Myth + Facts About Foster Care

MYTHFoster parents have to stay at home with the children and cannot work full-time.

FACTMany of our foster parents work outside of the home and find childcare for their own children as well as their foster children. A New Leaf will advise you on childcare options.

MYTHOnce I take in a foster child, I'm on my own without any help.

FACTA New Leaf will offer your family support to maintain the child's placement in your home. For starters, before you even take in your first child, the agency staff works with you to develop a profile of the type of child best suited to the experience and capabilities of your family.

MYTHChildren enter foster care because of their own juvenile delinquency.

FACTMany believe that the children are "too bad" or delinquent. Children enter foster care by no fault of their own. Instead they enter foster care because the adults in their lives cannot keep them safe or healthy.

MYTHThe children come into foster care and are "damaged, beyond repair" because of the abuse they have experienced.

FACTMany believe that the children are "too bad" or delinquent. Children enter foster care by no fault of their own. Instead they enter foster care because the adults in their lives cannot keep them safe or healthy.

MYTHYou have to have experience with caring for children, like having your own.

FACTThere are many excellent foster parents that became licensed without having any experience at all. They just came to our agency with an open and loving heart.

MYTHI'm too old to be a foster parent.

FACTYou are NEVER too old to give a child a loving and nurturing home! We have many foster parents that are retired from their jobs and "empty-nesters."

MYTHFoster parents cannot have pets living in the home.

FACTFoster parents can have pets in their homes while fostering children. All pets must be up-to-date on their immunizations and be licensed.

MYTHFoster parents are in it for the money.

FACTThis is absolutely not true, and unfortunately is widely believed. In the process of becoming a foster parent, you must show that you're able to meet your financial obligations for your household. You will receive a reimbursement for care of the child, but it hasn't been shown that it will make you rich.

MYTHI could never foster a teenager because their behavior would be too difficult to manage.

FACTWe have foster parents that prefer fostering teenagers. The opportunity to help a child succeed and provide them the necessary tools to become adults is something we all want as parents. Because of this myth, we have many teenagers that are in need of loving homes. Please join us in helping our teens!

MYTHI don't know how a foster parent can just let a child go – I think that would break your heart.

FACTEvery foster parent will tell you that when a child leaves your home, you will experience a loss. But it doesn't have to be sad, it can be a joyous occasion to know that you provided that child a stable and loving home and helped to make a positive change in that child's life. You also have the opportunity to develop a relationship with that child's family and may be able to continue to have contact in the child's life.

MYTHIf the birth parents find out where I live they will come and get their children or cause me grief.

FACTWe encourage our foster parents to develop a relationship with the birth family, and we have seen this relationship to have positive effects on the child. Our foster parent information is kept confidential – this includes addresses and phone numbers.