Fairfield woman seeks more future foster parents

FAIRFIELD — In pursuit of helping the most vulnerable, Fairfield resident Jenny Miller reaches out to her neighbors in search of others wanting to become foster parents.

“I’m curious if anyone has been interested in applying to be a Foster Parent in Iowa but turned off by the travel time to weekly training classes in another town,” Miller originally posted in a Fairfield community Facebook group. “I just applied with Four Oaks and may have to wait until November for the next in-person training (in Ottumwa) UNLESS there is enough interest to create a LOCAL opportunity in Fairfield.”

According to Miller, the area would need at least seven applicants to create more local training.

“Surely in a town of 10,000 folks, we have seven families who can open their hearts and homes to some kiddos in need,” she wrote.

While Miller says she wouldn’t mind the drive to Ottumwa, she would still need to wait until November for that training.

“For a date before November I’d have to travel a few hours each way plus the three hours training every week for 11 weeks,” she said. “Besides the ease in travel, it would be nice to train in concert to create a nice support community.”

According to Families Helping Families, a nonprofit organization designed to support children in foster care throughout Iowa, “8.2 of every 1,000 children in Iowa are in foster care, [that is] higher than the national average of 5.5 of every 1,000.”

According to Four Oaks, the agency that provides foster care training in southeastern Iowa, approximately 4,000 Iowan children per year will need a temporary foster home.

These children range in age from newborn to 18 years old, and many come with a sibling group.

According to Four Oaks, many foster children likely have significant emotional, mental, or physical health needs requiring ongoing care.

Many have experienced trauma and abuse.

Only 32% of these children receive placement in relative homes and 46% are placed with non-relative foster families like the one Miller aspires to become.

“We, as a community should feel responsible for the children of our future,” Miller said. “Just because they are not from our womb should take away the priority in their development. Every interaction the child has will make an impression and impact their future. I want to be one of the ones that leaves a positive impact.”

The desire to foster children weighed on Miller’s heart for several years before she began her journey.

While she worked as a massage therapist in New York, one of her co-workers inspired her.

“She would talk about her kids all the time,” Miller said. “I'm like, you're too young to have kids.”

Her co-worker then informed Miller that she and her mother fostered children together.

“And I was like, oh, that's really interesting,” Miller said. “I started thinking about it … besides the world's overpopulated and there's not enough parents to take care of the kids.”

“Now, several years later, I'm past the point of having my own kids, and I'm still single, and I have come to learn that being single is not a barrier to fostering,” she said.

According to Four Oaks, the requirements to become a foster care parent do not include a stable partner.

These individuals must be at least 21 years old and be able to provide a safe and stable home environment in accordance with Iowa code.

Four Oaks also states these individuals should possess or cultivate skills that focus on a strong desire to protect, support, encourage, and advocate for children.

Training also will help equip these individuals to communicate effectively with the children’s families.

With assistance through training, foster parents will exercise the ability, experience, and skills necessary to raise and care for children in efforts to make their first foster home placement their only placement.

“Trauma comes in many flavors in the foster system, displacement is a reality that can leave a bad taste with every move,” Miller said. “The best scenario, in this case, is for a caretaker to plan well and offer the best nourishment possible.”

“I’ve never been ‘in the system,’ but I know what it’s like to be the new kid in school, time after time,” she said. “Dad’s job uprooted our family at enough junctures to make it difficult to answer where I’m from, when asked”

According to Four Oaks, the individuals that best succeed in the position of foster parents contain the following characteristics:

Tolerance for Rejection

Adaptability/Flexibility

A Sense of Humor

Belief in Self Efficacy

Realistic

Trustworthiness

Attunement

Resilient and Patient

Emotionally Support/Nurturing

Appreciation for Diversity/Other World Views

Committed

Empathy and Compassion

Self-Awareness/Self-Reflection

Relationally Oriented

After learning that a lack of a partner would not disqualify her from becoming a foster parent and learning that she might actually have some skills which could benefit these children, she reached out to Four Oaks and began with a virtual orientation.

“And we talked about what the next steps would be to becoming a foster parent and that is completing the packet that they sent and that involved a background check,” she said. “Once you're clear with all that then they contact you and let you know when the next training would be.”

When they reached back out to Miller, she found out that the next training would be in Ottumwa in November.

Despite not having all the answers, Miller said she has received a few direct messages from her post on Facebook, and she directed them to Four Oaks website to start their process, also.

According to Four Oaks, “It usually takes about six to nine months to complete this process.”

After filling out an interest form, finishing the orientation, and completing the background check, they will need to attend an 11-week series of training classes along with complete additional required trainings.

They will then undergo a home study before their caseworker will submit their application for approval.

To start the process, visit www.iowafosterandadoption.org, click on trainings and contacts, sign up on the link at the bottom of the page, register, and wait for a confirmation email for additional instructions.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com