Luis De La Cruz
Submitted photo
By Luis De La Cruz | Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation
May is National Foster Care Month. According to the Arizona Department of Child Services, there are 7,600 children in foster care under the age of 18. With only 3,000 licensed foster parents available and 3,500 children placed with relatives, there are about 1,000 children under the age of 18 that need a home.
People become foster parents for many reasons, though one truth remains consistent — those involved wish to provide a stable and loving environment for children in need. If you are considering becoming a foster parent and hero to a child in Arizona, here’s what it takes to get licensed, as well as factors to consider ahead of housing a child.
What’s required to foster a child in Arizona
In Arizona, the current requirements to foster a child are to be age 21 or older, have the ability to care for children, pass a criminal background check and qualify for a fingerprint clearance card, complete a home study and home safety inspection, and to pass a physical exam and receive a doctor’s statement that you are sufficiently healthy to provide care. These requirements are in place to ensure that children are entrusted only to families or individuals who can provide safe, healthy and loving homes.
Common misconceptions about being a foster care
There are myths that persist about the foster care system, such as misconceptions about which individuals are best suited to foster a child, financial aid and the reasons why children enter foster care. While commonly held, these myths run the risk of dissuading foster families from pursuing caring for a child, meaning that fewer youth will know the safety and comfort of growing up in a loving home.
A common myth about the foster care system is that foster parents are in it for financial gain. The truth is that the state currently only provides parents with $19 per foster children per day, which families know is not nearly enough to cover daily living expenses for a foster child.
However, there are plenty of foster-focused nonprofits that provide financial assistance to foster parents for a variety of circumstances. For example, AFFCF operates a childhood activities program for children up to 20 years of age, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience a joyful, normal childhood by covering everything from car seats, child care startup fees and strollers for young children to graduation costs, apartment and dorm set-up, summer camps and dual enrollment funding.
Other misconceptions around foster care are that you cannot foster a child if you don’t own your home, are not married or if you aren’t a stay-at-home parent.
Families who live in an apartment or are a renting a home are eligible to foster — ultimately, what matters is your capacity to provide a youth with a safe and stable home environment during what is often a traumatic, stressful time.
Single foster parents are also just as valued as partnered or married couples. Many single parents successfully foster, and even go on to adopt children.
If you are single and the only person financially supporting the household, you may consider adjusting your working hours to accommodate the needs of the child or children living in your household, or leaning on a support network who might help with taking children to doctor’s appointments, after-school commitments or handling meal preparation in the event you are unable to.
Similarly, being a stay-at-home parent is not a requirement for fostering children. If you are employed and do not have a partner available, you may consider looking into childcare options, or fostering an older, school-aged child whose schedule might pair well with your work hours.
What to consider before fostering
I always encourage individuals or couples interested in becoming foster parents to look inward and have conversations about their capacity to provide youth with the environment, attention and resources needed to feel safe and cared for. I often ask prospective foster parents to consider their feelings about reunification of a child with their biological family, which is a common end goal for foster children. Are you OK with the potentially temporary, but still much-needed arrangement of your relationship with the child?
Another important consideration is your ability to provide trauma-informed care, which acknowledges the lasting impact of trauma and focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment where healing can begin. Many foster children who enter foster care are coming from traumatic circumstances and have experienced a hard childhood. They need love, understanding and patience, not judgement and disappointment.
Becoming a foster parent is an incredibly rewarding experience, at times challenging, but always impactful for both the child and guardian. No matter the circumstances, one thing is certain: foster parents aren’t alone, and nonprofit organizations like AFFCF exist to connect parents to resources and provide financial support.
If you think you might be ready to foster or want to learn more, start the journey with the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
Editor’s note: Luis De La Cruz is president and CEO of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that empowers children and youth in foster care. He lives in Buckeye. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
