I am an atheist and my husband is agnostic. We are in the process of becoming a foster family. We currently have no children.
My vent/rant is that it seems that the only options for licensing agencies are religious agencies. We are going though a religious agency (for lack of other options). It is very frustrating the lack of secular blogs, posts, support groups, etc. about foster care and/or adoption. I am NOT called by god. I am NOT an angel. I just have a lot of love to give and room in my home and a husband that feels the same. I was a foster child and therefore I have an idea of what a child goes through. Most of the time, I can just tune out the parts of foster care/adoption blogs and such that have to do with religion, but I'm getting more and more frustrated that I have to.
On a happier note, we should be licensed within a month or two from now. We are well into the home study process and classes. We are looking to accept 1-3 children from newborn to 12 years of age. I am hoping for a sibling group so that I can have a hand in keeping them together in order to preserve the precious bond that siblings share. So here I am, a wide-eyed, soon-to-be-licensed foster mom. Full of hope.
First of all, thank you for doing a good thing and becoming foster parents. I have no experience with that so I cannot help you with resources, maybe the adoption/fostering board on here can help? It must be annoying to have to be constantly dealing with the asumption of religiosity because you are doing a good and right thing. I hope the situation is not that bad that you feel you have to be dishonest about your (non)beliefs to jump through certain hoops. If you accept kids from a religious family, would you be expected to take them to church etc? Forgive my ignorance/curiosity, but I just don't have any experience with this. Anyway, best of luck to you guys with building your foster family.
Fortunately, I do not feel I have to lie about my lack of beliefs. Sugar coat a bit, but not lie. People don't like the word 'atheist' so we just say 'not religious'. If we get kids placed with us that have already been indoctrinated into a religion, then yes, we have to support their 'belief' by taking them to church. Thanks for the kind words and support. I looked at the foster care forum and came across a few too many religious references and just got frustrated. Also been looking at vlogs on youtube and same thing there. One of them actually said that 'those that don't know god don't last' implying that non-religious people don't make good foster parents. There is even an extra 'Spirituality' class at the end of our STARS class for 'believers'. Just feeling a little discriminated against. Wishing there were secular agencies that we could work with. ugh.
draedenne, @iliketurtles, I am sorry that as non religous families you feel not taken as seriously as you should be doing a good thing for children that need a home. I am annoyed at your behalf.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds incredibly frustrating. It makes me angry that you have to even sugar coat you're beliefs in order to be considered to foster. Religion have no impact on whether you can provide a loving, supportive and positive environment for children who need a home.
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