Shownotes
Episode 008
The Fostering Process and Great Mom Advice with Stephanie Knowlton

Advice on being a mom of 4: 
1. Be flexible! 
2. Lower your expectations so they are realistic.
All her kids are less than 2 years apart. The hardest part is when they are all under 5. 
3. Reach out to other people, mom groups, story time at the library, and community for support.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Fostering Process
The need is great
Praying for God’s leading and timing
Interest meeting
Home meeting (check out the house)
Invitation to the class (have to be invited back)
Paperwork (how you were disciplined, family background, detailed questionnaire)
Doctor appointments (psych visits)
Physical exams (and TB test)
Choose age group & specify if you are ok with a child with a troubled background. She chose 0-3 years of age
Process time for acceptance as a foster parent/family was 3-7 months …Fun fact: a 20 page report on each family must be filled out prior to approval. 
Kids are interviewed. Social workers come back multiple times throughout the process.
“Rules” - bio parents get to approve certain trips, there’s respite care, can’t show their face on social media. Displaying names, birthdays, and ages are prohibited 
Average stay for a child in VA beach foster care is 23 months
Time with child may be short transition (weekend)
You may communicate with the parents
The goal is to reunite the kid with their family
Fostering vs compared to the movies…
Fostering is a way to help your community or eventually adopt
Misconception is that it’s hard to do
You do have to have a clean background
The classes equip you re: trauma and abuse and how to deal certain situations you may have never dealt with
There are many ups and downs but God’s hand is in it all
Kids’ responses & date nights
Don’t let reservations keep you from listening to God’s leading
Lessons learned through fostering
There is no time contract to foster
God can expand your capacity as a parent
“Expand your tent pegs” Isaiah 54:2

Fb Stephanie Knowlton
IG oilsandchocolate
YL youngliving.org/stephknowlton