Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFoster Parenting and Mental HealthAre You Ready to Become a Foster Parent?How to Prepare for Foster Parenting

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Table of Contents

Foster Parenting and Mental Health

Are You Ready to Become a Foster Parent?

How to Prepare for Foster Parenting

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Foster parenting aims to provide temporary protective services that support the child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, particularly since they have left the familiarity of their home and family or may have experienced atrauma or loss.

Foster parenting requires you to open up your heart and home to a child, which isn’t always easy. As the child’s transitional caregiver a foster parent needs to navigate the complexity of setting emotional boundaries.

We’ll dig into the mental health considerations for foster parenting, some signs that you are ready as well as signs that you may not be ready yet, and some strategies that can help you prepare to become a foster parent.

At a GlanceFoster parenting can be both challenging as well as rewarding. Before you embark on this journey, it’s important to evaluate yourself honestly and ensure you are equipped to deal with the challenges you may face, for the child’s sake as well as your sake.

At a Glance

Foster parenting can be both challenging as well as rewarding. Before you embark on this journey, it’s important to evaluate yourself honestly and ensure you are equipped to deal with the challenges you may face, for the child’s sake as well as your sake.

Coping With Complicated Feelings as an Adoptive Parent

These are some mental health factors you should consider before deciding to become a foster parent, saysSabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.

Fostering Is Not Permanent

The goal of fostering a child is to provide a safe home for the child until they can be reunited with theirparents. Fostering is therefore not a permanent situation. The child’s biological parents still hold parental rights until they are terminated. Thus, it’s important to be mindful of your level of attachment to the child who is under your care because you might not get to see them again.

Sabrina Romanoff, PsyDAlthough you may want the best for your foster child, there is often a loss that is experienced when the child leaves your home.

Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD

Although you may want the best for your foster child, there is often a loss that is experienced when the child leaves your home.

It may be helpful to explore your intentions, expectations, and goals as a foster parent. The goal is not to provide a permanent home, but a safe, stable, nurturing, and caring temporary environment. Being honest with yourself and your reasons for fostering a child can help you be more aligned with the role without trying to force the dynamic into something that it is not.

Fostering Is Not Easy

Fostering children is an opportunity to contribute to society and can be very rewarding. However, it’s not easy. It is a full-time commitment that will require a lot of your time and energy.

There are many highs and lows involved with being a foster parent. It’s important to be honest with yourself and consider whether this role is right for you and your family. Foster parenting is not something you do for yourself, it’s about the child.

Foster parents may experiencehigh levels of stress, which could manifest through mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance use, says Dr. Romonaff.

Foster Children May Have Special Needs

Children often struggle with changes to their family unit or environment.Foster childrenmay be scared, anxious, or angry about having to leave their home and family. Additionally, they may have experienced losses or trauma that can affect their emotional and mental well-being. According to a 2021 study, there is a high prevalence ofdepressionand anxiety among foster children.

Despite having the best intentions in wanting to help the child and nurture them, you may find yourself challenged in caring for their special needs.You may also find yourself feeling disappointed if the child is not receptive to the relationship you hoped to build with them, or frustrated at their behavior if they act out.

The more you can become aware of your own expectations, triggers, and responses, the better you will be able to recognize, manage, and prepare for them.

These are some indicators that can help you determine whether or not you’re ready to become a foster parent, from a mental health perspective.

Signs You’re Ready for Foster Parenting

These are some signs that you’re ready to become a foster parent, according to Dr. Romanoff:

Signs You May Not Be Ready to Foster Yet

These are some signs that you may not be ready to become a foster parent, according to Dr. Romanoff:

What to Do If You Disagree With Your Partner About Having Kids

Dr. Romanoff suggests some strategies that can help you prepare to become a foster parent:

Coping With the Stress Children Add to a Marriage

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Font SA, Gershoff ET.Foster care: How we can, and should, do more for maltreated children.Social Policy Report. 2020;33(3):1-40. doi:10.1002/sop2.10

Moussavi Y, Breivik K, Wergeland GJ, Haugland BSM, Larsen M, Lehmann S.Internalizing symptom profiles among youth in foster care: a comparison study.Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.711626

National Foster Parent Association.Becoming a foster parent.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Child Welfare.Parenting children in foster care.

National Foster Parent Association.Becoming a foster parent.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Child Welfare.Parenting children in foster care.

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