One of the common misconceptions about being a foster parent is that you must be perfect, never make a mistake, and be on top of everything 100 percent of the time.

In our new video series, “How to Become a Foster Parent 101,” that myth is dispelled from the very beginning.

“You don’t need to be perfect,” said Katie and RaChelle, foster parents interviewed for the first episode. Like most families, there will be dishes in the sink, there will be laundry to do, and the remodeling project you want to finish will take longer than you expect. Having a late-model mini-van with all the features or a well-manicured lawn are not necessary to become a foster parent.

What’s important is being a caring adult in the life of a child who needs you.

Throughout the month of May, Cornerstones of Care will celebrate National Foster Care Month by releasing additional videos from the new “Become A Foster Parent 101” series in the coming weeks. The first video is now available for download. Each video features Cornerstones of Care team members and current or former foster parents sharing their insights about foster parenting and the positive difference it makes in the lives of youth in their care.

The video series encourages prospective foster parents in Missouri and Kansas to help fill the gap between youth in need and foster families. Even as the number of children in out-of-home foster care in Missouri and Kansas have fallen from 2021 totals, each state has more youth in care than the number of foster homes available.

The four videos will educate prospective foster parents about the foster care system, the experience of youth who are removed from their homes and help to clear up misconceptions about foster care.

• Learn about the fundamentals of foster care in “Make a Difference in a Child’s Life.”
• “How a Child Comes into Foster Care” guides viewers through the foster care process, dispels myths, and explains trauma-informed care.
• “The Types of Foster Care” will show prospective foster parents where they may fit in the spectrum of foster care opportunities.
• “How to Get Started” prepares prospective foster families for the applications, home visits, and licensing requirements as they prepare for their first placement.

Each video will be released individually through May and in June to celebrate Pride Month. Our June Foster Diversity campaign amplifies Cornerstones of Care’s commitment to diversity and encourages prospective foster parents who are people of color or identify as LGBTQ+ to consider becoming foster parents to help meet the unique needs of the diverse children in our care.