There are probably as many reasons for becoming a foster parent as there are foster parents. But all of those individual stories boil down to one central theme – making a difference in the life of a child.

You can make a difference too.

You don’t need to be anything special to do that. You don’t need a fancy house. You don’t need to be wealthy. You don’t need any special expertise in working with children and you don’t have to have raised children of your own.

All you need is commitment, willingness to learn, the ability to adapt and try new strategies, patience and the capacity to share joy and laughter. You also need to be willing to provide a safe, stable and caring home. With just these simple tools you can make a difference in the life of a child.

Lighthouse Youth Services is looking for all kinds of people to become foster parents – married, single, divorced, widowed, with or without children of their own, African American, white, Latino, straight, gay, lesbian, old, young and in between. We need foster parents who are as diverse as the children we serve.

What should you expect as a Lighthouse foster parent?

You should expect to care for a child or children from infancy through late teens often who is unable to live at home often because of abuse or neglect. The age of the children you work with is based on your preferences and your confidence to work with a particular age group. You may be asked to take care of a child for a very short period or, in some cases, permanently. Experienced Lighthouse Foster Care staff members will make every effort to match your skills, preferences and characteristics with the needs of the children you are asked to care for. The decision to accept a particular child into your home is always yours.

Before you begin you should expect to undertake extensive training – approximately 44 hours. You will be interviewed, undergo a background check and home study and be licensed as a foster parent by the state of Ohio. If you are part of a married couple both partners must be licensed.

Once you begin you should expect at least weekly contact with your social worker and team leader. You will continue to attend training throughout your life as a foster parent. You will receive payment for each night that a foster child is placed in your home. You will also be provided with clothing vouchers for your foster children and you will be reimbursed for mileage related to foster care.

Life with foster children is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s difficult. Some foster children have been extensively traumatized. They may have emotional or behavior disorders. In such cases Lighthouse Foster Care staff members will work closely with you to provide effective interventions for your foster child and to train you and help you manage trying situations with confidence.

Not every child wants a new mom or dad. This is especially true of teenagers who may already be quite self- reliant with their own activities and their own set of friends. In such cases you may be called upon to be more like a coach or a mentor than a “parent.” But you can still provide a place to call home along with structure and guidance.

And what is it like to see a foster child return to their family of origin after you’ve become attached to the child and the child attached to you? Well, sometimes that too is hard. But returning home is usually planned well in advance. You’ll know what’s coming.

Lighthouse Foster Care presently works with approximately 70 families. These families do not do this because they are insensitive to the needs or behaviors of the children they care for. They do not do this because they feel nothing when a child leaves their home. They do this because they know they are making a difference in the lives of the children they care for. And because doing so makes a difference in their lives.

If you would like to know more or are interested in becoming a foster parent, please email or call the Lighthouse Foster Care Recruiter, Darla Urban, at 513-487-7135, or write to her at:

Lighthouse Youth Services
Therapeutic Foster Care
11 Triangle Park Drive, Suite 1101
Cincinnati, OH 45246