Foster parenting?

[Hedda Rosa]

The husband and I are thinking about becoming foster parents. We are discussing it and researching it now with the idea of starting to foster in the next 5 years - we want to take the time to make an informed decision.

We have 2 kids, a girl age 8 and a boy age 5 in a 5 bedroom house, and would only take in foster kids younger than our own.

With that in mind I wonder if any Dopers are foster parents, or were foster children themselves, and have advice or cautionary tales or what have you. Thanks.

[needscoffee]

Here is a recent thread about this.

[Captain_C]

Hi. My name is Captain_C and I am a foster care specialist who works for the government. As I'm sure the higher-ups wouldn't like me publicly discussing the particulars of my job (since my opinions do not necessary constitute those of the agency, etc etc), I can't really post a whole lot about it. I can, however, reply to any Private Messages you send over.
I'll keep an eye on my in-box.

[Zsofia]

I have friends who used to do it - they found it very rewarding but had to stop because the wife just got too emotionally involved and became an absolute wreck when they'd lose the kids.

[EmAnJ]

I have friends who are fostering in hopes of eventually adopting and after about 8 months of it, they are considering not fostering any longer because of the emotional stress and heartbreak. The toddlers and young kids they get are emotional wrecks and the babies they've had are either emotionally detached due to their short history or are addicted to drugs and are going through withdrawals. It's been very hard on both of them, but do say it's very rewarding.