In Part 1 I explained how we decided on foster care.  In Part 2 I explained the paperwork process we went through.  This week we I will cover the training classes we had to take before we were chosen to be foster parents.

My husband and I were applying to be foster parents of medically fragile infants, birth to two years of age.  A good portion of these children had medical issues that stemmed from the mother using drugs, such as Heroin, Cocaine, and Crack.  Several of these infants were placed in foster care because they were suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome, and others were in the system simply because they had birth defects and the parents weren’t able to meet their needs. 

Our training covered all of these areas, and how to care for these types of children.  We also learned how to work with the biological parents.  A part of our job was to teach the parents how to take care of their own child.  In order to do this you need to understand how the parent came to where they are at in the first place.  We also had to recognize any danger signs.  While we were working to reunite the baby with its parent/s, the baby itself was our main focus; foster parenting is about what is best for the child. 

Over a course of several weeks we learned:

~ About the effects of alcohol and drugs on babies

~  How to keep records

~ The rules and regulations of visitation

~ What is a Guardian Ad Litem

~ Respite care

These classes were interesting, enlightening, and horrifying.  My husband and I came away with more zeal to protect these innocent children. 

Not every foster care training program is as thorough as the ones we went through.  TeamBettendorf can tell you what they learned, or rather, what they didn’t!

As conservative Christians there were classes that we had to sit through and take with a grain of salt.  In one class we were taught ways to boost the child’s self esteem.  My husband and I believe that loving a child, being truthful and honest with that child, and meeting their needs will teach them that they have value and worth.  Not constantly repeating phrases that will become empty and meaningless.

Next week I’ll tell you about our first foster baby!