My Foster Family knows how invaluable it is for foster parents to build a network of support but sometimes foster parents do not know where best to get the support they need. Here are our five tips on building a fostering support network that you can turn to for inspiration, motivation and encouragement.
Fostering parenting support on social media
Many organizations that support foster parents have an active presence on social media and may offer posts which can give tips on local support groups . Follow those accounts to ensure you are accessing all of the offered resources and are able to network with other foster parents who may be trying to network with fellow foster parents too. You may also get a chance to hear about fostering events through social media and can network through events.
Join a support group
Support groups are a great way for foster parents to share concerns and with other foster parents. You may also be referred to get professional emotional support if needed and support groups can give you more information on this to help you on your journey. Many fostering support groups enable you to meet foster parents in your local area and exchange ideas, tips and motivation and get to listen to their experiences and learn from them.
Seeking support
It is important to feel comfortable to seek support when needed. Being a foster parent can be demanding and you may be in need of a listening ear when things get challenging or just to seek advice. Thankfully, there are many people in your community who are eager to help you and you just need to ask. You could speak to a trusted family member, your spouse or a friend to enable you to get the support and encouragement you need to successfully foster a child.
Team work
Why not team up with another foster parent and organise monthly meet ups or arrange to meet for coffee at a convenient time to share experiences and motivate one another. Sometimes doing things alone can be daunting but by teaming up with another foster parent to share your feelings and challenges about fostering you can feel more at ease and share your highs and lows of fostering. This will enable you to have someone to talk to and have a listening ear when you may need to talk about an issue involving your foster child.
