Part 2 of 2
Statistics show that in 2019, over 672,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care with them remaining in state care, on average, for 18 months.
“There is such a need for foster parents,” said Abi Aswegen of Belmond.
She and her husband, Caleb, have been foster parents for more than a year and a half and know first-hand just how badly more foster parents are needed to provide homes for kids in tough family situations. For example, in a two-week timeframe, the Aswegens were contacted 11 times to take in more children.
Whether it’s for one child or a group of siblings, Abi wants people to know that every family that does foster care makes a huge difference, but the first step is deciding to learn more about how fostering works. “We’re super open to talking to people,” Abi said.
There is also a website, www.iowafosterandadoption.org, that provides many valuable resources including prospective parents information, training dates and contact information, and even the opportunity to meet some of the children who are waiting to be adopted from foster care – you can read their bios to see if they might be a fit for your family.
If you’re not quite ready yet to make the leap into bringing foster children into your home full-time, that’s okay, too. “We don’t just need foster families, we need people who want to help foster families too,” said Abi.
For instance, Abi shared the story of how one Wright County farmer donated a processed hog, giving the meat, free-of-charge, to those families providing foster care in the county.
Abi suggested that people could also host a “Foster Shower” for their friends who have welcomed a foster child/children into their home. The new “bonus parents” as Abi likes to refer to herself, can register for items they need, whether it be diapers and bottles for a baby, toys and pajamas for toddlers, or clothes and school bags for older children. It’s a great way to make a difference in a child’s life without actually becoming a foster parent. While there are some birth parents who do help purchase items for their kids while they are in foster care, that isn’t always the case, and there’s always a list of additional things that are needed. A Foster Shower is a great way to help meet these needs.
In addition to Foster Showers, there is a world of “sharing” that goes on between foster parents. If they have items appropriate for certain stages in life, say strollers, playpens, etc., they re-gift them to other families currently housing a child of that age. It saves foster families a great deal of money to not have to purchase these things if they don’t have to. With that being said, if you have items, clothes, toys, etc., your child/children have outgrown, you might think about donating them to a foster family instead of throwing them away or putting them on a garage sale.
“It’s really about making foster care to all ages and stages doable,” said Abi.
Respite Foster Care is also a very valuable gift that people can provide. It costs nothing to give, except a little bit of your time. You could do it for a night, a weekend, or even a week. Whatever fits your lifestyle.
“That’s a huge need…to give foster parents a break…and it’s a break for the kids, too,” said Abi.
In addition, respite care is needed when foster parents have doctor appointments, dentist appointments, a field trip with a child…and the list goes on.
Providing Respite Care is a great way for prospective foster parents to sort of “test the waters” before diving in full force. Respite care providers go through the same training as our foster/adoptive parent. The only difference is that they designate themselves as respite only. Here is the website for more information on the process: https://iowafosterandadoption.org/how-to-get-started/
Finally, Abi encourages all of us to just pay attention to the people around us. If you know there is a foster family in your community, ask if there is anything they need. If you don’t know of any foster families but still want to make a difference, talk to a local physician or school nurse and see if you can bring items for them to distribute to foster children as needed. There are so many ways to help. You just have to know what works best for you. It can be as simple as giving away child care items you no longer need, or as big as becoming a full-time foster parent.
“Most people think about fostering for a long time before they actually do it,” said Abi. “(Fostering) is giving on the most profound level.”
For more information on becoming a foster parent visit https://iowafosterandadoption.org/prospective-families/
