I hope you enjoyed our first interview about foster parenting here on my blog. Today’s our second interview, with Dena Almond, whose family has taken in numerous foster children over the years. Dena has always been happy to answer my frantic fostering questions, especially when we first started foster care and didn’t have a clue all the hoops we’d need to jump through. She always took the time to talk me down from those ledges and she always reminded me of WHY we do this in the first place. I’m so grateful for her, and I know there are numerous children who have been touched by her and her husband and family over the years. Let’s talk with Dena today.
INTERVIEW WITH DENA ALMOND ON HER FOSTER CARE EXPERIENCE:
HG: Could you describe the kind of foster care you provide/have provided? (ie, family placement or need-based placements).
DA: We are a specialized therapeutic foster home.
HG: What would you say to parents who are concerned the foster child might be a bad influence for their children?
DA: Give the child time; time to learn the rules, time to grieve, time to process, and time to love again. Set rules and boundaries. Guide with grace and mercy. Behaviors will change.
HG: What would you say to parents who are on the fence about whether they should become foster parents? What kinds of things should they do to mentally prepare for this step, and would you recommend it for everyone?
DA: If you feel led to be a foster parent, pray about it, pray some more, and ask questions. No question is a dumb question. Foster care IS NOT for everyone. Foster care is about the children, not you. You have to have a giving spirit and be willing to deal with anything.
HG: What kinds of unique challenges should Christian foster parents be prepared for, in particular?
DA: If the bio parents or child(ren) say they are not Christians, then you HAVE TO make arrangements for them to practice their faith.
HG: And now for the dreaded, worst case scenario question. How do foster parents deal with things if they have to see a child they’ve bonded with have to return to a situation they know is unhealthy or even dangerous? Have you found any techniques to cope with this, for yourself or your other children?
DA: We scream, cry, fight the system, pray, and then grieve. Each situation is different, so what might work for one case won’t work for another. You just have to handle it one day at a time and pray consistently.
HG: You probably can’t go into detail, but could you share both the most difficult and the most rewarding part of the fostering process for you (and your family)?
DA: The most difficult thing is the loss. The most rewarding thing is knowing that we made a difference for just a second in someone’s life.
HG: Finally, can you think of some significant ways Christians can reach out and support those who are fostering?
DA:
- Praying
- Becoming certified as alternate caregivers
- Donating things (clothes, toys, shoes, books, etc.)
- Support system
HG: A huge thank you to Dena for sharing her time and insight with us today! Please feel free to ask any questions you might have below, and if Dena doesn’t see them, I can ask her directly and post the response. Stay tuned for more interviews on this subject, and do share this post with those you know who’ve been considering foster care!