What is the right age to foster? 

Friends, we are here to say there is no right answer (as long as you are 21 or over).  While the average age of first-time fosters is 57, there is a broad age range.  Within those ages, we see some common threads of why folks started, so read on to see if some feel like a match to you! 

Ages 21-29:  

While most young adults want to enjoy life, focus on higher education or starting their careers, there are a rare and sparkling few who choose this age to foster.  Why and how do they do it? 

Many folks in this age bracket who foster have a personal connection to foster care.  Some are children of parents who fostered, so they grew up in fostering families.  Others were placed in foster care for a period of time and want to be there for children who are in the throes of foster care.   

Many of our younger applicants choose to start fostering part time, which is called respite care.  They can morph school and work schedules around this, making themselves available a few evenings a week or just on weekends.  Are you a mature, steady and stable person in this age group?  Reach out! 

Ages 30-39: 

Folks in this age group typically fall into three categories:  

Single and ready to parent: They are living independently, have steady jobs and career paths, and aren’t in a partnership.  They want to parent and provide support to a young person.  They are often involved in their community, and many times are aunts and uncles who love supporting their nieces'/nephews/friends’ children. Fostering provides a new avenue to be a support to young people.  Some start as respite, but just as many start as full-time fosters. 

Partnered and ready to parent: These are married or partnered folks.  Some have struggled on their fertility journey, while others choose fostering instead of adoption or biologically parenting.  Similar to their single peers in this age group, they are often involved in their community and serve as supports to young people in their world (nieces and nephews, children at their place of worship, volunteering).   

Partnered and parenting: They are in the middle of parenting and often have school aged children.  They feel that they are in a place to serve more children and are already actively parenting, so it is a natural addition.  Some folks do this with a hope of eventually adopting, while others feel rooted in being a temporary place to land for a child.  In some cases, one parent is a stay-at-home parent; in others, both parents are working. 

Ages 40-49:  

Not Parenting: Some of our non-parenting folks in this age group are just ready to do it!  They may be singled or partnered, but regardless of relationship status, are ready to dive in.  They are steady in their jobs, confident in themselves, and feel driven to parent a child.  Most choose to start parenting full time, but some prefer to start with respite care. 

Parenting: Whether partnered or not, many parents in this age group have children who are increasingly independent.  Some may have kids in late high school, college, or living independently.  Others still have younger children but feel an addition or two will fit in well.  They are steady, focused, and ready to say yes. 

Ages 50-65:  

Folks in this group are often empty nesters.  They are generally not needed in as hands-on a way by their children if they are parents.  However, they have energy and inspiration to continue parenting.  Some are very close to retirement or are just in a sure-footed place in their careers where they have more control of their schedules and can make time to foster. 

Retirement and On:  

Once people retire, it doesn’t mean they just sit on a porch. This is an exciting time where people can assess what they have always wanted to do and may not have had time for.  Fostering is on many people’s list!  A lot of folks in this age group ask if they are too old to foster.  Good news- there is no maximum age for a foster parent.  All people who apply and become foster parents must provide yearly medical references, so as long as any conditions or diagnoses are managed and do not prevent a person from parenting, they are good to go!  Some folks in this age group choose respite care, while others enjoy the daily experience of parenting.

There we have it folks- diverse reasons that fostering feels right at different life stages, but a unifying belief that caring, committed adults can make a difference in a young person’s life.   

Whether your reasons for saying yes are found in the above-listed categories or are something totally different, reach out!  We would love to chat.