Common Myths

Myth 1: You must have parenting experience.

Truth 1: Many foster/adoptive parents have had no parenting experience and have gone on to be wonderful adoptive/foster parents.

Myth 2: I have raised children, so I do not need training.

Truth 2: Parenting children in foster care is not the same as parenting a biological child. Once you participate in the training, you will learn more about the unique needs of the children in foster care.

Myth 3: The younger the child, the less problems they will have.

Truth 3: Each child in foster care has experienced trauma and will respond in different ways, often communicated through behaviors. Younger children often have a difficult time communicating feelings. Children of all ages will require the same level of compassion from all caregivers.

Myth 4: As a foster parent, I will not have to interact with the birth family.

Truth 4: The birth family is an important part of the child's life. The more a foster parent interacts with a birth family, the easier the transition to permanency will be. In North Carolina, we call this “shared parenting”. Foster parents are considered a temporary support system for the birth families.

Myth 5: All these children need is love.

Truth 5: Most of these children have someone who loves them. They need safety, stability, structure, patience and understanding.