People hold a range of values and a variety of reasons for their beliefs. It is important to remember that no one is trying to challenge the values that you hold. However, your values and beliefs will impact how you parent, and will impact foster and adoptive children in a variety of ways; some very obvious, and some more subtle.

Think back to Session 1 and all the possible reasons we listed for why children come into foster care. Remember, as foster parents, your job is to facilitate, promote, and encourage reunification with the birth family.

Your attitudes about the issues that caused the children to come into care in the first place and about the birth parents who have those issues, can affect reunification, both in how you support it and how children view a return to their families of origin.