Foster Parent Turnover

05 Aug Foster Parent Turnover

If you are familiar with the foster system, then you may know a thing or two about foster parent turnover. If not, you may be wondering what it is. Foster parent turnover is when foster parents quit fostering after being licensed. It is a difficult decision to make. But why does this happen? 

Foster parents face an emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually exhausting road. As a result, about 30-50% of foster families decide to quit fostering each year. These high turnover rates affect both outcomes for children and the number of new foster families your community needs, (cafo.org). 

Trauma-informed care training and having a support system are key elements in being a foster parent. Without education, training, and support, foster parents may struggle to handle parenting a foster kid dealing with trauma and other difficulties. When a child keeps acting out and you can not figure out how to get a hold on things, it can be overwhelming. You may struggle with a sense of failure or lack of energy to keep going. The underlying reason you may feel this way is often due to a lack of trauma training and a strong support system. 

Trauma-informed care training allows foster parents to learn the causes of trauma, abuse and neglect, the effects, recognizing the signs of trauma, and how to respond. When a parent makes the decision to become a foster parent, they are often not equipped with enough training and education to handle the weight that comes with fostering a child with trauma. The foster community is thankfully becoming more aware of what resources for education and training are out there. Lifeline, Children’s Aid Society, and more, provide many opportunities, like TIPS classes, for training and education. 

Unfortunately, the trauma training from just those classes is not enough. There is so much to know and learn and it takes constant practice. It is important to make sure you get the proper training and stay consistent with being as educated as possible.

Not having a strong support system can leave a foster parent alone to carry the weight and stress by themselves. This makes their fostering journey much harder than it should be. When a foster parent is facing a challenge and has no one to turn to for support, it can often lead to the desire to quit fostering or return the child back to the system. Juggling too much alone can be overwhelming, exhausting, and confusing. 

We are working to recruit and educate individuals to bring more support to the foster care system. If you have a friend or neighbor, or someone in your church who is fostering, think about becoming part of their support system. This may look like being a shoulder to lean on, or even helping with carpool or unloading groceries. If you have training and education, you might offer advice or insight on challenges they are battling. Any type of support will make a huge difference in a foster parent’s life. 

Foster parent turnover is happening too often and we need to work together to better equip these families with the proper training, education, and support. The children deserve stability, to feel like they belong. The more families that are educated and trained to deal with trauma, abuse and neglect, the less chance for foster parent turnover. The more support they have, the stronger they feel to keep fighting for children in need. 

There are limited available foster homes in every county, and the shortage of foster parents is increasing every day. We believe with proper training and support, we can improve the number of foster parents remaining licensed and caring for foster children. We are working to provide much needed training and resources to these vulnerable families, along with many other things Foster Coalition is working to improve in the system. But we can not do it alone. These children need YOUR help.

Will you start today to bring awareness and promote education and training for foster parents? We have many resources on our website to connect foster families with. 

How can you support your local foster families and improve the lives of foster children?

A few ways:

• Spread awareness of the realities of the system – foster parent turnover, trauma, case turnover, need for training and education, lack of awareness of resources, etc. 
• Help out a family member or friend who is fostering – babysit, carpool, cook dinner, run an errand for them, help with groceries, emotional support, donate to organizations and charities that support foster families, etc. 
• Get educated and trained for yourself if you are considering fostering or supporting a family who is – check out our resource page and social media to find organizations and agencies that are available. We also host and promote training events for foster families and individuals in need of education. 

There is no shortage of ways to get involved or support foster families. It is well worth the time and effort. These children deserve to find safe, loving homes that will not turn them away. They often feel they are not good enough or worthy of love. Let’s show them they are wrong. These children are SO worthy of love and are more than enough. Let’s do something about it! Get educated, get involved, support one another, and improve the lives of foster children together!