Every foster child has a unique story. Some have biological parents who have been mostly absent right from the start. Others have parents who have been involved and trying their best, but have encountered difficult times that impacted the child negatively. Whatever the case, when foster parenting in Shasta County, you need to understand the role that biological parents play and how that relates to the work you are doing for the community. We’ll take a closer look below. 

The Goal of Reunification | Foster Parenting in Shasta County

Even when there has been a difficult history with the biological parents of a given child, the goal of foster parenting in Shasta County is always reunification. Getting children back with their biological parents isn’t always possible, but it is the target of the system. So, if the court determines that the biological parents have reached a point where they can offer the safety and stability needed to raise a child, the child will be put back with the parents at that time. 

Coexisting Successfully with Biological Parents

Working together with biological parents can sometimes be the hardest part of foster parenting in Shasta County. But that doesn’t mean that this component of the process has to stop you from providing loving care to the young people placed in your home. In some cases, you will be asked as a foster parent to take the child for a supervised visit with the biological parents, or to provide updates to the parents about the child’s growth and development. Always be respectful and open-minded about the child’s family history and don’t speak negatively about the biological parents in front of the child. While it’s important to be respectful, you should also maintain clear and consistent boundaries to protect the child and establish a predictable routine that gives the young person some sense of stability. 

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, contact Children First Foster Family Agency or apply to become a resource parent. 

Children First FFA is a private, non-profit organization in Northern California that is dedicated to helping change lives by providing a safe place for children to heal in a culture of love, acceptance, and consistency.