Adriel Blog > September 15, 2024
Helping Hands: Foster Care Family Support Services
Foster care is about far more than just providing a temporary home for children in need – it helps create a supportive environment for stability, healing, and happy families. As foster parents and foster children navigate the uncertainties and complexities of the foster care system, they rely on the family support services to help them succeed and thrive.
Adriel foster family the Krabills say, “Being connected with like-minded people who understand the foster care system and lots of prayer are two things that cultivate hope for our family. Do life with those people.”
Whether you are a foster parent or are considering becoming one, family support services can help you make a lasting positive impact on a child's life and vice versa.
What Are Family Support Services?
There are many types of family support services to assist foster families directly and create opportunities to help more children in need. The Adriel team works tirelessly to provide support in the form of training, family preservation, and continuum of care services to those who are committed to foster care.
Foster Family Support Services from Adriel
- Training Programs: Formal training, educational workshops, and other resources to prepare and empower foster parents.
- Family Coaching: Coaching can be one-to-one or meeting-based, with activities for both parents and children and alternative forms of training and education.
- Clinical Support: Clinical support can include professional services like individual foster care therapy, group therapy, and case management.
- Spiritual Support: Ongoing support and prayers of faith communities are essential to providing quality care for children in the spirit of Christian love.
The Benefits of Services for Foster Parents
We know the foster care journey inside and out, from joy to frustration and back again. Becoming a foster parent is a rewarding experience, but it comes with its challenges. Family support services help foster parents gain peace of mind to navigate these challenges more effectively through both practical tools and emotional perspective.
Key Benefits:
Enhanced Parenting Skills: Practical, proven training for licensing, fostering, and tools for resolving issues improve foster parents' confidence and success. You can review our available curriculum here.
Emotional and Spiritual Support: Counseling, spiritual guidance, and peer support groups offer foster parents a space to share experiences, seek advice, find comfort, and gain encouragement.
Stress Reduction: Access to respite care and other family support services helps prevent burnout and ensures that foster parents can continue providing high-quality care.
The Benefits of Family Support Services for Foster Children
Stability and Consistency: Family support services help foster parents maintain a consistent and stable environment, which is vital for a child's development.
Bonding and Confidence: Kids thrive when they feel a sense of belonging. Structured and unstructured activities can help families bond, laugh, learn, and gain confidence together.
Staying with a Family Member: Sometimes an extended family member is the best choice for a child. We offer family support services to enable these “kinship” caregivers to become licensed foster caregivers and receive benefits as a foster home. Learn about kinship care.
How to Access Your Support Networks for Success
For prospective foster parents, understanding the family support services benefits and options available is essential. With these resources, foster parents can provide the best possible care for their foster children, ensuring that they grow up in a supportive, loving environment.
Steps to Get Started:
Research: Begin by learning about the foster care community and family support services available in your area.
Connect with Agencies: If you’re in Ohio, you’re in the right place with Adriel. Here’s more about how to become a foster parent in Ohio. If you’re not in Ohio, reach out to local foster care agencies in your state to inquire about their support services and how they assist foster families.
Attend Training: Participate in training programs to get licensed for foster care and equip yourself with the skills and knowledge necessary for fostering.
Seek Spiritual Guidance: Connect with faith-based organizations or community leaders who can provide spiritual support and guidance throughout your fostering journey. If you’re in Ohio and working with Adriel, you’re already in the right place for spiritual support and guidance.
Additional Resources
For more information on family support services and foster care, consider exploring the following reputable sources:
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Supporting & Preserving Families
National Foster Parent Association (NFPA): Resources for Foster Parents
Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO): Faith-Based Support for Foster Parents
Becoming Part of the Family Focused on Foster Care
Family support services are a vital part of the foster care system, providing the necessary tools and resources for a successful foster care experience for all. As you consider becoming a foster parent, remember to take advantage of the resources available to you early and often.
In our article “Sharing the Love During Foster Parent Appreciation Month” Adriel foster mom Brenda emphasized, “We were concerned about not getting the support we needed, but Adriel has been fantastic - every question and concern has been addressed and we’ve felt very supported through the whole process.”
Explore Foster Care Possibilities
