Simone was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. When she was still a toddler, her mother was no longer able to care for her and her three siblings and they all went into foster care. It didn’t take long until she and her little sister were adopted by her grandfather. Simone was lucky to have foster parents to care for her during the time it took her grandfather to learn she was in need.  The best thing about foster families is they provide a safe and nurturing place for a vulnerable kid. The foster child comes into the foster care system through no fault of his or her own. Many have suffered through traumatic past experiences and need the protection and family support a loving foster family can provide.  What is best for the child is the most important motivation behind the foster care program. Foster parents provide a loving and nurturing environment where the foster child will grow up strong and healthy and thrive both socially and academically.  One of the greatest rewards of being a foster parent is the advocacy you provide for the child. Every child needs someone to be on his or her side, making sure they have what they need to learn well, live worry-free, and love wonderfully. Each child needs an advocate to help them make their way through life and grow in a protected environment. Foster parents are there for foster children when they need it most.  The outcome of foster care varies case by case. For some foster children, the goal would be to get them back under the same roof as the birth parent. For others, foster care provides a home while the child waits for adoption. Another outcome of foster care is the child grows up to adulthood and heads out on their own.  Becoming a foster parent is a big step that should not be taken lightly. But taking in a child, whatever the circumstances, from orphans to those processed through child protective services, can be extremely rewarding.  It is so wonderful to offer foster care to a deserving and vulnerable child.

The Process of Becoming a Foster Parent The guidelines for becoming foster parents vary from state to state but there are some basic requirements. You and all the other adults living under your roof must go through background checks. You must be of a certain age (usually 21 or older for foster care.) Then you must find a foster parenting service in your state that provides orientation and foster parent training. When contacting the proper foster care provider, you will learn the specific foster parent requirements for your state.  If you have been thinking about becoming a foster parent and you live in California, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, or Kentucky, a good place to start is visiting Generations Adoption Services or Nightlight Christian Adoptions. On these websites, you will find the information you need to help you make your decision. You will learn the answers to frequently asked questions and who to contact to get the process started.  Oh, and if you are wondering whatever happened to little Simone after she went through the foster care system, she went on to be the most decorated gymnast in history. Simone Biles is considered by many as the greatest gymnast of all time.

References:

Nightlight Christian Adoptions: https://nightlight.org/ Generations Adoption Services: https://generationsadoptions.org/foster-care/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/7/record-breaker-us-gymnast-simone-biles-claims-21st-world-title

https://web.archive.org/web/20130306071629/http://www.gym-style.com/simonebiles/about.htm

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/olympics/article/Spring-s-Biles-poised-for-perfection-in-Rio-Games-8382471.php