Webinar Recap | Now Available On-Demand
America’s Kids Belong’s 2024 FosterCon webinar series kicked off with an amazing lineup of guests. From single dad Barry Farmer who started fostering in his 20s, to two foster moms, Andrea Young and Lacy Paredes, who still are licensed and actively fostering, we gained valuable insight and inspiration.
The webinar addresses such questions as:
- What does it take to foster?
- What if I get too attached?
- What about my biological children?
- What does the licensing process entail?
Watch Now
What Viewers Are Saying…
- “I received many takeaways but I think the biggest one is that it’s okay if you’re just doing the next thing right now”
- “I enjoyed listening to the speakers in every way.”
- “We liked the honesty, the openness, and the obvious passion.”
Quotable Quotes
What I want to say to the stereotypes [of children in foster care…] They’re children. Even if you had them biologically, they are still unpredictable. They could have had things happen chemically and I’m not gonna walk away. That is how we need to think about kids [in foster care] when they are testing you.
– Barry Farmer
Don’t underestimate the kids in your home—their ability to do hard things, with you. You have raised them big and they can love kids [in foster care] where they are. My favorite part is when the car comes down the driveway, I hear my kids saying “Come on, Come on! “Then we have a fun night together, and I couldn’t do that without my kids. That is what keeps me in it, is my biological kids. It makes us closer as a family!
-Andrea Young
The hardest thing is balancing the contradictions of foster care. You are living in the land of both/and. It’s beautiful and broken, it’s good and hard, and it’s fun and chaotic. There’s a joy and there’s loss. You can have hope, and there’s uncertainty. You have to just balance…. Be brave enough to love fiercely and loosely.
-Lacy Paredes
If you are exploring fostering, you won’t want to miss this webinar and check out the upcoming ones as well! (CE certificates to meet licensing training requirements are available upon completion of the webinar.)
