherwood.
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