As members of the foster care team, foster parents provide specialized parenting to children in foster care. They are advocates of the child in all areas of their life. Foster parents arrange or provide transportation to school, participate in educational planning, transport to medical and therapeutic appointments, and attend conferences, staffings, and therapy appointments. They are responsible for caring for their foster children 24 hours a day.
In addition to these basic parenting responsibilities, foster parents have an important job as a part of the treatment team. The team also includes the County Caseworker who has legal custody of the child, the Lutheran Family Services Clinician, the child’s therapist (if applicable), the Guardian Ad Litem, (an attorney who represents the best interest of the child), and, when possible, the child’s birth parents. Foster parents need to provide documentation regarding the child’s care. They meet with the LFS Clinician from two to four times per month, and with the rest of the treatment team on a monthly basis. Most importantly, foster parents communicate openly and frequently with the rest of the team, and work to support the treatment plans developed by the team.
In short, foster parents do an incredible amount of work to effectively parent a foster child. Why would someone choose to do this?
One obvious answer is that foster parents want to help children in need. This usually draws people to investigate the process of foster parenting. Many describe their commitment as a "calling," or a feeling they are meant to do this. LFS foster parents tell us that they find their work very rewarding, especially as they watch a child progress in their home. They find a lot of satisfaction in helping the child succeed in a family environment and, in turn, support permanency for the child. Finally, some foster parents wish to adopt foster children. If a child becomes free for adoption, the foster parents may have this opportunity.
For additional information about our services, please call or e-mail us at:
Denver Office: 303-922-3433
fostercentral@lfsco.org
Southern Colorado Office (Colorado Springs): 719-227-7571
fostersouth@lfsco.org
Northern Colorado Office (Fort Collins): 970-266-1788
fosternorth@lfsco.org
